January 30, 2022
Epiphany 4
Prelude Brightest and Best
Hail blessed morn, see the Great Mediator
down from the regions of glory descend.
Shepherds go worship the babe in a manger.
Lo for a God the bright angels attend.
Chorus
Brightest and best of sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star in the East, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.
Cold on His cradle, the dewdrops are shining.
Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining.
Wise men and shepherds before Him do fall. Chorus x2
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song From East to West 155 CP
From east to west, from shore to shore,
let every heart awake and sing
the holy child whom Mary bore,
the Christ, the everlasting King.
Behold! The world’s creator wears
the form and fashion of a slave;
our very flesh our Maker shares,
his fallen creature now to save.
For this how wondrously he wrought!
A maiden, in her lowly place,
became, in ways beyond all thought,
the chosen vessel of his grace.
Assenting to the angel’s word,
she chose what God the Spirit willed,
and suddenly the promised Lord
that pure and hallowed temple filled.
He shrank not from the oxen’s stall,
he lay within the manger bed,
and he whose bounty feeds us all
at Mary’s breast himself was fed.
And while the angels in the sky
sang praise above the silent field,
to shepherds poor the Lord most high,
the one great Shepherd, was revealed.
All glory for this blessed morn
to God, the source of all, is due,
all praise to you, O Virgin-born;
all praise, O Holy Ghost, to you.
Gathering Sentences (Before the Amen: Creative resources for worship)
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of our God has risen upon us.
God has pity on the weak and needy;
God redeems their life from oppression and violence
Precious in God’s sight are the widows, widowers, and orphans of war;
Precious in God’s sight are the addicted and confused.
Precious in God’s sight are the abused and neglected;
Precious in God’s sight are the poor and desperate.
Precious in God’s sight are all who sit on the margins;
Precious in God’s sight are all who long for justice.
The glory of our God will rise upon them
The glory of our God will rise upon us all.
Prayer of invocation together
God of kings and paupers, of the satisfied and the destitute, shine your light into this place. Be present as we worship and bring the gift of our praise, and go with us as we leave, so that your light may shine in our hearts always, illuminating the way to your love. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet Jeremiah (1.4–10)
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’
Psalm 71.1–6 Refrain: From my mother’s womb you have been my strength.
In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed. In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; incline your ear to me and save me.
From my mother’s womb you have been my strength.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; you are my crag and my stronghold. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
From my mother’s womb you have been my strength.
For you are my hope, O Lord God, my confidence since I was young. I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; my praise shall be always of you.
From my mother’s womb you have been my strength.
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (13.1–13)
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Gradual Hymn Love Divine 486 CP
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above.
Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
An Affirmation (Flames of the Spirit edited by R. Duck)
The Star of divine promise shines before us still.
Over a world of mute hopes, dim visions, dark fears, still the light shines.
In a world shrouded by darkness both tragic and wilful,
Still we proclaim:
Our light has come.
The glory of God shines upon us.
For One born of God is born of our own flesh, and that one is light for our lives.
As we receive the light and let it shine through us, it rises as a beacon for a darkened world.
The peoples shall stream toward its promise; meek and mighty alike share in its dawning brightness
Then all shall say:
Arise! The glory of God is upon us! Amen
Call for the Offering
As the magi of old, guided by a light in the night sky, brought forth gifts of gratitude to God, so we bring our gifts. May these gifts be a source of light to those in need.
Offering Hymn Come My Way, My Truth, My Life 569 CP
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
such a way as gives us breath,
such a truth as ends all strife,
such a life as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
such a light as shows a feast,
such a feast as mends in length,
such a strength as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart,
such a joy as none can move,
such a love as none can part,
such a heart as joys in love.
Prayer over the Gifts (Before the Amen p. 33)
God of Light, we have been illumined by the glory of your presence and enlightened by the word of your grace. We see and have become radiant with your love. We dedicate ourselves and these gifts for service in the world. May we be beacons of love and justice in a darkened world, shining your light on the poor and needy, victims of oppression and violence and all living in dark places in need of your light. Amen
Prayers of the People - Epiphany Season
God of light and life our prayers rise before you this day in hope and faith.
We pray for your church, for our diocese, bishops, clergy and all people... (petitions may be added)
Flame of abundant love, be our Joy in proclaiming your Good News to the world.
We pray for all who are coming to faith, all who wonder about faith, and all who are struggling with faith... (petitions may be added)
Light of all creation, guide us to lead, teach and nurture your disciples
We pray for those in need of food, shelter, clothing, and of God's healing touch, especially those for whom our prayers are especially desired ... (petitions may be added)
Comforter of the suffering, warm our hands to loving service
We pray for the world, especially where there is trouble and suffering, far away or nearby... (petitions may be added)
Ember of steadfast care, fuel our passion to challenge injustice and violence and to pursue peace and reconciliation
We pray for the land on which we stand, the peoples, creatures, plant life and waters around us... (petitions may be added)
Star blaze of glory, lead us to care for this fragile earth, our island home, and to heal the circle of creation
God of radiant light, your love illumines our hopes before we know them,
And our needs before we ask. Kindle your flame within us, that in our prayers and service,
we may know your transforming presence at work in the world around us.
All this we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The Collect
Prophetic God, strengthen and encourage us to hear those who speak your uncomfortable truths and who challenge our dearest prejudices, so that we may know and heed prophets of our age; through Jesus, the son of Joseph. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins.
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen.
May hope be kindled in you.
May it spread as light peeking under door ways and streaming through windows.
May you remember that when you see shadows, it is because the light is still present.
And may you notice the gleam within others.
For the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.
And the blessing of God the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sustainer be with us all this day abd evermore. Amen
Closing Hymn God Our Protector
God our protector keep us in mind
always give strength to Your people.
For if we could be with You
one day in time
it is better than a thousand without You. (x3)
The Dismissal
The light has splintered our darkness.
God has called us to dance. We go forth to answer with our lives. Amen! Alleluia!
Postlude Let the King of Glory Come
Chorus Lift up, you gates, lift up your arches: Let the King of glory come!
Lift up your hearts and sing, you people: Let the King of glory come!
Who is the King of glory? Yahweh, holy and strong!
Who is the Lord of majesty? Yahweh, mighty and strong! Chorus
Come, O come, Emmanuel: come and dwell with us!
Come, O come you Lord of might: banish death and fear! Chorus
Come, O come, bright Wisdom: come and make us wise!
Come, O come, you Dayspring: love, unclose our eyes! Chorus
Come, you Key of David, come: open our heavenly home!
Come, Desire of nations, come: bring us into your peace! Chorus
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