Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones (1904)
Ante luciferum genitus, et ante saecula, Dominus
Salvator noster hodie mundo apparuit.
(First Antiphon for Epiphany)
Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Christmas/Epiphany Candles and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
The rulers of the Earth will fall prostrate, Alleluia!
~and all nations will serve him. Alleluia!
EPIPHANY HYMN
Earth has many-a noble city;
Bethlehem does all excel;
From it came our Lord from heaven
Came to rule in Israel.
Fairer than the sun at morning
Was that star that told his birth,
To the world its God announcing
Seen in human form on earth.
Eastern sages at his cradles
Make their off’rings rich and rare;
See them give, in deep devotion
Gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Sacred gifts of solemn meaning:
Incense does their God disclose;
Gold the King of kings proclaiming;
Myrrh his sepulcher foreshows.
Jesus whom the Gentiles worshiped
At your glad Epiphany,
Unto you with God our Abba
And the Spirit, glory be.
Text: O Sola magnum urbium, Prudentius (348-413); Tune: STUTTGART, 87 87, CF Witt (1660-1716)
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Your Light has come, O Jerusalem!
The glory of Adonai shines upon you.
Nations shall walk by your light, alleluia.
Psalm 96/97
Adonai reigns! Let Earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
God is wrapped in the thunderclouds,
enthroned on justice and right.
Fire marches on ahead
burning up all resistance;
Overhead God’s lightening flashes,
Earth trembles to see it.
Mountains melt like wax
before Adonai, who rules over all.
The skies proclaim this justice–
a glory all people can see.
Those who serve mammon are fools,
they brag about their worthless gods.
All spirits, worship Adonai!
Zion hears and is glad.
The cities of Judah rejoice
because of your judgment Adonai.
For you, Adonai, are Most High
in majesty high above the Earth
far higher than any other god.
Those who love Adonai, hate evil;
God shields their faithful lives
and breaks the grip of the oppressor.
Light will shine down on the just
and joy on the loyal hearts.
Rejoice in Adonai, O you just;
give glory to this Holy Name!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Your Light has come, O Jerusalem!
The glory of Adonai shines upon you.
Nations shall walk by your light, alleluia.
Reading Ephesians 2:3b-5
We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ. By grace you have been saved.
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for your light has come *and the glory of the Lord shines upon you. V. Nations shall walk by your light and kings by your shining radiance *and the glory of the Lord of the shines upon you. V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
When the Magi saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly.
And entering the house, they offered the Lord
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with Adonai,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
When the Magi saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly.
And entering the house, they offered the Lord
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Intercessions
Sun of Justice, your brightness shines forth from the heart of God and floods the entire world, ~be a light for all who dwell in the darkness of oppression and the shadow of hopelessness.
Light of the World, your way of living and loving reveals the darkness that is produced by greed, arrogance, exclusion, and the abuse of power, ~lead us with the Light of your Wisdom to a life of justice, equality, inclusion and service.
Brightness of God’s Face, your radiant glory is the source, guide and goal of all living things; ~reveal your Presence in every being so we will live in harmony with all of creation.
Teach us to pray…
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, by the light of a star you revealed to the nations that something new and wonderful had taken place in the birth of Jesus, your Word-made-flesh. Fill us with His Light so that our lives may reflect the majestic beauty of your Wisdom and Love and all people and all creation will be drawn to freedom and fullness of life. Amen.
May the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth + bless us and all of creation. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Epiphany.
Marian Antiphon
Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking. Nature’s greatest Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!
The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. God of light and life, you have made us glad through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary; let us join her in praising you for the great mystery of your Word made flesh in Jesus, our Emmanuel. Amen.