Epiphany of the Lord | Saturday 06 Jan 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, by the leading of a star
you manifested your only Son
to the peoples of the earth:
Lead us, who know you now by faith,
to your presence,
where we may see your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This mystery [about Christ]
is the Good News that people who are not Jewish
have the same inheritance as Jewish people do.
(Ephesians 3:6)
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Arise and Shine – Official Lyric Video | New Wine
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From the Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6 (GW)
The Lord Will Be Jerusalem’s Glory
60:1 Arise! Shine! Your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
Darkness now covers the earth,
and thick darkness covers the nations.
But the Lord dawns,
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn.
“Look up, look around, and watch.
All of your people assemble and come to you.
Your sons come from far away.
Your daughters are carried in their arms.
Then you will see this and rejoice,
and your heart will be thrilled with joy,
because the riches of the sea will be brought to you.
The wealth of the nations will come to you.
“Many camels will cover your ⌞land⌟,
young camels from Midian and Ephah.
Everyone from Sheba will come.
They will bring gold and incense.
They will sing the praises of the Lord.
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From the Psalms: Psalm 72 – Lord, Every Nation on Earth | JesComTV
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From the Epistles: Ephesians 3:1-12 (GW)
Paul’s Work of Spreading the Good News
3:1 This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for those of you who are not Jewish.
Certainly, you have heard how God gave me the responsibility of bringing his kindness to you. You have heard that he let me know this mystery through a revelation. I’ve already written to you about this briefly. When you read this, you’ll see that I understand the mystery about Christ. In the past, this mystery was not known by people as it is now. The Spirit has now revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this Good News through God’s kindness freely given to me when his power worked ⌞in me⌟.
I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish. He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past. He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom. This was God’s plan for all of history which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ.
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And Can It Be – Stuart Townend | Worship Videos
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Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 (GW)
The Wise Men Visit
2:1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus’ birth wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. He called together all the chief priests and the experts in the Scriptures and tried to find out from them where the Messiah was supposed to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this:
Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah.
A leader will come from you.
He will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called the wise men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.”
After they had heard the king, they started out. The star they had seen rising led them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star. When they entered the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary. So they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.
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The First Noel | Epiphany & Christmas Carol | Three Kings Day | Choir with Lyrics | Sunday 7pm Choir
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+ O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, especially in the Middle East; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically and especially, to those who will restore Israel spiritually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
6:27 “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop him from taking your shirt. Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don’t insist on getting it back.
There is only one who creates laws and judges on the basis of them. He is able to save or destroy you. So who are you to judge your neighbor?
“God opposes arrogant people,
However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
The Peanut Gallery 