You can watch the bible readings and sermon here, or scroll down to read the rest of the Sunday prayers and content, and watch this video at the point it occurs during worship.
Welcome to all here and those on Zoom. As a motley crew of farm hands, sages from a different country and unaware bystanders gathered around the baby Jesus, so we welcome anyone who wishes to join us, whatever their faith, or lack of it, age, ability, gender and country of origin.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the land on which we meet, and the Dharawal people, their elders past and present.
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Darkness and fear are strong, but we believe that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; in him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. His light shines in the darkness & the darkness has not overcome it”.
We believe that Word and that Light is Jesus the Christ, crucified and risen.
CALL TO WORSHIP is from the lectionary for today, Epiphany Sunday
Isaiah 60 v 1-6 – as the prophet foretells, many will come from afar to praise the Lord.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.
6 Herds of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and incense
and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
7 All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
and I will adorn my glorious temple.
HYMN
Jesus calls us here to meet him,
As, through word and song and prayer
We affirm God’s promised presence
Where his people live and care.
Praise the God who keeps his promise
Praise the Son who calls us friends
Praise the Spirit who, among us
To our hopes and fears attends.
Jesus calls us to confess him
Word of Life and Lord of All
Sharer of our flesh and frailness
Saving all who fail or fall.
Tell his holy human story
Tell his tales that all may hear
Tell the world that Christ in glory
Came to earth to meet us here.
Jesus calls us to each other
Found in him are no divides.
Race and class and sex and language
Such are barriers he derides.
Join the hand of friend and stranger
Join the hands of age and youth
Join the faithful and the doubter
n their common search for truth.
John L Bell 1949 – and Graham Maule 1958 –
Words and music from Wild Goose Songs, Vol 3 Love from Below. By permission Wild Goose Publications. CCLI # 31951
CONFESSION
We come to God knowing that we have failed to obey the call of Jesus
to love God and one another with our whole being;
but we come also to a God who reaches out to us
with healing and reconciliation.
Let us pray. God of all mercy give us grace today to make a fresh start. We know we have not loved you with our whole heart nor have we loved our neighbour as ourselves.
As we hope to be forgiven, teach us how to forgive;
and lead us forward in a new life when neither grudges nor resentment have a part;
through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us:
“Your sins are forgiven”
Thanks be to God.
BIBLE READING – Matthew 2 1-12
HYMN – Unto us a boy is born
REFLECTION
OFFERTORY PRAYER
The wise men of old offered gold, frankincense and myrrh. What can we offer? Our loose change or practise significant stewardship? Our spare time, or examine our priorities? That which we like doing, or all our gifts?
At this Epiphany let us offer all of ourselves to the one who has given all, in praise, gratitude and wonder. Please accept our oddities and failures, our ignorance and misunderstanding – this we ask to the one who accepts and turns water into wine, feeds thousands with very little, and can perform miracles with each one of us. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE
HYMN
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
maker and monarch and Saviour of all.
Say shall we yield him in costly devotion
odours of Edom and offerings divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favour secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Lord, we come to your table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own. We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend. So feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your Son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
And now we give you thanks that because in coming to dwell among us as a man, a new light has dawned upon the world and the radiance of your glory is revealed, a light to all nations. You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under heaven and the whole of creation.
We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of heaven in their eternal song
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We bless you, Sovereign God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who on the night of his betrayal took bread, gave you thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this and eat it. This is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for everyone for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, for the remembrance of me. With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.
And together, screen
Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
Pour out the Holy Spirit on us
And on these gifts of bread and wine,
That they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Accept our thanks and praise, good Father, through your Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
with whom and in whom, and by the Spirit who dwells in us, we worship you in joyful song:
The minister takes the bread and breaks it in full view of the people, in silence or saying:
Christ is the bread of joy, who shares food with sinners
The minister lifts the cup in full view of the people, in silence or saying:
Christ is the cup of life, who revives the faint-hearted.
The minister holds out the bread and the cup to the people and says:
Let us receive what we are; let us become what we receive.
The body of Christ.
During Communion
O magnum mysterium laurisden Voces 8
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Distribution
Christ’s body broken for you
Christ’s life poured out for you
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIION
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ASB 1980)
BLESSING & BENEDICTION
Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; May we embrace epiphanies in our lives, and give us an open mind to respond to change and hearts to follow in your footsteps. Go in peace and with renewed resolve to further the work of that kingdom.
May the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN
Go forth and tell!
O Church of God, awake!
God’s saving news to all the nations take.
Proclaim Christ Jesus, Saviour Lord and King,
That all the world his worthy praise may sing.
Go forth and tell!
God’s love embraces all;
He will in grace respond to all who call.
How shall they call if they have never heard
The gracious invitation of his word?
Go forth and tell!
The doors are open wide:
Share God’s good gifts — let no one be denied.
Live out your life as Christ your Lord shall choose;
Your ransomed powers for his sole glory use.
Go forth and tell!
O Church of God arise!
Go in the strength which Christ your Lord supplies.
Go till all the nations his great name adore
And serve him, Lord and King, for ever more.
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