January 8th, 2023
Epiphany Sunday
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Debbie Potts
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
PRELUDE:
“Largo” ~ G. F. Handel
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Calling all seekers, all dreamers, all believers…
Calling all glass-half-full optimists and lighthouse keepers…
Calling all star-chasers and bedtime prayer speakers…
Bring your questions, your hope, your faith and your fearinto this space.
God is here.
WELCOME & DECLARATION OF SAFE SPACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
*OPENING HYMN:
VU 91 The First Nowell v. 1, 2, 3 & 5
1. The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay a- keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
2. They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
3. And by the light of that same star
three wisemen came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
5. Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
PRAYER OF APPROACH:
God of starlight,
we know that faith isn’t a vending machine.
Good news can’t be bought or manufactured.
It does not arrive with a push of a button.
Instead, in this noisy world, we have to look for you in our midst.
We have to walk toward you, just as the Magi did.
We have to believe that love really can change the world.
We have to seek the stars beyond the city lights.
Forgive us for forgetting that.
Forgive us for seeking you with only part of our hearts.
We long to be more like the Magi;
may we walk your way every single day.
Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
God of starlight,
every part of us is trying to seek you:
our bodies that carried us into this space,
our heads bowed in prayer,
our hearts that keep whispering, “There is more than just this.”
We are seeking you.
Like a dog looking for its owner,
who will search the whole house—
under beds, behind doors,
in every corner of every room
until their person is found—
we are turning over every rock and leaf
looking for fingerprints that belong to you.
So meet us halfway.
Find us in the maze.
Quiet the rest of the world.
Open the door to us
with rich laughter and say,
“Come on in!”
We know you’re near,
so know
that it’s you we seek.
Find us in these words.
Gratefully we pray, amen
SCRIPTURE READINGS: (NRSV)
Matthew 2:1-15
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the baby who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east. We came to worship him.”
When King Herod heard about this new king of the Jews, he was troubled. And all the people in Jerusalem were worried too. Herod called a meeting of all the leading priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ would be born. They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this in the Scriptures:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
you are important among the rulers of Judah.
A ruler will come from you.
He will be like a shepherd for my people, the Israelites.’” Micah 5:2
Then Herod had a secret meeting with the wise men from the east. He learned from them the exact time they first saw the star. Then Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem. He said to them, “Go and look carefully to find the child. When you find him, come tell me. Then I can go worship him too.”
The wise men heard the king and then left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east. It went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy. They went to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary. They bowed down and worshipped the child. They opened the gifts they brought for him. They gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country by a different way.
After they left, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up! Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Herod will start looking for the child to kill him. Stay in Egypt until I tell you to return.”
So Joseph got up and left for Egypt during the night with the child and his mother. Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This was to make clear the full meaning of what the Lord had said through the prophet. The Lord said, “I called my son out of Egypt.”
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM:
“Bathe Me in Your Light” ~ R. Klusmeier
SERMON
*HYMN:
VU 87 I am the Light of the World
Refrain
“I am the Light of the World!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
1. When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found their way home
the work of Christmas is begun:
Refrain
“I am the Light of the World!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
2. To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal that broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above!
Refrain
“I am the Light of the World!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
3. To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere!
Refrain
“I am the Light of the World!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
4. To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby's new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colors of the earth!
Refrain
“I am the Light of the World!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O God, who are our heavenly parent, our mother,
Our Father who art in heaven…
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Everyone is invited to share the peace of Christ by offering a message in the chat box.
You may also wish to think of someone you would like to pass the peace to this week.
MUSIC FOR PASSING THE PEACE:
Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
DEDICATION of OFFERING:
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Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
Care, Prayer, Share
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GOOD NEWS CANDLE
*CLOSING HYMN:
VU 96 Will You Come and See the Light
1. Will you come and see the light from the stable door?
It is shining newly bright, though it shone before.
It will be your guiding star, it will show you who you are;
will you hide, or decide to meet the light?
2. Will you step into the light that can free the slave?
It will stand for what is right, it will heal and save.
By the pyramids of greed there’s a longing to be freed;
will you hide, or decide to meet the light?
3. Will you tell about the light in the prison cell?
Though it’s shackled out of sight, it is shining well.
When the truth is cut and bruised, and the innocent abused,
will you hide, or decide to meet the light?
4. Will you join the hope, a light in the young girl’s eyes,
of the mighty put to flight by a baby’s cries?
When the lowest and the least are the foremost at the feast,
will you hide, or decide to meet the light?
5. Will you travel by the light of the babe new born?
In the candle lit at night there’s a gleam of dawn,
and the darkness all about is too dim to put it out:
will you hide, or decide to meet the light?
*COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION:
*SUNG BLESSING:
VU 429 May the Blessing of God Be upon You
May the blessing of God be upon you.
May God’s love light all your way.
May the grace of Christ enfold you
and peace around you stay.
May the Spirit of God dwell within you.
May you live in joy each day.
POSTLUDE:
“Waltz, Opus 69 #2” ~ Chopin
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES:
The following are used with permission:
Prayers are all from Sanctified Art, Advent 2022 “From Generation to Generation”
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “The First Nowell:’ Words: English traditional carol, ca. 17th century, alt.Music: English traditional melody; harm. John Steiner 1871; desc. and harm. Healey Willan 1926Refrain harmony and descant copyright © 1926 Oxford University Press, Inc. One License #608577
- “I Am the Light of the World:” Words: Jim Strathdee 1967. Music: Jim Strathdee 1967Words and music copyright © 1969 Desert Flower Music. One License #608577
- “Will You Come and See the Light:” Words: Brian Wren 1989. Music: Traditional Scottish melody, arr. Valerie Ruddle 1993.Words and arrangement copyright © 1993 Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577
- “May the Blessing of God BeUpon You:” Words: R. Gordon Nodwell 1989. Music: William H.M. Wright 1989. Words copyright © 1995 Gordon Nodwell. Music copyright © William H. M. Wright
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Prelude: “Largo” ~ G. F. Handel
Anthem: “Bathe Me in Your Light” ~ R. Klusmeier
Music for Passing the Peace: Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
Postlude: “Waltz, Opus 69 #2” ~ Chopin
