Tag: Year A

January 22, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 9.1-4 celebrates the light of God’s liberating grace, which overwhelms the darkness of war, injustice and oppression.

Psalm 27 says, If God is my light, then I have nothing to fear. I seek to live close to God (“in the house of the Lord”), to pay attention to God’s presence (“to seek God’s face”) and to live according to God’s leading (“Teach me your way”).

In 1 Corinthians 1. 10-18 Paul responds to news of divisions in the church in Corinth with a plea for unity. Our unity does not come from anyone’s leadership, but from our life in Christ.

In Matthew 4.12-23 Jesus proclaims God’s power and presence in the world (“The realm of heaven has come near”). He calls disciples to follow him in proclaiming the good news and healing people. Jesus then goes about living out the good news he proclaims.

Preaching Thoughts

The great theme of the Epiphany season is the church’s calling to bear the light of Christ into the world. It is not our beliefs about that light, but the light itself in us, that unites us.

In the Isaiah reading the Epiphany theme of light shines forth. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Justice, liberation and the end of warfare is like dawn after a dark night. The Psalm reflects that light: “God is my light and my salvation.”

Matthew locates Jesus in Galilee, quoting the Isaiah passage, thereby placing Jesus in the prophetic tradition, and the work of justice and liberation. By establishing the prophetic context Matthew suggests that Jesus’ healings aren’t just individual favors: Jesus is healing the cosmos. The call to follow is a call to more than personal devotion: it’s a call to participate in that work.

It doesn’t really matter whether or not Simon, Andrew, James and John knew Jesus before he called them. What matters is that they left everything. What might we have to leave behind to really faithfully follow Jesus? What nets still entangle us, what loyalties keep us rooted to the spot?

What exactly does Jesus mean by “fishing for people?” Keep the question open. (Don’t get stuck on the literal image of “catching” people like helpless, unsuspecting fish.) It doesn’t necessarily mean capturing converts, which is a little manipulative, demeaning and oppressive. It can mean gathering people into the net of God’s grace. It can mean seeking the treasure that is other people. It can be about deepening relationships with others instead of seeking our own profit. It can mean being “bait” that attracts people to God.

Call to Worship

1. [ Isaiah 9.2-4]
Leader: The people who walked in darkness
        have seen a great light;
All: those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
        on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
        you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
        as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
        and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
        you have broken as on the day of Midian.
All the weapons of war and the wounds of war
        are done away with, burned as fuel for the fire.
Alleluia!

2.
Leader: Creator God, you are light in our darkness;
you are the morning rising in our night.
All: Your dawning touches our heart.
We turn to you.
We awaken.
Christ, light of the world, you call to us.
Your voice stirs in our hearts.
Our hopes catch fire.
We want to follow you.
Holy Spirit, you are the rising sun in us that brings us to new life.
Alleluia! May we shine with your light.
Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light,
All: for you have sent us Christ, who has broken oppression,
and overcome the forces of war.
You are our light and our salvation. Whom shall we fear?
May we dwell in your heart all our days,
and behold your beauty.
Teach us your ways, O God, and lead us in a path of love and wisdom.
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

4.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, we greet you!
We give thanks that your Realm of grace is at hand.
Have mercy on us, and receive our prayers.
You alone rule all Creation, and we look to you for our salvation.
Grant your peace in this world, and bless those who seek you.
Christ gathers us in the net of his love, and makes us fishers of people.
Alleluia! Grant that we may follow Christ
and be transformed by the power of your Spirit. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of truth, you speak your Word, and we barely hear it beneath the rumble and clatter of our world. Tune the ears of our heart to your voice. Clear our minds to listen. Let us hear Jesus calling us, and answer, and follow, by the powerful grace of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

2.
Loving God, Jesus called the disciples and they followed. In scripture and reflection, in prayer, in song and in silence, help us to hear your voice, to lay aside all that entangles us, and to follow you. May we follow now in our worship and all our days, by the grace of your Spirit. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, you cast your net into the deep waters of our hearts. Draw us up, gather us into the net of your making, so that we will come to you and follow. Even now, silver fish deep in our hearts are rising toward the light. Help us to hear your voice. Help us to answer. Help us to follow you. Amen.

4.
God of love, Christ proclaimed that the realm of heaven has drawn near, and called us to repent. We give thanks for the realm of your grace, and turn from our self-centered lives in order to hear your good news. Bless us, that as the scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed, we may hear what you are saying to us today. Amen.

5.
God of love, our eyes are on the nets of our work.
Open them to receive your call.
Our hands are on the worn, familiar wood of the boats of our lives.
Open them to reach for you.
We are casting our nets into the riches of this world.
May we cast the nets of our hearts into the deep sea of your grace.
May all of our work, and all of our lives,
become one with your work of the healing of the world,
in the name and Spirit of Christ.

Prayer of Confession

Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
All: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
Gentle God,
into the darkness of our hearts,
shine your light,
that we may see,
and that all that is not of life and blessing may be made new.
As the dawn transforms the night,
forgive our sin,
and make us new in the power of your grace. Amen.
(Silent prayer… the word of grace )

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Loving Christ, unexpected,
you come into our lives
and ask us to follow.
We leave our nets,
let go of all that entangles,
surrender all our other loyalties,
and we come with you.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

1.
         We believe in God, creator of all, who has fashioned each in God’s image, with God’s gifts, God’s love, God’s glory.
         We are called to follow Jesus, God’s love made flesh, who fed and healed, who taught and forgave, who called forth a community of freedom and justice. For his challenge to systems of injustice he was crucified; but he was raised from the dead, and still goes before us in life.
         We live by the power and the grace of the Holy Spirit, God’s loving presence leading, guiding, empowering us. We are called and gifted by the Spirit to join Jesus in lives of compassion, forgiveness, beauty, joy and justice. We commit ourselves to trust in God, to follow Jesus, and to listen to the Holy Spirit in all our lives, and to help one another to do so, as the Body of Christ. These things we profess with our words and our lives, with the help of the Spirit, in the name of Christ. Amen.

2.
       We give our hearts to you, God, Creator of all things, ruler of all things to come, our light and our life.
       We follow Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who taught and healed, who loved and blessed, who called disciples and proclaimed the Realm of your grace. He was crucified and buried, but you raised him to new life. He lives among us, and calls us still to follow as his apprentices in the ministry of the healing of the world.
      We live by the Holy Spirit, as the Body of Christ, your Church. We trust in the power of forgiveness, the reality of resurrection, the presence of eternal life, and the communion of all people as one. We commit ourselves to follow Jesus in prayer, in faith, in love and in service, by the grace of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

3.
We believe in God, maker of all things. We follow Christ, who healed and taught and proclaimed the good news of your love. He was crucified, yet you raised him from death and he lives with us now, teaching us love. We believe in the power of love to change lives, to lead people to you, and to hold us together in a net of grace. We believe that we are called to serve Christ as fishers of people, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the power of forgiveness, the communion of saints, the reality of resurrection and the infinite promise of life. Amen.

Poetry

                     No fear

          The Lord is my light and my salvation;
                    whom shall I fear?
          The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
                    of whom shall I be afraid?
                                   — Psalm 27.1

Inside you, God,
there is nothing to fear.
No power can overwhelm,
no enemy threaten.

Be light in me,
pure and powerful light
that cannot be injured,
that simply shines
without fear.

May I be light,
strong and unafraid,
trusting and true.
Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

[After the introduction the body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presider(s) only.]

Leader:God is with you.
All: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We thank you, God, for this beautiful and amazing world.
Shoals of blessing shimmer just beyond what we see.
When our lives seem bleak or pointless,
you bring to the surface such abundant grace we are astonished.
Our minds can scarcely comprehend it. Our nets are near breaking.
So we fall to our knees, humbled and in awe.
But you lift us up and call us to lives of praise and service.
Therefore with gratitude and wonder we sing your praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who climbs into the boat of our lives and teaches us,
who directs us into deeper waters,
who multiplies blessing.
He calls us to join him in ministry to the world,
and promises to be with us always.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)

As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]


Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
fishers of people, who behold the bounty of your grace,
and who cast the net of your love far and wide in this world
for the sake of all your Beloved.

      [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending

1.
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in our gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Jesus goes before us and beckons us to follow. By your Spirit help us follow: help us live lives of love and courage, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace, and use them according to your will. Send us into the world as your disciples to join in your work of teaching and healing, and proclaiming the good news of your grace, for the sake of the transformation of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace, and use them according to your will. By the power of your Spirit at work in us, may we be fishers of people, drawing them in to your heart, gathering them in the great network of love that is your church, blessing them with your grace. Send us in the power of your Spirit, and in the name and company of Christ. Amen

Prayer after Communion

God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have caught us up in the net of your grace, and you have called us to follow Christ. Give us faith and courage to follow. Guide us by your Spirit. Fill us with your love. Make us lovers of people, in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World         (Original song) – [weekly Epiphany “Theme song”]
A dialogue between soloist and congregation. May be used as a “theme song” throughout the Epiphany season, using two or three verses per week. Throughout the season the congregation sings the chorus; each week the soloist’s verses relate to the day’s lectionary readings. Lyrics for this week:

Congregation
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor:
The people in darkness have seen a great light. On them your glory has risen.
For you have broken oppression’s power. Your people rejoice!

You are my light, God, so who shall I fear? You shelter me, safe in your mercy.
Jesus, your call illumines my way, and so I will follow.


Calling Me – (Original song)

Dear God, Creator eternally, you call everything to be.
How are you calling me, even now?
Who do you call me to be? Where is your image in me, calling me?

Jesus, lord of the fishermen, calling your children,
you call to me once again, even now.
What will you lead me to do? How can I witness to you, calling me, calling me?

Spirit, power of love in me, how do you set me free,
what gifts are you giving me, even now?
I am a vessel for you. Humbly I listen to you, calling me, calling me.


Drawing Me           (Original song)

Holy One, Mystery, how will you keep drawing me
nearer to the heart within the heart?
Nearer still, falling in, closer to the heart within,
draw me God. I fall into your love.
Lover, you are calling, you are drawing,
I am falling into you in love.

Deep in me there’s a voice, there’s a hunger, there’s a choice,
seeking something vital that is you.
By your grace drawing me, may I fall eternally
nearer to my center deep in you.
Lover, you are calling, you are drawing,
I am falling into you in love.

January 15, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 49.1-7 is the second of Isaiah’s “servant songs” (we heard the first last week). As God’s servant you may feel you have “labored in vain,” but, doing God’s will, you are sustained. God says, “It is not enough to serve your own people; I will give you as a light to the whole world.” You will even gain the respect of rulers.

Psalm 40.1-11 turns from concern with one’s self to God, to the whole community. First we give thanks for God’s help in trouble, and praise those who trust God. Then we affirm that what God wants is not “sacrifices and sin offerings” but “an open ear” to listen for God’s desire, and the commitment to do God’s will. Finally we move to telling “the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation.”

In 1 Corinthians 1. 1-9 Paul greets the church in Corinth as those “called to be saints,” assuring them that they do not lack any spiritual gift so that they can serve faithfully.

In John 1. 29-42 John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” saying that he saw the Spirit descend and remain on him. Some of John’s disciples begin to follow Jesus, including Andrew, who recruits his brother Peter.

Preaching Thoughts

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
(See worship resources specifically for for MLK Jr. Day here.)

Isaiah
It’s tempting to want to have power and authority, to be admired and listened to. But Isaiah suggests that God’s servant will not necessarily be glorified—but God will. When devote ourselves to serving God, and allow God’s Spirit to work through us, good stuff happens… though we might never see the results. We might think we’ve labored in vain. Bu the assurance is that in the big picture, our little labors make a difference.

1 Corinthians
We often speak of our dreams our hopes and aspirations in life; but we don’t often speak of being called: not that we desire to do something or be someone, but that God calls us and gives us the gifts to carry out God’s purposes in our lives. Our calling is not necessarily what we want to do but what the Spirit, live and free in us, wants to do. (Though sometimes what you feel drawn to is exactly what the Spirit is in you to do!) The key is not having any special skill or ability, but discerning how God is acting in and through our lives.

Lamb of God
You can preach a few dozen sermons on various aspects of the rich image of Jesus as the lamb of God who take away the sin of the world. Note that Jesus doesn’t take away our (plural) sins—our acts of selfishness—but he takes away our sin—the state of being separated from God (or at least thinking we are). Jesus connects us with God even as we continue to think we’re separate and act as if we’re the center of (or the only thing in) the world.

Some folks interpret this image with that misleading substitutionary idea, that Jesus suffered punishment so we wouldn’t have to, by being a sacrificial lamb—a scapegoat. It’s true that Jesus is a scapegoat: society loads its sins on him and expects him to carry them away, off into the desert. This is how we treat all the victims of injustice: they suffer so we don’t have to. But Jesus’ ministry makes it clear that that doesn’t actually take away our sin: it makes it worse. “What you do to the least of these you do to me.” Our slaughter of God’s lambs only deepens our alienation from God. But the good news is that even in our sin, even as we torture God by causing God’s beloved children to suffer, Jesus does away with our separation from God: in his being he embodies the unity of the human and divine, and in his ministry he makes clear that we are forgiven and have no reason to distance ourselves from God. In that manner he takes away the sin of the world.

And maybe it’s in that same vein that Jesus sends us out like lambs in the midst of wolves (Lk. 10.13).

Invitations
Don’t overlook the wonderful exchange between Jesus and the two disciples.
—He asks “What are you looking for?” That’s a question Jesus keeps asking us. Ponder that. Of course we’re seeking God—but how, in what form? When we think we’ve found something, how will we know its actually God, and not something easier and cheaper we were looking for instead? If we find happiness, is that God? Or success? Or is it more likely to be healing, or justice? Can we learn to seek simply being one with God, without other trappings?
—They answer “Where are you staying?” It might be curiosity about his lodgings, but maybe it’s more like “What do you stand for? What principles do you stand on? Where are you at?” Or maybe the question we most often have: “Where should we look for you?”
—He answers “Come and see.” Isn’t that Jesus’ invitation to us all the time? Not “Here, let me tell you what to think,” but “Come closer. Pay attention. Notice what you see.”


“Takes away the sin”
What might it meant to say that Jesus “takes away the sin of the world” in the face of racism? Certainly not that we’re done with racism. And certainly not that God doesn’t judge racism. God judges and condemns racism, militarism, materialism, violence and oppression in every form. It doesn’t mean that we are not guilty, culpable and responsible to effect restitution. So what does it mean?

I think it meas that Jesus removes the distance between us and God that our racism creates. When white folks separate ourselves from people of color, even unthinkingly, when we participate in white supremacy, even accidentally, we betray our oneness with all people and with God. We alienate ourselves from God. But even in our sin God holds us close. Jesus reveals this to us, and invites us to live out of God’s grace instead of our fears and habits. In that way he sets us free. He takes away the sin of the world. Guilt is no longer the issue. The issue is how we establish and maintain just relationships.

Call to Worship

1. (John 1.35-39)
Leader: John was standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus went by he said,
“Look, here is the lamb of God!”
All: The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following him he said,
“What are you looking for?”
Calling him teacher, they said,
“Rabbi, where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and see.”
They came and saw where he was staying,
and they remained with him that day.
Jesus, we come to be near you, to see, and to stay with you.

2. ( based on Psalm 29)
Leader: God, you have rescued us from the pit of our despairing.
All: You have put a new song in our mouths.
You have given us Christ, who delights to do your will.
We are glad to tell the good news of your salvation.
You do not desire burnt offerings and sacrifices.
But you have given us open ears.
May we hear, and in our hearing praise you. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: Lamb of God, Forgiving One, you carry our sin.
All: Lamb of God, you give yourself for us, and set us free.
Lamb of God, faithful servant, you call us.
Lamb of God, Gentle One, you show us the way.
In your spirit, we follow.
Bless us, and use us for your will. Amen.

4.
Leader: Creator God, eternal Spirit of Love, we praise you!
All: Your grace is our salvation, and we thank you!
Risen Christ, Lamb of God, you have shown us the Way of Life.
Gentle One, give us your Spirit to follow on the Way of Love.
Holy Spirit, as you descended upon Christ, come to us, and remain with us.
Grant us the compassion to trust your love,
to love others as ourselves, and to live only in love.
Glory be to you, O God of all Creation, God of our Salvation!
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

5.
Leader: Jesus asked John’s followers,
“What are you looking for?”
All: We are looking for you, God.
They asked him, “Where are you staying?”
Where shall we look for you?
He answered , “Come and see.”
We come to you, God. We draw near to look and listen,
to behold you among us. We come to worship.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of mercy, you have sent us Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. We want to see him, to hear his word, to receive your grace through him. Speak your Word to us, and give us life. Amen.

2.
God of love, you have given us as light to the nations. Speak to us now and fill us with the light of your Word. Show us Jesus, so we might see, and follow. Amen.

3.
God of love, you sent us your lamb to show us the way of mercy and justice. Open our hearts that we may hear your call, receive your grace, and follow the Lamb. Amen.

4.
Gracious God: Jesus, the Lamb of God, walks through our midst. He asks what we are looking for. We are looking for him, and for his grace. He invites us to come and see. Help us to draw near, and to look and listen; help us to follow. Amen.

5.
Lamb of God, Anointed One,
you take away the sin of the world,
and we worship you.
Lamb of God, Gentle One,
you walk beside us
through green pastures
and the valley of the shadow of death,
and we follow you.
Lamb of God, Tender One,
you suffer for us, and we thank you.
Lamb of God, Willing One,
you live in us, and we bear your loveliness
onto this hurting world.

Prayer of Confession

1.
Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
All: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
Gather us in your loving arms;
have mercy on us and forgive us,
and transform us according to your grace,
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
by the grace of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
[Silent prayer… the word of grace]

2.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
we turn to you.
Our sin is more than we can bear;
but you have forgiven us completely.
We sin more than we know,
and you forgive us more than we can imagine.
In your mercy, help us accept you grace,
become more free, and live as new people.
[Silent prayer… the word of grace]

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)
1.
Lamb of God,
as the Spirit descended upon you,
so may it descend upon us and remain,
that we may be your gentle lambs.

2.
God of love,
Jesus says “Come and see.”
We come, to be near you.
We come, to behold you.
We come, to discern.
Open our eyes.

3.
Christ, Lamb of God, walk with us through green pastures.
Rest with us beside still waters.
Lamb of God, accompany us in paths of righteousness.
Even through the valley of the shadow of death,
lead us Lamb of God, to eternal life.
Amen.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

      We believe in God, the Creator of all that is, whose only desire is life and blessing, and whose grace alone is our salvation.
      We follow Christ, the Lamb of God, the Forgiving One, who revealed God by healing, loving, and blessing. By the Spirit of God that descended upon him Jesus showed us a world ruled by God’s grace alone. He forgave his enemies and taught us to do the same, gentle as a lamb. For his love he was crucified. But on the third day God raised him to new life. He lives among us still, granting to us his spirit of peace and love.
      We live by the Holy Spirit, God’s presence in all people, which makes us one; and God’s power in us to live with compassion and courage. We are Christ’s Body, the one Church. We trust in the power of forgiveness, the reality of resurrection and the mystery of eternal life. We devote ourselves as followers of the Lamb of God to lives of gentleness, forgiveness and compassion, that we ourselves may be lambs of God for the healing of the world. Amen.

Poetry

                Lamb of God

It has been said you actually can
get the lion and lamb to lie down together.
It just takes a lot of lambs.

This is true. Jesus is the lamb
who lies down with us, the lions,
and we consume him.

God-with-us enters
our ravenous selfishness
and fills even our sin with God.

Jesus enters the jaws of death
and holds them open for us
to walk through safely.

Even in our sin and death
God is with us, so there is
no separation between us.

Be mindful of the lamb,
gently present, vulnerable,
always with us in love.

Behold the lamb of God,
who takes away
the sin of the world.

Eucharistic Prayer

[After the introduction the body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presiding leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Gracious One, we give you thanks,
for you create us in love, claim us with faithfulness,
and continually set us free.
You guide and shelter us and feed us as your tender lambs.
God of Love, Shepherd of our Souls, in love
you come among us as one of the sheep in Jesus, the Lamb of God.
By your grace you take away the sin of the world.
In grateful joy we sing your praise, with all Creation.

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
the Lamb of God, in whom your Spirit lived.
He taught and healed, fed the hungry, and stood for justice.
He was crucified, and you raised him from the dead.
By his grace he takes away the sin of the world,
saving us from our fear and distrust of you.
Lamb of God, he renews for us your Covenant
to be with us in love forever.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
gentle as lambs among wolves,
through our courage and love
to participate in your work of the healing of the world,
in the name of Christ.
[Spoken or sung:]
       Amen

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

1.
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in our gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Send us in the power of your Spirit as your lambs, to do justice, to practice mercy, to walk humbly and confidently with you in the ways of peace, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
2.
Gracious God, in gratitude for all you have given us, and in faithful stewardship of what you have placed in our hands to share with the world, we give our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Help us to follow Christ in setting this world free from fear, in the name of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

3.
God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Lamb of God, you who take away the sin of the world, grant that in gratitude we may follow you, for the sake of the mending of the world. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World (Original song) – [Epiphany “Theme song”]
[A dialogue between soloist and congregation. May be used as a “theme song” throughout the Epiphany season, using one to three verses per week. Throughout the season the congregation sings the chorus; each week the soloist’s verses relate to the day’s lectionary readings. Lyrics for this week:]

Congregation
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor:
“You are my servant in whom I delight, a light unto the nations.”
Shine for the ones who dwell in the dark, with comfort and justice.

Jesus, Beloved, the Lamb of God, the light of your love shining brightly,
you take away the sin of the world, and we will follow.


Behold the Lamb of God (Original song)

Behold the lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world.
Come, let us follow.
Come, let us follow the lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world.

January 8, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 42.1-9 describes God’s gentle servant, who brings healing and justice—nonviolently.

Psalm 29 celebrates God’s strength and the power of God’s voice, which is “enthroned over the flood” like the Spirit brooding over the waters at Creation.

In Acts 10.34-43 Peter summarizes Jesus’ life and ministry: anointed by the Spirit, he went about doing good and healing; he was put to death but rose again, and sends us to bring grace to other people.

Matthew 3. 13-17 tells of Jesus’ baptism.

Preaching Thoughts

Baptism
(I’ve offered thoughts on Baptism in more detail here.)
Today is a great day to offer a Baptismal Renewal. (Here’s a baptismal / renewal liturgy.) Like being married, we are only baptized once, and don’t need to “remarry,” but we need to renew our vows all the time. It’s a great way to start the new year. Here’s a Service of Baptismal Renewal. And here are some general thoughts about the meaning of baptism. And here’s a brief summary of some salient points.
• Baptism is A symbol of death and rebirth. God births us (“born of water and the Spirit, Jn. 3.5) and re-creates us as God’s Beloved, sets us free, and empowers us to live by God’s Spirit. As with the waters of chaos at Creation, God’s water breaks and God gives us new birth as people of the Spirit (1 Pet. 1.3-5). We are born again (always) as beloved children of God.
• God joyfully claims us as God’s Own: “You are my child, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3.17). God doesn’t just tolerate us: God is actually delighted with us!
• God washes us clean of our past, our shame and our fear. God promises healing and blessing. The bath” of baptism isn’t just the washing away of the guilt for the bad stuff we do; it’s also washing away our fear that we’re not good enough. “With you I am well pleased!”
• The Spirit flows through us, makes us alive, and nourishes us like water in our bodies or a plant.
• We are immersed in Christ, part of the Body of Christ.
• God invites us to join Jesus in washing people’s feet.
• God shares our tears.
• The trick to being re-born is that first we have to die. We drown in Christ, losing our individual, self-made, self-enclosed “self,” and we are raised to new life as part of Christ’s body (Rom. 6.4; Col. 2.12).
• We surrender our ego’s insistence on being an individual and “die” into unity with the Holy One. We are all part of one life, one heart, one body.
• God goes with us through the Red sea, setting us free from what oppresses us and charging us to help God set others free.
• God invites us to entrust ourselves to God: to let ourselves float in the River of God, trusting that God bears us, letting God take us where God will.
• God anoints us as people who love not by the world’s expectations but by the Spirit.
• Like the water in a river (and its power), the Holy Spirit is the power in us to love boldly, to offer mercy and to do justice.
• We baptize infants because it’s not a symbol of our faith, but God’s “prevenient” action. Baptism is God’s “I do.” Confirmation is our response.

The ritual act of Baptism itself doesn’t make any of this happen like some magic trick; it’s already happening. The sacrament symbolizes all this in a way we can experience it and let it shape our living

Isaiah 42
The song in Isaiah 42. 1-9 is one of the “Servant Songs” praising God’s servant, who suffers in order to do God’s will. God says the servant is “my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (a phrase quoted at Jesus’ baptism). This servant will be nonviolent (“a bruised reed he will not break”) and will establish justice and liberate the oppressed and imprisoned. The allusion to this passage at Jesus’ baptism places his ministry in the prophetic context: not saving individual souls but calling the nation to righteousness and justice. It does the same for baptism. We are not baptized into a club. We are baptized into a workforce, the Body of Christ, sent to do the work of healing and justice.

Gospel
The voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptism alludes to two Old testament scriptures: “This is my son” sounds like Psalm 2, which people considered to be about the Messiah. The phrase “with whom I am well pleased” sounds like Isaiah’s song about a suffering servant. The combination of the two allusions suggests that Jesus is the anointed one of God—though not a conquering warrior, but a suffering reconciler.

A frequently asked question: If John performed a baptism of repentance and the forgiveness of sin, why was Jesus baptized? He didn’t sin, did he? Three responses.
       A. The idea that Jesus was sinless is related to the image of him as a sacrificial lamb, without blemish. In real life, I bet he did sin. He was a human being. Sin is way too pernicious for even Jesus to avoid. It’s human nature. It’s the function of the ego. We don’t need Jesus to be perfect to believe God lived fully in him, and that he sets us free from our sin. In fact I think Jesus has more authority in our struggle against sin precisely because he did sin, and had to learn to be free even from his own sin.
       B. To repent is to turn to God. We have to do this every moment of the day. Whenever our love, desire, gratitude or attention is focused on anything other than God, it’s sin. Even Jesus had to repent, to continually return to God. His authority as a savior is not in his never having needed forgiveness, but in his always letting go and turning to God, always asking for forgiveness, and always trusting it.
      C. John’s baptism was for forgiveness of sin; but baptism in Christ is a different thing. In receiving baptism Jesus changed it from merely repenting to being re-created, born of God and filled with the Spirit. So sometimes the apostles encountered people who knew of John’s baptism, but not baptism “in the Holy Spirit”—as in Acts 18.25 and 19.1-7. Jesus’s baptism wasn’t primarily about repentance: it was about being open to being born again in the Spirit. That’s the baptism we celebrate. In Jesus’ baptism, baptism itself was reborn: re-created as something new, something which we could share with him.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: In the beginning when God began to create,
the world was formless and void,
and the Spirit of God brooded over the waters.
All: The voice of the Holy One is over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
The light was the life of all beings.
The Spirit like a dove descends upon us.
O God, we worship you. We serve you. We trust you.

2.
Leader: God of love, your grace flows about us like a mighty river.
All: It is gentle, and it is strong.
We are immersed in your presence.
You give us life, and we thank you.
We come to plunge into you, O God.
In the water of your womb, birth us once again to a new and holy life.
Alleluia!

3.
Leader: In the beginning, O God,all is darkness, formless and empty.
All: “Light!” you say, and there is light, and the light is the life of all people.
In the desert, water flows, and you invite us.
Christ, river of life, we come to you.
Spirit, dove of peace, pure energy of love, you sing out in us:
We are your beloved in whom you are well pleased.
We plunge into your grace, and we are made new.
We rise, newborn and gleaming. In praise and thanksgiving we worship you.
Alleluia!

4.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
All:: Risen Christ, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, we are one body by your grace.
You alone are holy, and we worship you.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, to share our life and our struggles,
our suffering and our death.
Alleluia! Baptized into Christ, we are one with his resurrection.
We worship you, O God, with praise and thanksgiving,.
one with Christ in the Holy Spirit. Alleluia!

5.
Christ was baptized in the Jordan, immersed in our lives.
And we are baptized into Christ.
You spoke to him, claimed him as your beloved,
and poured out your Holy Spirit upon him.
Alleluia! Speak to us and claim us in his name.Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

6. (Psalm 29:1-4)
Leader: Ascribe to the Holy One, O heavenly beings,
All: Ascribe to God glory and strength.
Ascribe to God the glory of God’s name,
Worship God in holy splendor.
The voice of God is upon the water.
The God of glory thunders, the Supreme upon many waters.
The voice of God is powerful.
The voice of God is full of majesty.
Let us praise the name of the Holy One!
Alleluia! Let us worship in awe!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of love, as John baptized Jesus in the Jordan, baptize us in your Word. Immerse us in your presence, fill us with your Spirit, wash us with your grace, nourish us with your joy, and empower us to do your will, for the sake of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
God of life we turn to you for life. God of love, we come to drink of your love. God of light, we open our hearts, that we may shine with your light. Bathe us in your Word; immerse us in your grace. Amen.

3.
God of love, as Jesus was immersed in the waters of the Jordan, immerse us in your love. As Jesus heard you speak, so may we hear your Word, your promise, your ever-present, deeply loving voice. Baptize us in your Spirit, O God, and birth us anew in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, John the Baptist called people to a baptism of repentance, and Jesus came to be baptized. Jesus comes with us now, to hear your Word, to be baptized in your light, and to be drawn into service in the power of your Spirit. Give us life, God: give us your Word. Amen.

5.
Gracious God, as Jesus waded out into the Jordan and was baptized, we wade into your Word; we immerse ourselves in your presence, we bathe ourselves in your voice. May the heavens open to us as we listen and receive. May your Spirit descend upon us. May we hear your voice, and be transformed in order to do your will, in the name of Christ. Amen.

6.
Loving God, at the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with your Holy Spirit. Enable us, and all who are baptized into Christ, to be faithful to our calling as your children and stewards of your Holy Spirit. Open our hearts now, so that as the scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed, we may hear your voice renewing your Covenant with us today. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Down, deep
into the water of your grace
we sink.
Hold us, bathe us,
birth us.
We are yours.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

Leader: Eternal God, in the beginning your Spirit brooded over the waters.
All: You breathed into us the spirit of life.
The Red Sea was the water of our womb,
where we came to life by your grace.
We have come out into the world as your children,
your beloved in whom you delight.
Jesus invites us into the waters of his baptism,
into his tears, his suffering, his death.
And with him we are raised to new life,
born again of water and the Word.
God anoints us with the Spirit, to be a light to the nations,
to establish justice, to open the eyes of the blind, to set free the prisoners.
Alleluia! We are baptized into Christ,
and transformed by your grace. Alleluia!

Poetry

 
           Baptized into you

Eternal God,

Baptized into you,
I am immersed in you.

You are poured into me:
I am your body; you are my blood.

Baptized into Christ Jesus,
I am Christ myself.

My is life poured into the same cup
as you: one cup, one body.

With Christ, then, let me be poured out
in love for the world;

emptied infinitely, infinitely filled,
a vessel of your infinite Spirit.

Glory to you, O God,
Mother, Son and Holy Spirit.

Baptismal blessing

May the grace of a flowing spring well up in you,
a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.
The renewal of a flowing stream be yours;
the gift of God’s blessing like warm rain fall upon you.
May God’s love, hidden as the darkness of the deepest sea,
full of wonder and mystery, give you peace.
May the river of your life carry you always in grace.
May the love of God flow through you,
making all the world green and beautiful.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending

1.
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in our gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Lead us always into the depths of your love, into the flowing stream of your Spirit, into the clear waters of discernment, and into the world to serve, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, you have claimed us as your beloved children., promised us your faithful presence, and anointed us with your Spirit that we may do your will in this world. In gratitude we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace, and use them according to your will. Send us into the world as your faithful servants, that in our living we may show forth your grace and proclaim your love, in the name of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World (Original song) – [weekly Epiphany “Theme song”]
A dialogue between soloist and congregation. May be used as a “theme song” throughout the Epiphany season, using one to three verses per week. Throughout the season the congregation sings the chorus; each week the soloist’s verses relate to the day’s lectionary readings. Lyrics for this week:

Congregation
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor:
“You are my servant in whom I delight, a light unto the nations.”
Shine for the ones who dwell in the dark, with comfort and justice.

God said, “Let light shine out of the dark,” and shines with that glory in Jesus.
And when we turn our faces to Christ, God shines in our own heart.

See all songs with Baptism tag, especially these:


God, We Rise to Serve You       
           (Tune: Sing We Now of Christmas / Now the Green Blade Rises]

God, we rise to serve you, baptized in your love
as your Holy Spirit hovers like a dove.
We, your Beloved, whom you bless with grace,
offer you our gifts with love and joy and peace.

God, your Spirit in us, dove with wings unfurled,
gives us pow’r to bring forth justice to the world.
Baptized in Christ, we serve with mercy’s grace,
bringing to the world your love and joy and peace.


Immersed in Blessing       (Tune: Joyful, Joyful)

Baptized in your grace with Jesus, loving God, we sing your praise.
Echoing your own delight, with joy and thanks our song we raise.
Your beloved children, birthed anew and rising from your womb,
God, we bear your love through all our living, and beyond the tomb.

God you heal, forgive and nourish, and revive us breath by breath;
you restore our broken trust and save us from our fear of death.
Like a dry and withered plant revived by water at its root,
we are saved by streams of grace, for flourishing and bearing fruit.

Bathed in grace, immersed in blessing, joined with your Beloved Son,
how can we not love each other?— for your Spirit makes us One.
Carried on a stream of mercy, springs beneath and rain above,
may we flow with peace and in your Spirit flood the world with love.


Spirit Feast (Tune: Cradle Song)

With hearts that are baptized in mercy and grace,
we enter the mystery of this time and place
to feast on your mercy in light from above,
receiving your Spirit, made one in your love.

The cup that we drink from flows deep with your love,
the water of blessing, descent of the dove.
“My Chosen, Beloved, in whim I am pleased,”
we’re sent by your Spirit to shine with your light.

With blest, grateful hearts, God, we come to this feast,
and pray that your Spirit in us be released.
This sharing, this joy and this justice you share
is ours now to bring to the word everywhere.

Your Hands and Your Face     (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)

God of all holiness, baptized in you,
we are your Body: your presence shines through.
We, poor in spirit, are blessed with your own.
May our lives shine forth with your grace alone.

We who with Jesus do mourn with the world
shall see your banners of deep joy unfurled.
We who are hungry for love freely shared
feast at the banquet that you have prepared.

May we be merciful and pure in heart,
your gentle peacemakers, doing our part.
Dying and rising, we fear no great loss,
sealed with your Spirit and marked with your cross.

Blest and beloved and baptized to serve,
we are your Body and you are our nerve.
Not by our effort, but by your pure grace,
may we be your hands and your human face.

When Jesus Was Baptized (Tune: Cradle Song)

When Jesus was baptized, John said to repent,
and follow the Righteous One whom God had sent.
So wash us, dear God, and create us anew,
born fresh from your grace, living wholly in you.

When Jesus was baptized in waters that flow,
he sank in the Source of what makes all things grow.
So, held in Creation, renewed and made one,
we swim in the grace of your life-giving Son.

When Jesus was baptized in light, like a dove
your Spirit came down and you filled him with love.
So give us your Spirit: let all that we do
be you living in us, as we live in you.

When Jesus was baptized you spoke from above,
saying “This is my servant, my son, whom I love.”
So help us to hear you speak love when you call,
and as your Beloved, share freely with all.


You Are My Delight (Tune: Londonderry Air, “Oh, Danny Boy”)

We come with you, dear Jesus, through the desert hills,
down to the river, flowing gently by,
where through the rocks and valleys, deepening, it spills,
and flows into the sea, the earth, the sky.
    As we sink down and rise up from the water
    a dove descends, a voice speaks, clear and bright:
    “Know you are my beloved son, my daughter,
    my spirit is in you and you are my delight.

We go our way, and in our daily living
we follow you, and scatter rays of love
in deeds of caring, healing grace and giving,
for still we hear that voice and see the dove:
    “No river can undo you, for with you I go.
    I give my heart to you, and give you light.
    For you are mine, I hold you and I love you so.
   All water says, ‘Remember you are my delight.’”


          OFFERING SONGS
                       (Can be found in Offering Songs)

(Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus)

Blessed by your Spirit, God, and immersed in deepest grace,
baptized in love, in love we live.
In us your mercy grows; love like a river flows;
and so our finest gifts we give.

—or—

Baptized in love, O God, washed, renewed and risen, new,
in your Spirit we are one.
Yours are the gifts we give; yours are the lives we live,
bright shining as the morning sun.


             (Tune: Old 100th,
or Gift of Love (“The Water Is Wide”), or
               or Tallis’ Canon)

To You, O God, our praise we give,
For baptized into Christ, we live.
Thus may your Holy Spirit be
Our life and breath eternally! Amen.

               (Tune: Morning Has Broken)

Baptized, anointed, filled with your Spirit,
we are appointed bearers of light:
for liberation, servants of justice,
bringing the nations joy and delight.

Gladly we praise you, God our Creator,
joyfully raise our hearts up in prayer.
Humbly we give you thanks, Holy Spirit,
help us to live your Word everywhere.

—or—

Great holy giver of life and wonder,
deep like a river your blessings flow.
Gladly we give you praise and thanksgiving:
gifts we will give wherever we go.

—or—

Washed in your waters, baptized with Jesus,
your sons and daughters, risen anew,
each day we live we freely surrender,
our lives we give, God, gladly to you.


                (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)

God, we are raised to new life with your Son,
filled with your Spirit and baptized as one.
Branches of one vine, your fruits we will bear,
going to all the world, your great love to share.

God, We Rise to Serve You       [Tune: Sing We Now of Christmas]

God, we rise to serve you, baptized in your love
as your Holy Spirit hovers like a dove.
We, your Beloved, whom you bless with grace,
offer you our gifts with love and joy and peace.

God, your Spirit in us, dove with wings unfurled,
gives us pow’r to bring forth justice to the world.
Baptized in Christ, we serve with mercy’s grace,
bringing to the world your love and joy and peace.


When Jesus Was Baptized (Tune:Cradle Song)

When Jesus was baptized, John said to repent,
and follow the Righteous One whom God had sent.
So wash us, dear God, and create us anew,
born fresh from your grace, living wholly in you.

When Jesus was baptized in waters that flow,
he sank in the Source of what makes all things grow.
So, held in Creation, renewed and made one,
we swim in the grace of your life-giving Son.

When Jesus was baptized in light, like a dove
your Spirit came down and you filled him with love.
So give us your Spirit: let all that we do
be you living in us, as we live in you.

When Jesus was baptized you spoke from above,
saying “This is my servant, my child, whom I love.”
So help us to hear you speak love when you call,
and as your Beloved, share freely with all.


You Are My Delight (Tune: Londonderry Air, “Oh, Danny Boy”)

We come with you, dear Jesus, through the desert hills,
down to the river, flowing gently by,
where through the rocks and valleys, deepening, it spills,
and flows into the sea, the earth, the sky.
As we sink down and rise up from the water
a dove descends, a voice speaks, clear and bright:
“Know you are my beloved son, my daughter,
my spirit is in you and you are my delight.

We go our way, and in our daily living
we follow you, and scatter rays of love
in deeds of caring, healing grace and giving,
for still we hear that voice and see the dove:
“No river can undo you, for with you I go.
I give my heart to you, and give you light.
For you are mine, I hold you and I love you so.
All water says, ‘Remember you are my delight.’”


          Offering Songs (Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus)

Blessed by your Spirit, God, and immersed in deepest grace,
baptized in love, in love we live.
No floods can sweep away what you have given us,
and so our finest gifts we give.

—or—

Baptized in love, O God, and immersed in deepest grace,
in your Spirit we are one.
Yours are the gifts we give; yours are the lives we live,
bright shining as the morning sun.


             (Tune: OLD HUNDREDTH,
            or GIFT OF LOVE (“The Water Is Wide”),
            or Tallis’ Canon

To You, O God, our praise we give,
For baptized into Christ, we live.
Thus may your Holy Spirit be
Our life and breath eternally! Amen.


               (Tune: Morning Has Broken)

Baptized, anointed, filled with your Spirit,
we are appointed bearers of light:
for liberation, servants of justice,
bringing the nations joy and delight.

Gladly we praise you, God our Creator,
joyfully raise our hearts up in prayer.
Humbly we give you thanks, Holy Spirit,
help us to live your Word everywhere.

—or—
Great holy giver of life and wonder,
deep like a river your blessings flow.
Gladly we give you praise and thanksgiving:
gifts we will give wherever we go.


                (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)

God, we are raised to new life with your Son,
filled with your Spirit and baptized as one.
Branches of one vine, your fruits we will bear,
going to all the world, your great love to share.

January 4, 2026

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 60.1-6: Arise, shine, your light has come!… You shall see and be radiant… nations shall come to your light… They shall bring gold and frankincense…

Psalm 72: Give your king justice, who delivers the needy…

Ephesians 3. 1-12: The mystery of Christ has been revealed. The gentiles have become members of the same body.

Matthew 12. 1-12: Magi from the east seek the newborn king.

Preaching Thoughts

The 11^th day
       Merry Christmas! Yes, Christmas is not the 27 days from Nov. 28 – Dec. 24, but the twelve days from Dec 25 – Jan. 5. Twelve days. Jan. 4 is the the 11^th day of Christmas. It’s not over till Epiphany, January 6. So though we’ll observe Epiphany on this Sunday, it’s still Christmas! Let the liturgical rhythm help us get out of the commercialized, consumerist, materialism of our culture, and really observe the Christmas season as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. So it’s still appropriate to sing Christmas songs this week, and not just We Three Kings!

Light
     The season of “Epiphany,” meaning “revealing,” is all about light. We celebrate Christ as the light of the world. The season begins with the light of the star that leads the magi to Jesus, and ends in the Transfiguration, with Jesus shining (even before his death!) with the light of resurrection. Along the way we hear a lot about light. Watch for it each week. (The song Light for the World, below, highlights those references.) The light of Christ’s love illumines our path and guides our way. We look at life in the light of God’s love, and that changes how we see the world. And the light of that love shines in us, so that our own lives become lights for others: streetlamps that offer guidance and safety, lighthouses that warn of danger, a new dawn that signals hope and beauty. Even when the scriptures aren’t literally talking about light, they describe how God’s love changes the world like light changes the darkness.

Light and justice
      We also hear a lot this year about justice. God calls us to live in harmony with God’s spirit of compassion, which brings justice in the world like light in the darkness. Today’s political turmoil can feel pretty dark, with oppression, greed, corruption, White supremacy, and assaults on democracy abounding. Things are worrisome, uncertain, unseen, and hard to discern. Shadowy figures with selfish motives seem to avoid the light of truth, but haunt the poorly lit places. God’s mercy and justice shine light into such a world.

And dark
       Be thoughtful in your use of the image of light and darkness. Sometimes when we speak of darkness we mean not knowing (“I’m in the dark”), or gloomy, or evil, or sad, or… lots of things. And sometimes it’s better to say that than to simply call it “dark.” Watch out especially for the binary thought that light = good and dark = bad. We live in a culture that is chronically distorted by racism that judges people by how light or dark their skin is. So we judge dark people as bad and lighter people as good. It’s not just semantics. It’s instinctive, even among dark-skinned people. Sometimes when we reinforce the binary idea that light = good and dark = bad we reinforce its racist overtones. We don’t mean to—but we do. So watch out for this.
       All symbols are limited. Sometimes dark is good. God dwells in darkness… Creation begins, life is conceived and seeds sprout in the dark…darkness allows sleep and Sabbath rest….some people like their coffee black.. black people are learning to contradict the good/bad binary and appreciate the beauty of their dark skin… And sometimes light is bad: we wear sunglasses… light pollution prevents our seeing the stars… driving in too much glare or a winter whiteout can be deadly. The light can still shine in the darkness, and the darkness is unable to overcome it, but be wary of simplistic binaries. Be careful to define your terms and attend to your context. Let’s be clear what we mean (and don’t mean) by light or darkness.

Isaiah
       Obviously the crafters of the lectionary chose this passage for Epiphany because it says “they shall bring gold and frankincense.” But it’s not just about that. It’s a message of hope and restoration, and in fact mission. We are called to “see and be radiant.” We’re to be light for the world.Ultimately this is not about what we shall receive but what we shall give.
        Remember the prophet says “Rise, shine, your light has come” to a weak, humiliated, discouraged, exiled people. It’s easy for privileged folks to go off on some “aren’t we special?” path. Don’t. This is a message of restoration for people who are broken. “Nations shall come to your light” is not about superiority, but the restoration of dignity. What is there in a message to exiled people that speaks to us today? Who among us is this actually speaking to? What part of ourselves—our souls, or our church— is exiled and needing encouragement?
       And remember, Israel’s being “chosen” has nothing to do with their being special. It has to do with God’s mission to spread light in the world: Israel has been chosen to bear the light of God’s love. It’s our love, not our glory, that will shine for the world.

Wise ones
       Like every scripture, this is a symbolic story, not a historical account. The word “magi” that Matthew uses suggests Zoroastrian astrologers: not quite philosophers, and certainly not kings. Nothing scriptural suggests there were three, just because there were three gifts. (The gifts are an allusion to Isaiah 60.6: “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of God.” Matthew, foreshadowing the cross, adds myrrh.) Nor should we insist the magi were men, though we might assume so. So there could have been dozens of them, or maybe just a couple of old women. But that’s not what Matthew is likely to have had in mind, since this is a purely symbolic story: what matters is that they represent people from outside the Jewish faith. The point is not how or whether it happened but what it’s about. So don’t go off counting magi, or learning about Zoroastrians, astronomy or Middle Eastern geography. Matthew made this up. It’s a story. What’s it about?
      It’s about Jesus as “’king.” What does it mean for Jesus to rule in your heart?S A king is someone whose word is law, whose laws are the way things work in their domain. Jesus as “king” suggests that love isn’t an option: it’s a requirement.
      It’s about Jesus as sovereign over more than Christians. Matthew is creating a bookend at the beginning of his gospel, matched by the Great Commission at the end, about Jesus’ relevance for “all nations.” Avoiding evangelistic conquest and Christian colonialism, what might it mean for us to be part of a movement that is intended for the well-being of the whole world, not just us Christians?
      It’s about faith as searching. Faith is not certainty, but searching. seeking, and being guided. How willing are we to acknowledge truth beyond what we know? To seek God in mystery? Where do you seek Christ? How do you allow yourself to be guided? Are we willing to be open to God revealed in unexpected, foreign or even “improper” places?
      It’s about sojourn, pilgrimage. (Matthew mentions “two years.” Has the magi’s journey taken that long?) What kind of journey might you be on? How does God go with you, guide you, help you get directions? What might it be like to maintain the discipline of a long pilgrimage, without quitting, without diversion?
      It’s about light that leads the way. The star guided the magi, and they are attentive. What are the guiding lights in your life? How are you and your way of living a guiding star for others to find hope and love?
      It’s about revealing—that’s what “Epiphany” mans. How might Christ be revealed—particularly in us— to others, especially those outside the Church?
      It’s about the alien. The magi are foreigners, “infidels” who practice religions strange to us. How do we relate to outsiders, strangers, people of other religions? Do we acknowledge their quest for the holy even if it doesn’t match ours? Are we willing to listen to them, hear their stories, learn from them, honor them?
      It’s about going by “another road.” What old ways are you or we being invited to take?

A King
       Matthew has Hero, fearful and threatened by this rival “king,” slaughter the boys of Bethlehem. Matthew uses this to set up the narrative invention of the flight to Egypt, to parallel the life of Moses, to foreshadow the cross, and to portray Jesus as a “wanted” person. This will be a theme throughout the gospel, leading to Jesus’ death: Jesus threatens the powers that claim supremacy. You can hardly touch this story without addressing the subversive nature of what it means to follow Jesus in our present political world. Herod’s ego, greed and violence are obvious in today’s politics. Don’t gloss over the parallel.
      So this is a story about imperial power and violence, and our non-cooperation. It’s about state-sponsored terrorism. In fact Jesus did not safely escape the slaughter in Bethlehem. He died in all those children. We often slide over this part—such a nasty thing to include in our Christmas stories! But this is why we need Jesus. We’re neck deep in a culture of violence and we need a different kind of power in our lives. Imperial power in our world takes form in capitalism, consumerism, white supremacy, patriarchy, nationalism, and systems of power, privilege and exclusion. Empire preserves its power, even through slaughter. The “slaughter of the innocents” may appear in our world as executions, mass shootings, poor health care, mass incarceration, environmental threat, and dangers that disproportionately affect the poor and people of color.
      Empire is in the business of death. But God is in the business of life even in the face of brutality. To follow Jesus is to join the Resistance. We are called to resist evil and injustice; and we will be met by Herods who oppose us or want to co-opt our faith. Like the magi we will have to be ready to resist, to refuse to cooperate with the Powers. How do we practice resistance? How do we practice life in the face of death? Are you ready?

For more Epiphany resources see Epiphany Sunday, Year B and Year C. (The lectionary readings are the same.)

Call to Worship

1.
Reader: People of faith, look! In our darkness a light shines: the star is love.
All: Alleluia! In gratitude we follow the star of love.
The star moves ahead of us, and leads us faithfully.
Alleluia! In wonder we follow the star of love.
The star hides itself in each of us: in everyone we meet, in all God’s people.
Alleluia! In devotion we follow the star of love. Alleluia!

2.
Leader: Rise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
All: Darkness covers the earth, but you have risen upon us.
We see and are radiant. Our hearts thrill and rejoice.
By the grace of your mercy may your dawn rise upon us.
Give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.

3.
Leader: God of Mystery, your light has led us to you.
All: Alleluia! All through our days your Word has shone; your star has lit the way.
You have accompanied us, guided us, and guarded us.
Alleluia! We have come through miles and years to this place, this moment.
We have come to praise you, to honor you, to worship you.
Alleluia! We thank you for your grace. We wonder at your presence.
And we are still learning to seek your presence and to follow your light.
We are still asking, “Where is the child?”
Help us to search, and help us to find.
God, we praise you for the One who shepherds your people.
Alleluia! We worship you with thanksgiving and praise.
Open the eyes of our hearts to see, and to wonder. Alleluia!

4.
Leader: God, you led the magi by a star to find the Christ child.
All: Lead us by your Word, and draw us closer to you.
The magi gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Help us by your Spirit to honor Christ by giving our gifts.
Like the magi, we are seeking you. Help us always to seek, and to find.
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

5.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, we are one body by your grace.
You alone are holy, and we worship you.
Light of the world, you shine upon us, and we thank you.
Light of Christ, you lead us, and we gladly follow.
Alleluia! Shine upon us in our worship,
that we may bear your light into the world. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Holy Mystery, your light shines in the darkness. The bright star of your loving presence hovers over us, shines within us, and leads us steadfastly. We pause now to watch and listen, to take our reckoning by your star, that we may continue to follow faithfully, to seek you in this world, and to give you our gifts. Speak your Word, for we are listening. Amen.

2.
God of Mystery, God of Revealing: as the magi searched diligently for the Christ child, may we also continually seek your presence. As the light of the star led the magi, we pray that the light of love will lead us always. May the light of your Word shine upon us now and lead us nearer to you. Amen.

3.
Loving God, the magi sought the Christ child over miles and years. We, too, seek your Christ. By the light of your Word, lead us to life. Speak to us and we will listen. Lead us and we will follow. Amen.

4.
God of truth, your star led the magi to the Christ child. Your Word is a lamp for our feet. Lead us by your light. Shine your Word upon us. Help us to seek, to see, and to follow. Amen.

5.
Eternal God, you led the magi by a star to the Christ child. Lead us by the light of your Word into the presence of Christ. Bring us near, bless us with your light, and enable us to open the treasure chests of our hearts and offer you our gifts. Guide us by your holy light, so that as the scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you are saying to us today. Amen.

6.
Light of stars, glimmer of grace, shine for us.
Spreading light of the morning dawn, give us hope and beauty.
Light of Christ, gleaming in one another’s eyes,
speak to us of your glory.
Light of love, flaming in our hearts,
lead us toward you in wonder. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God of Love,
we confess we do not always follow your star of love;
we turn aside; we weary of the journey.
We confess we sometimes cooperate with Herod;
we sometimes fail to give our gifts.
Forgive us; renew your Spirit in us.
Be our star and guide us.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

1.
      We trust in God, Creator of all that is, whose light guides us and whose grace extends to all people of the world.
      We follow Jesus, the Christ of God, Light of the world, who is the ruler of our hearts, before whom we bow in adoration and reverence, to whom we offer the gifts of our hands and hearts. Jesus loved people and healed them, and taught the way of true wisdom. Though many would make him king, he was not a ruler of a nation but the Prince of Peace. Earthly kings were threatened by him, and crucified him, but he was raised from the dead, sovereign even over life itself.
     We live by the Holy Spirit, whose light is a star that guides us, whose grace gives us gifts to offer the world, whose companionship makes us one with peoples of all nations, tribes and traditions. In the power of that Spirit we devote ourselves to love and justice, for the sake of Christ, the sovereign of our hearts.

2.
Leader: The grace of the Beloved, Jesus Christ, be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor: The splendor of Christ shines upon us.
People: The light of Christ guides us.
A star of grace and hope shines on our horizon.
We will follow.
The light of love will lead us to the Christ child.
We will honor him and offer our gifts.
The powers of this world will try to use love for greedy purposes.
We will learn to go by another road,
to live by another way, the way of mercy and justice.
Lead us, O Christ, by the light of your love. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

God of Light, Star of Love,
we fix the eyes of our hearts on you.
Lead us; guide us
to where shall see Christ,
and kneel.

Eucharistic Prayer

[Advent Eucharistic Responses includes some musical responses (Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and Amen) that are appropriate for Epiphany.]

After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presiding leader(s) alone.

——— #1 ———

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We thank you and praise you, Divine Mystery,
Creator of all that is and all that shall be.
Stars of your making sparkle above us,
and to those who are wise and attentive they reveal your presence.
With starlight and pillars of fire you have led us out of darkness and into light;
through prophets and poets you have led us in wonder and love.
And you have given us gifts, that we may live fully and richly in grace.
As magi knelt before the Christ child and offered their gifts
we kneel in humble gratitude and offer you gifts,
in one voice with all creation singing your praise.

             [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate]

        [Alternate version : this and and following responses sung to the tune of “We Three Kings”]
        Holy, Holy, Holy One, God whose love is bright as the sun,
        all Creation sings your praise! Hosanna we sing as one!
        O, Blessed is the one who comes in your name, O Holy One.
        Praise! Hosanna in the highest! Peace on earth, to everyone.

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He bore your love to all people, including those of foreign lands and religions.
He offered us gifts from the treasure chest of his faith:
he forgave and taught; he fed the hungry and healed the broken;
he proclaimed a new Realm of grace and justice.
The rulers of Empire sought him and killed him,
but you raised him from the dead.
This is the wisdom that leads us, the star that lights our way.

[The Blessing and Covenant …]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim mystery at the heart of our faith:

        Memorial Acclamation
                [Sung version:]
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory, leading us all to life.
        O, God of mercy, God of light, God whose love in us burns bright,
        lead us, guide us, walk beside us, fill us with your gentle light.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
Open up your treasure chest in us,
that we may be a royal priesthood of your love.
Guide us by the light of your love to do justice, to practice mercy,
to kneel humbly before you in every child of yours.
“And you, children, will be called prophets of the Most High,
for you will go before God to prepare God’s ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people by the forgiveness of their sins.”
By your tender mercy may your dawn from on high break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Great Amen
[Sung version:]
        Amen! Your will be done. Amen, O Holy One.
        Make us now the living Body of Christ, our Love, your Son.
        O, praise be yours, and glory be all throughout eternity!
        Alleluia! Alleluia! Thanks and praise we sing to thee.

——— #2 ———

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

God of light, you blessed the darkness with Creation.
You fashioned us in the light of your love.
In the night of our bondage
you broke the power of oppression and set us free,
leading your children by a pillar of light.

You call us always to follow your light,
even the faintest star of love and justice and mercy.
Therefore with those who come from afar to honor you,
and with all Creation, we sing your praise.

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ, light of the world.
He loved and healed, and showed to many your light shining in them.
He showed us the light of love
and taught us to forsake all that glitters and follow that light alone.
By oppression he was crucified,
but by grace you have raised him from the dead,
still coming among us to renew your covenant to be with us in love.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
your Word made flesh in our daily lives,
light for the world, in the name of Christ. .

                [Spoken or sung]
        Amen

———— #3 ———


God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Blessed are you, O God, Creator of all things,
and ruler of all that is to come.
In the beginning was your Word, which is the light of life,
through which you have made all things.
Though we turn from your light, still you shine upon us and within us,
and lead us to seek your presence, guided by the light of wonder.
Therefore, in company with those who bring you gold,
we honor you with our obedience and our praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
Child of Mary, Light of the World and Prince of Peace.
He has brought us the light of hope and healing,
and embodied your Covenant to be with us in love and blessing.
[… The Blessing and Covenant…]

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it:
for you have raised your Crucified Christ from death.
Therefore in company with those who bring you myrrh
we offer you our life unto death,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith.

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on is, that we may be the Body of Christ for the world.
In company with those who bring you frankincense
we offer you our prayers, our worship and our service.
Unite us with you, with one another, and with Christ, in service to others.
Grant that by these gifts at work in us we may be light for the world
in the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

               [Spoken or sung]
       Amen.
____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer after Communion / Dedication / Sending

[Adapt as needed]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for ( the mystery that/ this mystery in which) you have given yourself to us. Send us now into the world, attentive to the star of your love, following it with faithfulness, seeking its glory in all we meet, and shining with its light through our humble giving of the gifts you give us, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for ( the mystery that/ this mystery in which) you have given yourself to us. You have fed us with the light of your love, even in the shadow of Empire. Send us into the world to serve you faithfully. Lead us by your light; give us courage to follow and not turn back. Give us wisdom to know when to go by another road. Guide us with the light of Christ and the power of your Spirit. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have revealed yourself to us in Christ, in the Word, in this meal, and in your Spirit within and among us. Send us into the world to search for your presence, to follow your light, and to be a light for others in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that/ this mystery in which) you have given yourself to us. By the light of your grace you draw us closer to your heart. Send us into the world to seek your presence, to give our gifts, and to lead others toward you by the light of our love and faith, in the name of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

5.
Gracious and ever-present God, we thank you for (the mystery that/ this mystery in which) you have given yourself to us. Bless us that by your gifts at work in us we may shine with the brightness of your appearing. Send us into the world to bear your light, to guide those who seek you and to illumine the path of those who struggle. Christ, Light of the World, be with us! Holy Spirit, star of our hearts, shine brightly! Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World (Original song) – [A weekly Epiphany “Theme song”]
A dialogue between soloist and congregation. May be used as a “theme song” throughout the Epiphany season, using one to three verses per week. Throughout the season the congregation sings the chorus; each week the soloist’s verses relate to the day’s lectionary readings. Lyrics for this week:

Congregation
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor:
Magi who followed the light of your star offered their gifts to your glory.
May we shine brightly wherever we are. Our love will tell your story.

May we be guided by love alone, the star shining bright in our darkness.
For when we follow the leading of love, we’re nearer to you, God.


Guiding Star (Tune: Of the Father’s Love Begotten)

Christ we search for you with longing, but we need not travel far.
In the darkness shines a mystery; in the night a radiant star.
For your love appears before us, gleaming right where we are,
evermore and evermore.

So we bring our gifts to honor you, and we come on bended knee,
offering our hearts and living, that to you the glory be.
May your light adorn and guide us, now and in eternity,
evermore and evermore.

Christ, you are the star that guides us; your love is the way we know.
Keep us faithful in our seeking: may we take the path you show.
May the light of your love shine in us, here and everywhere we go,
evermore and evermore. Amen.


        Two song songs of Invitation to Communion (Found in Advent Table Songs)

Lovely Jesus (Tune: Rocking)
Lovely Jesus, light divine, light divine,
light of the world and light of mine.
I will follow, follow, follow you.
Lead me in what love will dare to do.
Here I bring my gifts to you.
Use them as your love will do.

Gentle Jesus, friend and guide, friend and guide,
now you call us to your side.
Here you give yourself as living food,
and we feast in joy and gratitude.
Gentle Jesus, make us one;
may your will in love be done.


Your Light (Tune: What Child Is This)

O God, your light now fills our sight;
your song now fills our hearing.
Our gifts we bring, and your praise we sing,
as we feast at Christ’s appearing.
Christ, Christ, Emmanuel,
your love we share, your grace we tell.
Christ, Light of the World, we come!
O fill us, Love, with your brightness!

Advent to Epiphany – the Story

[Solo.Congregation may join in on final chorus.]
(Tune: Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen)

In the darkest time of year,
a time of hope, and a time of fear,
the prophet says that God is coming to you.
And so we turn from greed and hate,
still learning to pray and watch and wait,
and sing our fragile, hopeful hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

Young Mary said her “Yes” to him,
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
and laid him in a manger, that’ll do you.
The light of love shone in the night.
The shepherds came to see the sight,
and angels sang a glorious Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

Some wise men traveled from afar,
just following such a tiny star,
as if its simple light could shine right though you.
They gave their treasures to the king,
who makes you want to serve and sing,
who tells you you can be his Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

       Three Blessing Songs (All are in Advent Blessing Songs)

Light of Christ (Tune: Away in a Manger)

My friends, may the star over Bethlehem’s skies
now give you God’s peace, make you gentle and wise,
and lead you, as though by a light from above:
the light of dear Christ in you, shining with love.


The Star (Tune: What Child Is This)

O God, may all your Church make flesh
the Word that you are giving;
the love of Christ and the Spirit’s power
make holy all of our living.
Love, love shall be the light
by which we live: so bless our sight.
Love, love shall be the star
by which you guide our living.


Walk Beside You (Tune: We Three Kings)

Go in peace, and take from this place
our dear love and God’s deep grace.
Serving, healing, Christ revealing, be God’s human face.
Oh, God of wonder, God of light,
shining with a love so bright,
bless you, guide, you, walk beside you,
fill you with God’s gentle light.

February 5, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 58.1-9— God criticizes religiosity that does not lead us to love our neighbor and care for the poor. “You serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress your workers. But real religious observance is to do justice and set people free.” In this your light will shine.

Psalm 112.— The righteous are those who give to the poor and delight in God’s will. They will be fearless in the face of adversity. They will be light in the darkness for those who hope.

1 Corinthians 2.1-5— The power of our ministry is not in our eloquence or wisdom, but the truth of Christ’s love, and the wisdom of God that transcends our own.

Matthew 5.13-20 —Jesus says we are salt and light for the world, and calls us to live with righteousness: not legalistic conformity, but living by the light of God’s desire.

Preaching Thoughts

Isaiah puts a new spin on the epiphany theme of light. We’ve heard that God’s light shines on us: now Isaiah says that our own light is “under a bushel,” to use Jesus’ image—the bushel of our injustice and selfishness. Our light can’t shine when we’re concerned with our own self-centered well-being. When we remove that covering—when we practice justice, mercy, generosity and love—our light is revealed like the dawn of a new day: “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly.”

Neither Jesus nor the prophets would say your religion is between you and God. To love God is to love your neighbor, to serve them, to work for justice. “Righteousness” doesn’t mean being right., morally or otherwise. It means in right relationships. Faith is communal. As Paul says “We do not live to ourselves.” We are salt and light for the world. Too many folks think the essence of Christianity is “believing in Jesus” but Jesus would scoff at that. He wasn’t into “belief” as doctrine. The essence of Christianity—the saltiness of the salt—is loving your neighbor. For Jesus, to believe isn’t about what you think but how you trust. It’s not about believing “that” something is true, but believing in it: giving your heart to it. Believing in God means trusting God’s grace—which moves us to love our neighbors.

To be “light for the world” might simply mean to shine with God’s glory. Maybe it’s to illumine the path, so that by the light of the way we live others can find their way. To be a lighthouse pointing the way to justice and warning of the shoals of injustice. Maybe it means to live out the truth, in world world darkened by lies, misinformation and conspiracy theories. Maybe it means to live with love that brightens the world of the people around us.

We don’t value salt for its own sake, but for what it can do for our food. Especially in Jesus’ time it preserved food and made it palatable. For its usefulness, salt was worth money. We are “salt for the earth” only if we do what we are called to do. To be salt might mean to bring out the best in others. It might mean to be faithful to the gospel of God’s love for everyone. Maybe it means to be faithful to ourselves, to who God creates us to be—and to become.

Call to Worship

1.
Reader: In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was God, and flowed from God.
All: And the Word is love.
Everything was made through the Word,
and what came into being through the Word is life.
And the life is the light of all people.
We worship in the light of God
Fill us with your light, O Love, that we may shine for the world. Alleluia!

2. [ Psalm 112]
Leader: Praise God! Happy are those who delight in doing God’s will
All: They are like light in the darkness.
They give generously and lend; they do justice.
They are not cowed by news of evil:
their hearts are firm, secure in God.
Their spirits are steady; they will not back away,
while the wicked fill themselves with worry and anger.
Praise God, who sustains the weak and the needy!

3. (1 Cor. 2.9-10)
Leader: No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived,
what the Holy One has prepared for those who love God.
All: But these things you have revealed to us through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
Reveal your light to us, O God, so that we may be your light.
Let your grace shine in us, that we may be light in the darkness
for all those who struggle or wander.
Illumine our way, that we may faithfully follow Christ.
Be our light, that we may be light for others, in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Leader: Creator God, Light of heaven, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, light of the world, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, light of God within us, we shine with your loveliness.
Our lives are your praise. Our Being is your glory.
God, you have created us to shine with your love.
We confess that we have hidden your light;
but you forgive us, restore your radiance in us,
and give us as light to the world. We thank you.
May your light redeem us, and gleam in us with beauty.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit of Light, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God, speak your word to us, a lamp unto our feet, so we may know your ways.
Shine your light upon us, so we can see your path.
Shine your light within us so we can know your presence.
Shine your light out through us,
so we can help you bring your love into this world. Amen.

2.
Eternal God, your light created the universe.
Your light shines in us.
Speak the light of your Word to us and re-create us,
that we may be light for the world,
in the spirit of Christ, our Light. Amen.

3.
God of life, in this sometimes dark world we seek you, our light, our sun, our dawn. We open the eye of our hearts to the morning sun. Rise upon us, speak your Word to us, and awaken us to your new day, with the voice of Christ, and the warmth of your Spirit. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, Jesus expressed great faith in us, calling us salt for the earth and light for the world. Kindle your light in us through the reading of scripture and the proclamation of your Word, in prayer and in song, in bread and in silence. Light the lamps of our hearts that we may radiate with your love, in the name and the spirit of Christ. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
Holy God, your light exposes our sin, but bathes us in grace.
In the light of your love we see ourselves truly.
We hold in your light all in us that is hurting and hurtful,
release our judgment of ourselves and one another,
and ask your healing and forgiveness.
[Silent prayer … the word of grace]

Readings

1. 1 Corinthians 2.1-12, a paraphrase
      When I came to you, siblings in God, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. All I know for sure is Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and trepidation. My argument didn’t rest on philosophical wisdom, but it arose from the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
       When those who are spiritually mature speak of wisdom it is not what the world thinks is wisdom, and certainly not the powerful people—they don’t know a thing about life. But we speak of God’s wisdom—confusing and obscured to them—which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Sovereign of glory. But, as it is written,
               “No eye has seen, nor ear heard—
               no, it hasn’t even dawned on us,
               what the Holy One has prepared for those who love God.”
     But God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit knows everything, even the depths of God.

2. Psalm 112, a paraphrase
Holy One, our hearts sing your praise
with light that will shine forever.
Knowing you, we know deep joy.
The way you show us is the way of delight.
We draw close to you,
and blessing overtakes us.
Your grace is the greatest treasure in our house.
It will remain even when the house is gone.
Because your spirit is in us
we are gracious and merciful, desiring harmony.
We rise like candles in the dark
light for all who are searching.
We are fearlessly generous;
we are resolute in building justice.
We cannot be undone.
This light will shine forever.
Anxious rumors don’t budge us;
you are our solid bedrock.
In you we are steady. Fear can’t shake us.
In the end, we will look on what tried to destroy us,
and we will smile.
We share abundantly. We give to the poor.
It’s your generosity, not ours, shining in us forever.
The selfish and fearful only get more fearful; they rot in it.
But this light will shine forever.

Poetry

                    Light

Every act of justice,
every act of compassion or mercy
is a light, a star in the night of this world.

You may think your efforts small and meaningless.
You may think they make no difference.
But go out and look up at the stars.

Which one should not have reached out in love?
Which one should never have bothered
to act in courage and compassion?

None of them rids the night of its darkness.
Yet God walks out and looks at them all
and smiles.

They all shine until they are swept up
in the great light
of the One who dawns among us.

            The Light Does Not Insist

Even on the darkest winter days
light reaches in,
gently entering my dimmest rooms:
neither hesitant nor brash,
simply offering itself
with no mind to all that is opaque,
all that distorts,
transfiguring the room.
and the air in the room.

I, too,
reach in toward that gentle light,
not anxious or forceful,
that calmly glows
and changes everything.

          Salt

You don’t aspire to saltiness.
It is who you are.

It’s the taste of being an element of earth
and an element of God.
Your saltiness is your faithfulness
to who God is in you.

The You of who you are
gives salt to this world.
It’s a quality that remains
even as it goes out into the stew of life
and adds to its savoriness.

Be true to your salt.
It will bring out the goodness in others.

          Salt

When the seawater finally evaporates
the pure salt of you remains.

Of the earth, stout crystal,
marvelous in your you-ness,

as first you left the Creator’s hand,
your grain, your truth,

this do not lose or trade,
or meekly become otherwise.

That of you that is purely you,
blood-mineral of life, of tears,

salting not in virtue or deeds
but essence, simply being you,

bringing out in others
their own flavor as well,

offer without apology,
with love and courage,

for God, savoring you so,
has chosen to salt this life with you.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

God of Love, Light of Life,
may your sun shine on us,
shine on all living things,
shine on the world.
May your light pierce the darkness in us,
and transform it;
your light radiate from within us
out into the world,
giving it beauty and grace and healing.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

1.
Holy One, may the light of your love shine in us:
      that we may loosen the bonds of injustice,.
May the dawn of your justice rise in us:
      that we may undo the thongs of the yoke..
May the candle of your courage burn in us,
      that we may let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke
May the sun of your compassion shine in us,
      that we may share our bread with the hungry.
God of grace, by your spirit at work in us
      our light shall break forth like the dawn,
     and our healing shall spring up quickly.

Eucharistic Prayer

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

In the beginning you said, “Let there be light.”
Through your Word all things were created, and in them was the light of life.
In the light of the rainbow you made covenant with all Creation.
In the pillar of fire you led us and all people out of slavery to freedom.
With the light of your Word you have guided us though law and prophets,
and in the fullness of time you sent Jesus, the light of the world.
Therefore with all who have been set free, all who shine with your light,
we sing your praise.

    [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.
       [or alternate]

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He healed and fed people, he taught and forgave.
He saw your light in all people, and called us to shine with your grace.
He gathered a community of love and mercy, founded in your realm of justice.
For his resistance to oppression he was crucified,
but you raised him from the dead;
and he continues to renew your Covenant to be with us in love forever.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

     [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
     —or—
Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
Christ will come again in glory.
     [—or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
redeemed by your grace, shining with your light,
for the sake of the wholeness of the world.

            [Spoken or sung]
    Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have filled us with your light. Send us into the world to shine with your love and mercy, to do justice, to embody your Word, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have filled us with your loving presence. May your light shine in us that we may do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you for the sake of the world, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

3
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have fed us with your light; you have salted us with your grace. Send us into the world that in all our living we may be light. Send us to do justice for your sake, that we may be light for the world and seasoning for the earth, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World – (Original song)
[A dialogue between soloist and congregation. May be used as a “theme song” throughout the Epiphany season. The refrain is the same throughout: the soloist’s verses reflect the day’s readings. Relevant lyrics for this week:]

Congregation:
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Soloist:
Those who do justice are happy indeed: they are a light in the darkness.
Those who are generous shall not be moved, remembered forever.

“This is the fast that I choose,” says our God, “to loosen the bonds of injustice.
For then your light shall break forth like the dawn, rising in the darkness.”

You are the light, the light of the world. Give thanks for the light shining in you.
Let your light shine so that others may see, and glorify God.

Wake Us From Our Sleep (Original song)

God of mercy, wake us with your light.
Rouse our sleeping hearts and give us sight.
Raise us up from death; fill us with your breath.
Wake us from our sleep to live new lives in you.

Life comes only from the Word you give.
You alone have power to make us live.
Seeking what is True, Love, we turn to you:
springs of living water flow, and so we live.

Christ, you touch our hearts and heal our fear.
Even in our pain your grace is near.
Spirit, you who save, raise us from our grave.
Born again, dry bones who rise, we live in you.

Christ, light of the world, your radiance bright
wakens us to day out of our night:
shining in, it heals; shining out, reveals.
Help us all to live as children of the light.

December 28, 2025

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 63.7-9. God said, “Surely they are my people.” It was no messenger or angel
but God’s presence that saved us.

Psalm 148. Praise God, sun moon, stars, mountains, hills, all peoples!…

Hebrews 2. 10-18. Jesus is the pioneer of our faith, made perfect through sufferings. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Matthew 2. 13-23. Herod reacts to the birth of a potential king by slaughtering all of Bethlehem’s baby boys, but Jesus and his parents escape to Egypt… Rachel weeping for her children… The family eventually returns but diverts to Nazareth.

Preaching Thoughts

The story of the flight to Egypt parallels that of Moses, of course, who comes from Egypt, who escapes an angry king’s attempt to kill all the male babies, and who grows up to set the people free. Jesus’ life parallels the whole nation of Israel’s. (The image of Rachel weeping for her children is from Jeremiah 31:15, in a lament about the people taken into exile.) Preachers often want to skip this story, especially the reason for the flight—the slaughter of the innocents— for fear of “scaring the children” (it’s actually the adults who’ll be troubled). But the story of the flight to Egypt without the persecution makes it sound like a holiday, not story of people fleeing for their lives. It’s the story of refugees the world over. This is an appropriate time to consider the life of refugees in our time, and Jesus’ place in that story.

It might seem awful to talk about such things at Christmas, but this is the Christmas story (and the world we live in): not that the baby Jesus is cute (and no crying he makes), but that God dwells with us amid violence, evil and injustice—both to give us life amid death, and also to oppose evil. In fact it’s important to counter the cultural tendency to both sentimentalize Christmas and remove it from our daily lives. The struggle between good and evil isn’t some cosmic battle out among the stars: it’s right here in ordinary human hate, discrimination, greed and violence. It’s the rich and powerful oppressing the poor and vulnerable. And God is always among the victims, not the violent; the refugees, not the settled ones; the vulnerable, not the powerful. That’s the true baby in the manger. And yet God, the poor, despised, homeless alien, is the Source of All Power.

Seeing God in this “powerless” way opens our eyes to God’s grace for us even in difficult situations. (Where is my “Egypt?” How does God accompany me?) It re-aligns our sense of “good.” (“Good” doesn’t mean successful; “different” doesn’t mean evil.) It opens our eyes to issues of justice. (Where is the Holy Family now? Who are the refugees?) It calls us to examine our own complicity with injustice. (How have I participated in endangering the Christ child? Have we welcomed or refused the holy refugees?) It calls us to act on behalf of the vulnerable. (How could we contribute to the well-being of people society endangers, rejects or ignores?)

In light of this, what does it mean to follow Jesus? As Hebrews says, Jesus is the “pioneer of our faith.” He isn’t a hero we’re supposed to idolize; he’s a leader we’re supposed to follow. And that means following him in bearing love into the suffering of the world.

Herod’s violence affected the holy family from the outside; but God’s grace sustained, empowered and guided them from within. Even amid the awfulness of the massacre of the children of Bethlehem, something new emerged in the life of the child Jesus. The New Year is a good day to acknowledge the violence of our world, and the allegiance it asks of us; to confess our complicity in it; to renounce the forces of domination, oppression and injustice; and to resolve, by God’s spirit, to live by values contrary to the world’s values: lives of love, mercy and justice.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: Praise the Holy One, sun, moon and shining stars!
All: Praise God, earth and sea and all its monsters, fire and snow, hail and frost!
Mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and birds, praise!
Rulers and peoples, men and women, young and old, praise!
For God has raised up a ruler for all people,
a gift for God’s faithful, for those who are dear to God. Praise the Holy One!

2.
Reader: [Isaiah 63.7-9]
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Holy One,
        the praiseworthy acts of God,
because of all that God has done for us,
        and the great favor to the house of Israel that God has shown them
        according to God’s mercy,
        according to the abundance of God’s steadfast love.
For God said, “Surely they are my people,
        children who will not deal falsely”;
        and God became their savior in all their distress.
It was no mere messenger or angel
        but God’s presence that saved them.
In love and in pity God redeemed them;
        God lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Leader: Let me tell you the wonderful things God has done!
All: Yes! The mercy God has shown us! The overflowing, steadfast love!
God said, “These are my people, and they will be true to me.”
And God became our savior in all our distress.
God, it was not merely a messenger or an angel,
but your presence that saved us.
In your tender love you redeemed us.
You have lifted us up and carried us since the beginning. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: I bring you good news of great joy,
for unto you is born a savior, who is Christ the Lord.
All: Alleluia! Christ, holy child, bearer of the light of heaven among us,
we greet you with glad and humble hearts.
Jesus, the pioneer of our faith, who saves us and makes us holy,
is not ashamed to call us siblings.
Alleluia! Jesus, our brother and our teacher,
we praise you and we open our hearts to you.
Christ shares our flesh and blood, and shares our suffering,
so that we might be set free from our fear of death.
Alleluia! Christ our savior, free us from our fears and attachments,
and save us from sin and death.
Living among us, transform us by your Spirit
and fill us with your glory. Alleluia!

4.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, we are one body by your grace.
You alone are holy, and we worship you.
Glory be to you, O God of all Creation.
Thanks be to you, O Christ, for our salvation.
God, you spoke to us through the prophets, and led us in your way.
You spoke to Joseph in his dreams, and guided him through danger.
You led the magi by a star, and guided them to Christ.
Alleluia! Speak to us, God, and guide us.
Be present with us, Christ, and save us.
Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

5.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
People: Holy One, and we worship you.
For the birth of your son, we thank you.
No one has seen you,
but Christ has made you known.
Alleluia! You have dwelt among us,
and from you we have received grace upon grace.
Bless us that we may shine with your light. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of love, you have come among us in the flesh, sharing the dangers and fragility of the flesh. Among those who fear and hate you have come as a child, defenseless and tender. Speak to us now, and give us courage, that in a world of hardness we may be children of peace. Amen.

2.
God of tender love, you came into this harsh world as a helpless child. Your Word was made flesh by a poor peasant. We thank you for the gift of your Son, the gift of your presence among us. Open the eyes and ears of our hearts to behold your presence and to hear your Word in faith and joy. Amen.

3.
God of glory, your Christ is born among us! We come to the manger to kneel in awe, to give our gifts, to keep watch in silent praise. We belong to your mystery. We belong to this little child. We belong to your grace. Speak to us, and fill us with your Spirit. Amen.

4.
God, we are not saved by a messenger, but by your very presence in Christ, your Word made flesh. Bless us now that we may be mindful of your presence and open our hearts to your Word, so that we, too, may make your Word flesh in our lives. We pray in the Spirit of Christ, who is with us. Amen.

5.
Gracious and Eternal God, angels appeared to Joseph in dreams, and guided him in protecting the Christ child. Come to us now in our worship and speak to us, and guide us. Fill us with your Spirit that we may hear and obey, and so serve and glorify you. Open our hearts now, so that as the scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you are saying to us today. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God, of grace,
we who are attached to our lives as they are
confess that we need to be made new.
Forgive our sin, heal our hearts, and re-create us.
As the new year dawns,
let the old self we fearfully cling to pass away;
raise us in your love,
and grant that we may continually be made new
by your grace.
(Silent prayer…)

Response / Creed / Affirmation:

1.
I recommend the Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan tradition: “I am no longer my own but thine…”

2.
Leader: Today God gives us a new year,
a new day in this world of beauty and wonder.
Yet Herod still reigns with evil and violence,
with the domination, oppression, injustice and enmity
by which Empire works.
All: We acknowledge that we live in a world
of cruelty and injustice, a world that needs to be healed.
Herod did not slaughter those children on his own;
he enlisted an army, the army of the Empire.
We confess that acts of injustice are carried out in our name,
that we are complicit in injustice and oppression.
God of love, we ask your forgiveness, and trust your grace.
By the grace of God, we are followers of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
We renounce the powers of evil and injustice
and the violent ways of this world.
In this new year we can be made new people,
set free from the world’s ways of domination and cruelty.
Baptized into Christ, renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit,
we are freed from old ways that we have followed.
We resolve to live new lives, lives of mercy, love and justice,
in the name of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
God, by your grace, may all the world be made new!

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

The day is new;
the year is new;
let your grace unfold in us,
that we, too, may be made new.

Eucharistic Prayer

[Following the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presiding leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We thank you, God, that you make all things, and make all things new.
You create us in your image; you claim us as your children,
and you guide us by your grace.
You judge for forces of oppression and set free all your beloved children;
and you call us to bee free.
From every yoke of slavery you liberate us;
you lead us out of narrow confines into broad and spacious places.
Even in the terror of oppression under Herod
you brought forth something new in Jesus.
And you guide us, as you did Joseph and Mary, toward peace.
By your Spirit in us you heal us, transform us
and enable us to become new people, born anew of your Spirit.
And so, with all your saints, we sing your praise.
     —Sanctus—

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who transformed our old faith and made it new.
He fed the hungry and healed the broken,
who took old, wounded lives and made them new.
Amid the strife of violence and injustice
he gathered with his beloved and celebrated in a new way/
your Covenant to be with us in love forever.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)

As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
     —Memorial Acclamation—

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
set free and made new by your grace,
re-dedicated to your love in this world,
looking forward to a whole new Creation,
by your grace, in the name of Christ.
—Amen—

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

1.
Gracious God, we thank you for / your grace / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You dwell among us in the poor and the vulnerable, and you call us as well to this holy self-giving. Send us into the world as your light, to care for all your holy children, in the name of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Your Word is made flesh in our midst in Jesus, in the bread and wine, and in our lives. Send us into the world to embody your love and to live in peace and compassion with our brother Jesus, in the power of your Spirit. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, Joseph served you in faith, and through his obedience great gifts came into this world. In gratitude we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace, and use them according to your will. IN this new year, make us new, and send us into the world to listen for your Word and to follow in faith, to serve you by serving others, in the name of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

As on Christmas Day, I recommend singing all those less commonly sung Christmas songs you haven’t sung yet.

[Click on the title to view on the music page.]


Peace, Peace, Peace (Tune: Still, Still, Still)
[Music includes optional parts for two flutes.]

Peace, peace, peace. God grant you peace, my friends.
The Christ child comes, so sweet and tender.
Greet him with your trust and wonder.
Peace, peace, peace, God be with you, my friends.

Love, love, love, love light your way, my friends.
Here at the manger humbly kneeling;
gladly going, serving, healing.
Love, love, love, love light your way, my friends.

Advent to Epiphany – the Story
A solo. Congregation may join in on final chorus.
(Tune: Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah)

In the darkest time of year,
a time of hope, and a time of fear,
the prophet says that God is coming to you.
And so we turn from greed and hate,
still learning to pray and watch and wait,
and sing our fragile, hopeful hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…    

Young Mary said her “Yes” to him,
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
and laid him in a manger, that’ll do you.
The light of love shone in the night.
The shepherds came to see the sight,
and angels sang a glorious Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

Some wise men traveled from afar,
just following such a tiny star,
as if its simple light could shine right though you.
They gave their treasures to the king,
who makes you want to serve and sing,
who tells you you can be his Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

December 14, 2025

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 35.1-10. The desert shall rejoice and blossom… Strengthen weak hands: God is coming…. The eyes of the blind shall be opened… Waters will break forth in the wilderness…

Luke 1.47-55. The Magnificat. God has looked on my lowly state…All generations will call me blessed. God has scattered the proud, brought down the powerful, lifted up the lowly.

James 5.7-10. Wait with patience, like a farmer waiting for the growing season in trust and confidence. As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets.

Matthew 11. 2-11. John in prison asks if Jesus is the “one who is coming.” Jesus says the blind see, the immobilized walk, and the poor receive good news. John is a prophet, and more, God’s “messenger who will prepare a way.” No one is greater than John, yet all in the Realm of God are greater than he.

Preaching Thoughts

New Creation. The prophet Isaiah had a vision that God would come and save the people from their enemies. Political conquerors are not the only “enemies” God saves us from. God will also save us from the enemies of disease and poverty, from oppression and violence, from racism and greed, from lives that are dry and lifeless like deserts. God fights against the enemies of our ignorance and injustice. God’s salvation will not only heal individuals, it will heal the whole community. Relationships will be healed, and people’s hopes will be healed. The poor and powerless people will be lifted up, so that society as a whole is healed. Even Creation itself will be renewed, as if it is being created all over again.

Powerful evidence, joyful patience. We wait for the coming of Christ not with anxiety, but with joyful patience, because we see evidence of God’s powerful grace. Like plants that bloom as a sign of spring (even in the desert!), even as we look for signs of Christ’s coming, we ourselves become those very signs. Our hope is not wistful wishing about the future, but confident trust in the grace of God that is already present in the world—and in us. People who wonder if God is real, if Christ is actually alive, if grace is really coming into the world, need to be able to look at us and see signs that the good news is true. So we prepare for Christ’s coming by engaging in the kids of mercy and justice that he did.

Justice gets real. Mary’s Magnificat is an icon of what justice might look like. God not only looks on lowly individuals, so that they are called blessed, but also examines the systems of society as a whole—and upends them. Jesus’ response to John’s question points to this evidence of God’s mighty mercy. The hungry are fed, the broken are healed, the poor receive good news.

The theology of the Magnificat. The Magnificat is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry. More than that’s it’s a world-shaking manifesto of justice and mercy. It’s not only a revolutionary call for the re-ordering of society; it’s a theology of revolution, seeing in God’s will not merely the reversal of fortunes but a social embodiment of death and resurrection. Of course the hard thing about resurrection is the death part. The trouble with Justice is that it upends the status quo and offends, or even enrages, people with power. If we really are to share, it’s not just that the poor need to get more, it’s that the rich need to have less. It’s not enough for the lowly to be lifted up; the mighty need to be “brought down.” They powerful need to share their power. Insiders need to make room for outsiders. Of course the rich, powerful insiders aren’t going to like that. Witness today’s political climate, in which rich, powerful people ( including the “people” who are corporations) spend great sums of money to defeat measures that would help regular people, to give themselves more money and power.

Advent is therefore an invitation to join Jesus’ Resistance—resistance to the power of evil in our own hearts, and resistance to the Empire of power and corruption. It’s resistance to political regimes of white supremacy, corporate greed, and political bullying, regimes built on fear of the poor and marginalized. It’s resistance to a culture that disdains empathy, sharing, and forgiveness. It’s not partisan, but it’s political.

Of course, when you resist the Empire, it strikes back. In the real world, resistance to injustice ends up in crucifixion. But then in the world of the Gospel where things “end up” is never where they actually end. That’s the transformation that is resurrection. The Magnificat doesn’t mention any of that—but in speaking of one who fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty, the Magnificat brings to mind not only Jesus’ ministry but the retaliation he will face. It foreshadows crucifixion—which, in our faith, foreshadows resurrection.

That may seem like a heavy load for Christmas preparations, but that’s what Advent is really all about. Jesus is not coming just to make your life better. He’s coming with healing for all of society. That, and nothing less, is what we’re preparing for.

Call to Worship

[Isaiah 35.3-4]
Leader: Friends, the Beloved is coming.
All: We are longing. We are looking.
The prophet says: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.”
We are hoping. We are praying.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God. God will come and save you.’”
We trust in your promise. We worship with joy.

Lighting the Advent Candle

1. [ James 5.7-8]
Reader:
Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Promised One. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Promised One is near.
Leader:We praise you, O God, for this wheel of time
that marks our days of preparation for Christ’s advent.
All: As we light the candles on this wreath,
open our hearts to your will,
that we may welcome with joy your renewal of all Creation.
Enlighten us with your grace,
and prepare our hearts to receive a new Creation in the Spirit of Christ.
Kindle within us the gift of faith through Christ the Beloved,
whose coming is certain and whose day draws near. Amen.

2. [James 5.7-9]
Reader:
Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Promised One. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Chosen One is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
Leader: God, we light this candle as we await your coming,
trusting that already you stand at the door.
All: We cannot see you, yet you are here,
and so we open our hearts and give thanks.
We await your coming like the farmer awaiting the crop.
We cannot see you, but your seeds are already planted,
and so we open our hearts and prepare for your coming.
You who are here with us, we await your coming.
You who are coming, we rejoice in your presence.
Bless us, that we may prepare for your coming in hope and trust. Amen.

3.
Leader: We light this candle as an act of hope.
All: In the darkness and gloom the light of your coming rises.
Even in the mysterious darkness,
the light of your healing moves along roads and rivers and nerves,
deep within silent places.
In the darkness you are here.
Come, O Light, and make us whole.
Dear Child, prophet of the most high, grant us healing and forgiveness.
By your tender mercy, may your dawn from on high break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

4. [James 5. 7-8]
Reader:
Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Promised One. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Chosen One is near.
Leader: This candle represents our patience.
All: In darkness we await the light; in brokenness we long for healing.
God of hope, grant that by this light we might see your presence even now.
We ache for those who struggle against tyranny and who seek abundant life.
God of love, you are present among those who suffer, and those who wait.
Grant that by our faith we might see you in our midst,
trust the unfolding of your grace,
and serve as signs of your coming.
Come, O Christ, and transform us by your Spirit. Alleluia!

5.
Light of God, rising upon the world, awaken us to your delight.
By your renewing light, may we see your presence in the world and rejoice.
Light of Christ, rising among your followers, awaken us to your confidence.
By your healing light, may we notice the good news around us, and give thanks.
Spirit’s light, rising within us, awaken us to the gift of joy.
By your transforming light, may our blind eyes see, our deaf hearts hear,
and our wounded souls dance for joy at the sound of your voice.
May we prepare for the dawn of your coming with joy and gratitude. Alleluia!

6.
Leader: In the shadows, light!
All:In our longing, hope!
Along the struggle for justice, a way!
To those who are broken, joy!
God, may the promise of your advent give us courage.
May the dawn of your coming light our way.
With patience, we wait, and we trust.
With glad hearts we work and we pray.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God, we await the coming of your justice and mercy. As you did with Mary, you place the world-changing power of your grace in our hearts. Bless us, that we ourselves may be the way your justice enters the world. Speak your Word to us; may it be with us according to your word. Amen.

2.
Our hearts in solitude cry out,
O God, show us a sign of hope.
May we listen with the ears of our hearts;
may we see with eyes of mercy. Amen.

3.
Creator God, like John the Baptist, we are looking for the coming of the Messiah. Come to us, speak your Word to us, and shine your light is us, that we may see and trust, and that we may bear your good news to the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Eternal God, John the Baptist asked Jesus, “Are you the One?” So we ask; so we wonder; so we look for your grace in this world. Help us to see. Help us to trust. Help us to live with patience and faith. Speak your Word to us, and guide us. Amen.

5.
Gracious God, the prophets promised your coming, and the deserts blossomed in confidence. Mary heard your promise and awaited your coming with joy. As we hear of your coming, may our hearts flower with hope. Shine the light of your dawn upon us, and awaken us to the deep joy of your coming. Amen.

6. Advent prayer
O WISDOM, Truth of God, Word whose gentle speaking
breathes all things into existence:
     Come, open our eyes to what is, and lead us on a path with heart.
O POWER OF BLESSING, Breath within us,
you who reveal yourself to those with open hearts,
     Come and set us free with a strong and gentle hand.
O ROOT OF LIFE, who awakens people, who silences tyrants, who treasures all prayers:
     Come, and may nothing hinder our seeing your coming.
O KEY OF HEAVEN, who opens Blessing to us and no one may shut,
who breaks down the walls we build between us
     Come and save us from the prison of our fears,
and deliver us into one another’s arms
O RISING DAWN, Unfolding Light, radiance of justice
     Come shine on those who dwell in darkness,
and fill the shadows of injustice with light
O RULER OF ALL PEOPLES, the only joy of every human heart,
Breath in whom we all are One:
     Come and finish creating us, whom you form from the dust of the earth.
O PRESENCE, You who Are, ruling us from within,
capturer of our hearts and longing of all peoples:
     Come and return us to life, our God, our Life. Amen.

Poetry

            Wondering

God comes among us in human form.

How is something this plain so mysterious?

How is something so cosmic this particular?

How is something so mighty so fragile?

How does this earth so become heaven?

How is something so coming so here?

We can’t know. But we must not cease wondering.



             Even as I wait
Snow falls in the open meadow.
Roots and seeds are buried now

all greenness cloistered
in silent retreat.

Snow’s blessing waits in branches,
on rooftops, in beauty.

What is coming is already here
in an unforeseen form.

Even as I wait,
I am deeply satisfied.

Christmas prayer

Infinite One,
depth of night,
breath of galaxies:
come to me.

Holiness within,
gestating heaven,
revealing yourself:
let me see.

Tender One,
not afraid of my death,
gentle amidst the storm:
enfold me.

Holy Presence,
womb-warmth,
life-pulse:
enter me.

Heavenly Lover,
journeying with me,
bearing my life:
marry me.

Child from heaven,
come out
and share my world.
Let me hold you.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Leader: Gentle One, even as we ache for your coming,
you are present in our longing.
All: Loving God, you birth new life within us.
With open hearts, we await your coming.

Eucharistic Prayer

———Sung prayers———
Here are four Eucharistic prayers set to familiar Christmas tunes: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Rocking, Rocking,” and “What Child Is This.”

“Longing Night,” an original song (see below), includes music for sung Eucharistic responses.

———Spoken prayer———
[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presiding leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Holy Mystery, Heavenly Lover, we give our thankful hearts to you.
You create us in beauty, claim us in love, and guide us with faithfulness.
You judge the forces of oppression and set all your children free.
You heal the broken, and feed the hungry.
You open the eyes of those who are oblivious.
You empower those who are disabled.
We have seen your grace in our lives, and we are in wonder.
We are in awe. And we are grateful.
So with all Creation, we sing your praise.
     —Sanctus—

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who taught and forgave, who fed and healed.
Crucified and risen, he is always with us, and always coming anew.
In him we see the gracious signs of your presence,
your Word made flesh.
In Christ you have renewed your Covenant
to be with us forever in love, and we give thanks.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
     —Memorial Acclamation—

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ:
in lives of love and forgiveness, mercy, healing and justice,
living signs of your coming.
     —Amen.—
____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer after Communion / Dedication / Sending

1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (your grace.) / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. As you did with Mary, you have conceived in us your vision of justice. You have made your Word flesh among us. Send us into the world as vessels of your mercy. May it be with us according to your Word. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (your grace.) / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Blessed by these gifts, may we see with love, practice mercy, and do justice, as signs of your coming to all who sit in darkness and shadow, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for (your grace.) / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Open the eyes of our hearts to see your presence and your grace in all things, so that we may be signs of your coming. We pray in the name of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. In bread broken and wine poured out you enter our lives and sanctify them. Send us into the world to embody your presence, to be your broken bread for a broken world, and to enter into the unfolding healing of all Creation, trusting in your coming with love and patience, in the spirit of Christ, who is among us, and who is coming. Amen

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (your love.) / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Created anew by your grace, strengthened to prepare your way, and tasting the joy of your coming, we dedicate our lives to your will. Send us out with confident patience to work and to pray and to live for the healing of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ, who is coming. Amen.

5.
Bountiful God, we give you thanks for (your love.) / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Even as we long for your coming, we see signs of your presence in deeds of love and justice, in miracles of healing and reconciliation. Help us to wait with patience, as a farmer awaits the precious crop, strengthened by your Word, and renewed in joy, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Come, dear Jesus, come! Amen.

6.
A benediction: [Luke 1.78-79]
Leader: By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
All: to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Suggested Songs

(All songs with “Advent” tags, of course, but especially these. Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Blessed Child of Bethlehem (Original Song)

Blessed child of Bethlehem, waiting to be born,
some will bring you incense, and some a crown of thorns.
Yet you bear so gently all our joys and harms.
How I long to greet you, and hold you in my arms!

Blessed child of heaven, waiting to be born,
joy of all Creation, delight of those who mourn:
teach us how to worship, teach us how to love,
living in the presence of angels from above.

Blessed child among us, waiting to be born,
in whom we are healed and all our sorrows borne:
help us live with love, in peace and reconciled.
By your birth in us, everyone’s a holy child.

Blessed child within me, waiting to be born,
bringing gifts and wonders with the light of morn,
heaven springing in me, new life yet to grow:
child of holy promise, oh how I love you so!


Magnificat    (Tune: What Child Is This)

My soul sings out in joy to God,
and glorifies my Savior:
for in my powerless, lowly state,
my God has shown me favor.
Praise! Praise the Mighty one
for all the things that God has done.
Love, love will honor God,
whose mercy lives forever.

God’s arm is strong, and mercy great,
God’s name forever is holy.
God brings the powerful down from thrones
while lifting up the lowly.
Praise God, who feeds the poor,
and leaves the wealthy rich no more.
Praise, praise the Faithful One
who promises mercy forever.

Short Version:

My soul proclaims, “How great my God!”
Rejoice, for God is holy.
God feeds the poor! The rich no more
receive, but those who are lowly.
Praise! Praise the Mighty one
for all the things that God has done.
Love, love will honor God,
who promises mercy forever.


Signs (Tune: O Little Town of Bethlehem)

The night is long; the darkness deep; our childish dreams long gone.
We lie awake with hearts that ache for warmth and light of dawn.
We long to trust the promise the prophets have foretold:
we look for signs of your designs for what the future holds.

In our unknowing and our doubt, O Christ, you speak your Word:
to stay awake and watch and wait for signs unseen, unheard.
Yet in our very longing, your Spirit cries for home:
for you are near, and hidden here, and yet are still to come.

And so in silent stillness now we watch, and as we do
your grace imparts into our hearts the gifts we seek in you.
Our openness transforms us: for now your grace is clear,
that we may shine and be a sign that Christ is drawing near.

            Weekly Advent Theme Responses

[These songs are designed to be used throughout Advent, using one verse per week. Each is a dialogue between a soloist (or choir or ensemble) and congregation. The congregation’s response remains the same throughout the season. Each week’s (solo) verse reflects the week’s Lectionary readings, especially in Year A. Below are the current week’s lyrics.]

Come, Holy Dawn (Original Song)

Congregation:
Come, morning star, light our way, in our darkest night.
Come, light of God, grant us peace, gently shining bright.
Come, holy dawn, sun of love, fill us with your light.
Cantor:
Patience now, my people! God’s promises are sure.
Justice quells the mighty, empowering the poor.

Come, O Jesus, Come (Original song)

Soloist, introduction:
Rise, O people, awake!
The light of Christ is dawning!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Come, O Jesus, come!

Congregation, chorus:
Dawn on us from above. Raise us up in your love.
Awaken our hope with the day, and lead us in your way.
Come, O Jesus, come! Come, O Jesus, come!

Soloist, verse:
The day will soon come of justice and peace; the wolf and the lamb will share.
Repent and prepare the way in love. A child will lead us there! (Chorus)


Longing Night (Original Song)

Introduction- Cantor:
      Alleluia. Alleluia. Make ready your hearts for the Coming One. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Response- Congregation
       In our deepest longing night, dawn upon us, God of light.
Verses– Cantor:
      1. One now comes to prepare the way. Deserts will bloom and the blind shall see.
Response.
      2. God overthrows the mighty with love, spurns the rich and lifts the poor. Response.

December 7, 2025

Lectionary Texts

Today’s scriptures speak of God’s coming justice.
Isaiah 11. 1-10 — A shoot from the stump of Jesse who will judge for the poor… The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and they will not hurt or destroy.

Psalm 72 — May the king judge the poor with justice. He delivers the needy.

Romans 15. 4-13 — Live in harmony with one another. Welcome one another, including Gentiles. “The root of Jesse shall come, in whom the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. You are full of goodness, able to instruct one another.

Matthew 3. 1-12 —John the Baptist: “Prepare the way…. You brood of vipers! Bear fruit worthy of repentance… The ax lies at the foot of the trees… he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Preaching Thoughts

Preaching around Christians often celebrates that Jesus has come to “save us.” Today’s texts remind us that Jesus isn’t coming to save individuals, but to save the world. Themes like “healing” and “salvation” are never merely individual: they’re about human society as a whole. In the prophetic message salvation isn’t about God rescuing us from the world’s threats, it’s about re-creating a world that’s not so threatening. Salvation is God’s work; but we have to cooperate in that transformation. We have to seek and establish and maintain justice— just relationships among all people.

God’s justice doesn’t mean everybody gets what they deserve, but that everybody gets what they need. In particular this means care for the poor and powerless and the inclusion of those who have been exuded from resources, safety, power and belonging. It means nonviolence; and the eradication of the abuse of power and discrimination against outsiders. Both Isaiah and the Psalmist emphasize nonviolence and justice. When Paul encourages harmony with Gentiles he doesn’t just mean non-Jews; he means outsiders: everyone who we consider “not one of us.”

Society, clearly, is a long way from justice, from Isaiah’s vision of nonviolence spreading through the world, so we need to change our ways. We need to repent. So when John the Baptist speaks of the Coming One he talks about repentance and justice— both personal and social transformation. He uses agricultural images of change and growth. The image of trees cut down is not a warning of the fires of hell (please!), but about pruning, working with growing plants to produce more abundant crops. The image of the threshing floor is not so much about separating “good people” from “bad people” but about sifting our lives to bring forth what is fruitful and discard what is not. The images of cutting trees and burning chaff are not images of judgment and destruction but images of growth, change and fruitfulness.

When we’re expecting guests to come satay with us, we clean the house. So we prepare for the Coming One by “cleaning house,” clearing out unfruitful stuff, establishing fruitful habits, and engaging in just and life-giving actions. We repent. Repentance isn’t just self-criticism. It’s change. In Advent as we wait for Christmas we repent of waiting for Christmas to change us. We make changes. There’s no such thing as repentance “in general.” It’s change in specific behaviors. We repent of specific actions, habits or attitudes. To make of your life a welcome manger for the living Christ, how do you need to repent? What do you need to clean up? Despair? Selfishness? Self-doubt? Worrying too much? Caring too little? Ignoring God’s cries for justice? Trying to save the world all by yourself? Each of us has a different mess to clean up, different stuff to throw out, different dead branches to prune. (What are yours?) The gift of God’s God’s grace is that the very things we need to change to prepare for Christ’s coming are the very things Christ changes in us—and is in us, already, working that transformation. Cool, huh? The Coming One is already present, and helps us prepare.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: Eager for the coming of Christ,
we behold the mystery of God’s dawning presence among us.
All: God of mercy, we long for your grace,
to heal the sin of our lives and the brokenness of this world.
We trust the miracle, that in this world of fear and injustice
a shepherd comes, both mighty and gentle, bearing mercy and power.
Loving God, we open our hearts to you,
and await your gracious coming.
Come, O Love! May your grace be born in our hearts.
Come, O Savior! May your peace dawn on our world. Amen.

2.
Leader: Loving God, bless your people, who turn to you in faith.
All: Bless the waiting, where there is space for you to come.
Bless the darkness, that we may wait with hope.
Bless the silence, that we may listen for your coming.
Grant us stillness, that with patience and courage
we may prepare room in our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ.
Come, O Savior, Come! Amen.

3.
Leader: O Root of Jesse, spring forth among us.
    All: Live in us, bearing the fruit of your grace.
O living Vine, we are your branches.
    Prune what is not life-giving in us.
O Coming One, come, and be our transformation.
    Come with the pruning shears of your grace,
    with the fire of the Holy Spirit,
    and make us a worthy manger where Christ may be born.

Lighting the Advent Candle

1. Isaiah 11.1-10
Leader: A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.
The spirit of God shall rest on them,
the spirit of wisdom and reverence for the Holy One.
All: They will delight in obeying God.
They will not judge by appearances or hearsay,
but will act with respect toward the poor,
and choose for the well-being of the powerless.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
and a little child shall lead them.
No one will harm or destroy on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Beloved
as the waters cover the sea.

2. [Romans 13.11,12; 15.13]
Leader:You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.
All: For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.
The night is far gone, the day is near.
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3.
Reader: (Isaiah 11.6, 9)
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God
as the waters cover the sea.
Leader: This candle represents our hope for peace.
All: We live amidst violence, but God promises peace.
We bear bitterness and judgment toward one another, but God calls us to love.
Christ comes among us to lead us to gentleness and compassion.
May the Christ child lead us to lives of justice and courage.
May the Christ child be born in us, the child of peace.
God of mercy, rule over us with righteousness,
and remove all oppression and violence.
Help us to repent, and to bear the fruits of your love.
Come, Holy Child, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Leader: The world is busy! We are in a hurry! Our lives are cluttered and beyond our control!
All: God of peace, break into our chaos. Prepare a way among our desires. Clear a path straight to our hearts. Grant us grace to make room for your coming. Speak, for we are listening. Amen.

2.
God of mercy, your Realm has drawn near.
Help us prepare a Way for you to enter our minds and hearts,
a way for you to enter the world with might
for the sake of justice, mercy and peace.
Help us repent. Grant us hearts of faith. Amen.

3.
God of mercy, a cry for healing arises from a hurting world. Your Spirit moves us to respond, for only by the grace of your Word in us do we reach out. Come to us; speak to us; give us good news that we may bear to the world. By the presence with us of Christ and your redeeming love, may we make gentle this wounded world. Amen.

4.
God of love, a little child comes among us. You ask us to pay attention. You invite us to follow. You lead us to become like him. We open our hearts. Help us to listen, and be changed. Amen.

5.
God, you who are coming, grant us grace to prepare a way for you with courage and honesty. Help us to see ourselves clearly. In our darkness be our light. In our ignorance be our truth. In the silence, speak to us. God, you who are coming, we are still. We are listening. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Holy Child, help us to repent,
to become people of peace and compassion.
Loving God, you birth new life within us.
With open hearts, we await your coming.

Poetry

Annunciation
      
An ordinary life you have,
like baked bread, the aroma of love,
like old wood, edges worn from kindness.

In a moment’s pause, a small step aside
from the rush, the proof—
the abyss opens. Heaven inhales.

Deep, wordless, you sense
wings, breathing, Presence.
Silence speaks.

Sunlight on a plain rock,
music of a flower not usual
for this season: You are Beloved.

The Infinite names you, adores,
finds in you, in your flesh, your voice,
your hands, a place to live.

What is within you is holy.
What is of you is of God, Mystery
spiraling out from you like a nebula, a child.

You will not cease being ordinary,
nor feel different. You will bear
the Divine made infant into the world

if only moment
by moment you say
Yes.



Prepare Your Way

God,
prepare your Way in me.

Open a way to enter
the grim wilderness of my heart.

Create a Way in this
severe, unforgiving desert.

Make my rough places smooth;
the crooked make straight.

Lay your hand at my root,
and help me bear fruit.

Come and empty my heart
of all things but you.

Sever me from my proud little treasures,
and burn them up in your truth.

All that is chaff, burn away.
Set me on fire with your Spirit.

God, I am willing to change.
Prepare your Way in me.

Come, savior,
prepare your Way in me.



I prepare a place

Holy Child of mystery,
I prepare a place for you.
I remodel the inn of my heart.
I clear a room
and let go of many things.
I fashion a crib of finest wood.
I make a space that is just for you,
and open it up each day,
and in stillness I wait—
until I find that in darkness of night
beneath my knowing or waking,
in cold and poverty,
without place at all,
you have already come
and lie waiting in some
unexpected manger.


An Advent Prayer

O Coming One,
give me a steadfast spirit
to wait for you with grace.

Give me patience to listen
for your breathing
in the breath of your people.

Give me courage to trust
your continually blossoming presence
even in the unseeing darkness.

Give me wisdom to see
your manger in rough places,
your star in dark nights.

Give me gentleness
to receive you as a child
amidst the shouting of kings and warriors.

O Blossoming One, you are the love
with which I wait tenderly
for the coming of your love.

O Holy Child, come to me
that I may fall in love with you,
and become wholly yours,
in faith, in love, in steadfast hope.
Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

———Sung prayers———
Here are four Eucharistic prayers set to familiar Christmas tunes: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Rocking, Rocking,” and “What Child Is This.”

“Longing Night,” an original song (see below), includes music for sung Eucharistic responses.

———Spoken prayers———

[The body of the prayer may be read responsively or by the presiding leader(s) alone.]
1.
God, the Beloved, is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our thanks and praise.

Loving One, our hearts swell with gratitude.
You give us life, provide for us, and call us as your own.
In the words of prophets and the cries of your people
you call for justice.
In Jesus you have shown us your justice and your mercy.
You have come among us to give us courage to change our lives,
to set us free from all that oppresses,
and to empower us to do justice.
Wonder of wonders: the Coming One whom we await is already among us!
Alleluia! With joy we set the table;
in hope we prepare our lives;
with all Creation we sing your praise!
[Sanctus]

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who transforms our lives, in whose grace the wolf lies down with then lamb.
As John the Baptizer promised,
Christ opens our hearts to prepare for what is coming.
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and established justice for the outcast.
He is the vine and we are his branches,
and we gladly prune what does not bear fruit,
so that what does bear fruit may bear it abundantly.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

[Memorial Acclamation]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
In the grace of this meal, feed what is weak in us,
and burn away what is unfruitful.
Empower us to do justice, to live mercifully,
and to be ready for your coming, in peace and joy.

[Amen]


______________________
2.
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our thanks and praise.

It is our delight to give you thanks and praise, God of love,
for you create us in your image, call us as your people,
and make Covenant to be our God.
When we are oppressed and enslaved
you condemn the forces of injustice and set us free.
When we wander in despairing wilderness and live in lonely exile
you bring us home.
When we betray your image in us
you call us to repent and become again the people you create us to be.
As you have promised, you came to be with us in Jesus.
For this grace we praise you, together with all Creation:

[Sanctus]

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He taught and healed with love, and called us to repentance and faith.
He gave us his love, love that defies empires and defeats death.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

[Memorial Acclamation]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
Transformed by your grace, may we repent and bear the fruit of your love,
for the sake of the world, in the name and Spirit of Christ.
All glory and honor is yours, mighty and merciful God, now and forever.

[Amen]


____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending

1.
A benediction: [Romans 15.5-7, 13]
Leader: Dearly Beloved, accept one another, just as Christ has accepted you,
for the glory of God.
All: May God, the source of all of strength and encouragement,
grant us to live in harmony with one another,
in accordance with Christ Jesus,
so that together with one voice
we may glorify the God of our savior Jesus Christ.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for your grace. Bless us that your gift of self-giving, your Word of love and your community’s blessing may stir us to repent and live new lives of love for your sake. Send us into the world to bless without reserve, to love without fear, to serve without holding anything back. Beloved Jesus, you have come to us in our worship. In our lives of love, come again, dear Jesus, come! Amen.

Prayer after Communion

1.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have fed us with the banquet of your peace. You have given us gifts that make us your children. Send us into the world to do justice, to love mercy, and to follow the leading of your Holy Child, as we await your coming. We pray in the name of the Holy Child who is coming, and who is yet within us. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have strengthened us to prepare a way for your coming in holy and mindful living. Send us into the world with your spirit of wisdom, to serve your call for justice and peace, until the earth is full of the knowledge of you, as the waters cover the sea. We pray in the name and the Spirit of Christ, who is coming. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(All songs with “Advent” tags, of course, but especially these. Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Christ, Begotten of the Love of God
         (Tune: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, Of the Father’s Love Begotten)

Christ, begotten of the love of God, here before the world’s first day,
Christ the Alpha and Omega, Christ the source, the end, the way,
Christ, the promised One, still coming: come, O Light, and show the way,
evermore and evermore.

Christ, we waken to your coming at an unexpected hour,
bringing love and justice with you, with divine grace and power.
May our waiting be our praising; in our hope may courage flower,
evermore and evermore.

Christ, your glory fills the universe, blessing us with joyful mirth;
and your grace renews our spirits, granting us a second birth.
Come, O Christ, and rule among us, bringing peace to all the earth,
evermore and evermore.

Christ, we bring our gifts to honor you, and we come on bended knee,
offering our hearts and living, that to you the glory be.
May your light adorn and guide us, now and in eternity,
evermore and evermore. Amen.


Prepare Your Way In Me – (Original song)

Prepare your way in me, Love, prepare your way in me.
1. Make my rough places smooth, the crooked make straight, my Love.
2. Lay your hand at my root, that I may bear fruit, my Love.
3. Come and empty my heart of all things but you, my Love.
4. Guide my feet in your way; fill me with your peace, my Love.


Magnificat (Tune: What Child Is This)

My soul sings out in joy to God,
and glorifies my Savior:
for in my powerless, lowly state,
my God has shown me favor.
Praise! Praise the Mighty one
for all the things that God has done.
Love, love will honor God,
whose mercy lives forever.

God’s arm is strong, and mercy great,
God’s name forever is holy.
God brings the powerful down from thrones
while lifting up the lowly.
Praise God, who feeds the poor,
and leaves the wealthy rich no more.
Praise, praise the Faithful One
who promises mercy forever.


Signs (Tune: O Little Town of Bethlehem)

The night is long; the darkness deep; our childish dreams long gone.
We lie awake with hearts that ache for warmth and light of dawn.
We long to trust the promise the prophets have foretold:
we look for signs of your designs for what the future holds.

In our unknowing and our doubt, O Christ, you speak your Word:
to stay awake and watch and wait for signs unseen, unheard.
Yet in our very longing, your Spirit cries for home:
for you are near, and hidden here, and yet are still to come.

And so in silent stillness now we watch, and as we do
your grace imparts into our hearts the gifts we seek in you.
Our openness transforms us: for now your grace is clear,
that we may shine and be a sign that Christ is drawing near.

Come, O Savior (Original Song)
[May be sung in one piece… or one verse at a time in various points of the service…or used throughout the season of Advent, using one verse each week. The lyrics of each verse correspond to themes of the week’s lectionary readings.]

Spirit of peace, be born in us.
Help us to walk in your light.
Help us be ready, help us be wakeful.
Give us deep gentleness, and a spirit of peace.
Refrain: Come O Savior, Come, we pray.
Come, O Savior, Come.
Come, O Savior, Come. Amen.

Spirit of wisdom, be born in us.
Grant us the fruit of repentance,
that we no longer will judge with our eyes.
Give us deep vision, God, and a spirit of hope.
Refrain

Spirit of joy, be born in us,
grateful for gifts of your healing:
bodies made whole and a whole new Creation.
Give us deep patience, God, and a spirit of joy.
Refrain

Spirit of holiness, come to us.
Grant us the courage to serve you,
trusting your mystery growing within us.
Give us deep willingness, and a spirit of love.
Refrain

Weekly Advent Theme Responses

[These songs are designed to be used throughout Advent, using one verse per week. Each is a dialogue between a soloist (or choir or ensemble) and congregation. Each week’s (solo) verse reflects the week’s Lectionary readings, especially in Year A. The congregation’s response remains the same throughout the season. Below are the current week’s lyrics.]

Come, Holy Dawn (Original song)

Congregation:
Come, morning star, light our way, in our darkest night.
Come, light of God, grant us peace, gently shining bright.
Come, holy dawn, sun of love, fill us with your light.
Cantor:
Change your hearts, my people! Trust, repent and pray.
With the Spirit’s fire bear fruit: prepare the way.


Come, O Jesus, Come (Original song)

Soloist, introduction:
Rise, O people, awake!
The light of Christ is dawning!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Come, O Jesus, come!

Congregation, chorus:
Dawn on us from above. Raise us up in your love.
Awaken our hope with the day, and lead us in your way.
Come, O Jesus, come! Come, O Jesus, come!

Soloist, verse:
The day will soon come of justice and peace; the wolf and the lamb will share.
Repent and prepare the way in love. A child will lead us there! (Chorus)

Longing Night (Original Song)

Introduction- Cantor:
      Alleluia. Alleluia. Make ready your hearts for the Coming One. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Response- Congregation
      In our deepest longing night, dawn upon us, God of light.
Verses– Cantor:
      Make straight a way for the Promised One. Watch, repent, and bear good fruit. Response
      God shall come to rule with grace. Wolf and lamb shall dwell in peace.
Response