Order of Service / Epiphany / January 5, 2025

*Gathering Hymn Go, Tell It on the Mountain (#43VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: A star shining brightly in the East,

All: discovered by those who have eyes to see the unusual and the challenging.

One: A journey into unknown territory,

All: taken by those who have courage and curiosity.

One: An encounter with an evil presence,

All:evil faced, yet resisted with care.

One: The Holy One recognized, in spite of humble origin,

All: the glory and the gifts given, to God’s Chosen Child.

One: Let us worship God!

*Celebrate God’s Presence.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn Arise, Your Light Is Come (#79 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Gracious God, you call us to be the light of the world. Yet sometimes our light flickers like a candle, threatened by the storms of life. We are frightened that if we don’t protect the light, it will go out and leave us in the shadows. So instead of sharing your light, we hoard it. Loving God, we pray for your light to open our hearts and free us from our fears. Renew our faith so we will be your light in the world! (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Sandy Ferguson. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 42.

Words of Assurance

One: In Christ, God says to us,

All: “Arise, shine, for your light is come.”

One: In Christ, God says to us,

All: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

One: In Christ, God says to us,

All: “Your sins are forgiven you.”Thanks be to God for love and hope!

*Celebrate God’s Presence.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children Like a Rock (#92 MV)

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Isaiah 60:1-6 Arise, shine, for your light has come.

Psalm 72:1-14 (VU p.790|P.1&2) God’s anointed defends the poor.

Matthew 2:1-12 The visit of the magi.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word (#84 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#81 VU | v. 3, As with Gladness Men of Old)

As they offered gifts most rare at that manger crude and bare,

So may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you, our heavenly King.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Holy One, we give our gifts and talents, just as the wise ones brought you frankincense, myrrh, and gold, when you were on your mother’s knee. We bring you our earthy treasures to help illuminate your presence on this earth. Amen.

*Sarah Brownlee. Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 43.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*ClosingHymnMany Are the Lightbeams (#588VU|vs.1,4,5)

*Commissioning

One: Light of God to give us hope

All: Power of God to protect us

One: Light of God to give us joy

  All: Peace of God to calm us

One: Light of God to give us faith

All: Grace of God to save us

One: Go in peace. The light of God is with us forever and ever. Amen.

*Celebrate God’s Presence.

*Commissioning Song Walk with Me (#649 VU|Refrain)

Walk with me, I will walk with you and build the land that God has planned where love shines through (x2)

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