The Epiphany of the Lord, 03 January: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 ~ may your hearts be thrilled with joy

The Epiphany of the Lord

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening Sentence and Prayer:

On this first Sunday of 2016: we give thanks for the year gone by, and ask for God’s continuing care and protection as we face this new year, not knowing what it will bring.
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God most high, You light the way for all who seek You. Fill us with joy as we behold Your glory, and humble us in worship before You. Arise and shine once again in our darkness, and may nations and kings come into Your radiant light. May Your justice and righteousness reign in the coming year, and all the godly flourish and prosper. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “We Three Kings of Orient Are” – Jennifer Avalon

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6 (NLT)

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

“Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands. Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.
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A Reading from Psalms: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (NLT)

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.

May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
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“Jesus Shall Reign” – Sean Dayton

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A Reading from the Letters: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 (NLT)

You know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.

God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 2:1-12 (NLT)

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

The Star of Bethlehem Gustave Doré (1832-1883) — The Star of Bethlehem
Gustave Doré (1832-1883)

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
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Hymn: “A Christmas Alleluia” – Chris Tomlin, Lauren Daigle, Leslie Jordan

The heavens roar, the angels sing | All glory to our God and King! | O night divine forever more | Alleluia!

You’re the highest name of all | Alleluia!
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Intercessions:

Merciful God: You save all who cry out for help. Come to us now as we begin a new year.

+ For the people of all nations, that they may hear and believe the Good News of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the rulers of all nations, that they come into the light of Christ and govern with justice and compassion…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the Jewish people, our brothers and sisters, that through their faithfulness to Your word, they too may reach Your Kingdom…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people of all faiths and of none, especially Muslim people, that they may discover the grace and truth of Your Son, Jesus Christ and grow in love…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have been driven from their homes by war and violence, that they may receive Your help and protection and return home in peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those in our midst who are sick or in sorrow, that our support may remind them of Your unfailing love and compassion…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our friends and relatives who have died in Christ, that eternal rest and peace may be theirs…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our own needs, for our families, and for those who have asked for our prayers…. Lord, hear us.

O God, You rule the earth with justice: help us all according to our needs, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

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Benediction:

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 02 January – Isaiah 49:8-9; Colossians 2:16-3:4 ~ Come out in freedom; come into the light.

The 9th Day of Christmastide

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

You have been raised to life with Christ. Set your hearts, then, on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.

Morning Reading: Isaiah 49:8-9 (NLT)

This is what the Lord says:

“At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again. I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare.

Morning Reading: Colossians 2:16-3:4 (NLT)

Icon: Head of Christ, 1999 photograph by David Elliott — Icon: Head of Christ, 1999
photograph by David Elliott

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Morning Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, God made man, the new Adam, who has become for us the source of new life – have mercy.

+ Christ, Sun of Justice, You revealed Your glory among us – may we live through Your light with God.
+ Simeon and Anna proclaimed You as the Savior – grant that the Jewish people may accept Your message so long foretold.
+ At Your birth the angels proclaimed glory in heaven and peace on earth – fill our world with the spirit of Your peace.
+ You became the second Adam, renewing all our human ways – bring hope to those who live under the oppression of sin.

God our Father, grant that learning Your truth with humility, we may live by faith and walk in the light of Your love throughout the new year. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Jesus, the Light Of the World “

Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 01 January – Numbers 6:22-27; Luke 2:16-21 ~ May the Lord bless you and protect you.

The 8th Day of Christmastide

+ In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Sentence

Today a wonderful mystery is announced: something new has taken place: God has become man; He remained what He was and has become that which He was not; and though the two natures remain distinct, He is one.

Morning Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Morning Reading: Luke 2:16-21 NLT

Nativity

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

Morning Prayer

Give glory to Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

+ Son of the Virgin Mary, wondrous child and prince of peace, may Your peace be a reality in the world.
+ Lord Jesus, may Your gift of faith grow stronger in us every day and find expression in all our ways of living.
+ You took our human nature to Yourself; help us to grow in humility and godliness.
+ You became a citizen of our world; make us fellow-citizens of Your heavenly kingdom.

God, our Father, grant that we may know the power of our Savior’s love for us – even Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, Your Son, the author of life, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

“Hallelujah” – Lindsey Stirling- #aSaviorIsBorn

Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Morning Prayer: 31 December – John 1:1-18 ~ full of grace and truth

The 7th Day of Christmastide

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. To all who received him he gave power to become children of God.

Morning Reading: John 1:1-18 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

john1_14-spiritbecomesflesh

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Morning Prayer

With humble confidence we turn to Christ the Lord, whose grace has been revealed for the salvation of all mankind. Lord, have mercy on us.

+ Christ, radiance of God’s glory, sustaining the universe with your all-powerful word, give us life today through the power of Your gospel.
+ Christ, Liberator of the whole human race, give all mankind the freedom needed to do Your will.
+ Christ, eternal Son of the Father, yet born for us in the stable at Bethlehem, help Your Church to be ever detached from the unnecessary things of this world.
+ Christ, Son of David, fulfillment of the prophecies, may the Jewish people accept You as their awaited Deliverer.

All-powerful, ever-living God, we thank You for the human birth of Your Son, which is the source and perfection of our Christian life and worship. Number us among His people, for the salvation of all mankind is found in Him, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

“We Shall Behold Him” – Sandi Patty

Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 30 December – Hebrews 1:1-2; Luke 2:36-40 ~ the waiting is over

The 6th Day of Christmastide

+ In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Sentence

The Lord has made known His salvation. He has revealed His saving power, alleluia, alleluia.

Morning Reading: Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.

Morning Reading: Luke 2:36-40 NLT

The Prophet Anna Aurelio Bruni — The Prophet Anna
Aurelio Bruni

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

Morning Prayer

Most loving Son of God, in whom all things are restored by the Father’s will, hear our prayers:

+ Son of God, in the fullness of time You became a man: share with us Your love for everyone.
+ You emptied Yourself to enrich us with Your glory: make us selfless ministers of Your gospel.
+ You brought light into the darkness of our lives: guide all our actions in the ways of virtue, justice and peace.
+ May our hearts be disposed to hear Your word and so be able to do good for ourselves and for our fellow-men.

Almighty God and Father, the human birth of Your Only-Begotten Son was the beginning of new life. May He set us free from the tyranny of sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Newborn” – MercyMe

Hallelujah the newborn has come | Hallelujah the newborn has come | Hallelujah the newborn has come | Hallelujah the newborn has come

Blessing

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)

+ In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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