Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 60:1–6
Arise, shine; your light has come; the glory of the Lord appears.
Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14
May the king reign forever and deliver the needy.
Ephesians 3:1–12
An ancient mystery is revealed; Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ.
Matthew 2:1–12
Following a star, wise men visit Jesus and bring him gifts.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Come! Let us seek
the upside-down kin-dom of God
where there is no king—
except an infant child.
How do we get to this
upside-down kin-dom of God?
We follow a star to society’s outskirts.
We dare to dream impossible dreams.
We worship a baby born to those deemed “least.”
What is it like, the upside-down kin-dom of God?
There the oppressed are precious
and oppressed no more.
There outsiders are welcomed in
not as guests, but kin.
When we worship together,
we practice what it will be like
to live in the upside-down kin-dom of God.
Prayer of the Day
Jesus of the guiding star,
defender of the defenseless,
let us revere no human leader,
bow down to no king but you,
who relinquished your crown
to live among your people.
As we seek you, illuminate our way
until we realize your guiding light
shining out of every face we meet
and proceed to worship you by loving them. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the wonder and love you offer us
through the gift of our baptism—
your Word made flesh among us,
a child and Savior born to us,
good news of great joy for all.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let us be born anew from above
so that we may give glory to you
and live as your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Even when God’s light gives us a clear path to follow,
we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness.
We do not need to hide from the light;
we can come before God with every part of our lives,
that we may be restored to God’s way for us.
Holy Refugee of Israel,
we would like to believe that we would be like the magi,
that we would protect the innocent child,
that we would stand up to power.
But too often we have turned away from those who need us.
Too often we have bent to the powers that be,
resigning ourselves to the way it has always been.
Forgive our lack of action,
guide us back to your purposes,
and help us be brave enough to do your will.
Lifting water from the font:
God calls to us from wherever we are.
God’s love shines like a beacon.
God’s voice echoes in our souls,
“You are forgiven!”
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy One, giver of all light,
lift up our hearts and minds to Christ,
the morning star that never fades.
By the light of your Holy Spirit
reveal to us your saving Word
and lead us to offer our lives to you
in service and in love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Treasure these words
and ponder them in your heart.
Luke 2:19
After the readings:
And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Thanks be to God.
John 1:14
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to God’s people on earth! Amen.
Luke 2:14
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
The one sufficient revelation of God
is Jesus Christ,
the Word of God incarnate,
to whom the Holy Spirit
bears unique and authoritative witness
through the Holy Scriptures,
which are received and obeyed
as the word of God written.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.27
Prayers of Intercession
Remember God’s message: Do not be afraid!
Therefore we pray with hope and joy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the church . . .
Help us to follow our gentle Savior and Lord,
who leads his children through suffering
to the peace and glory of your holy realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the earth . . .
Join our voices with the hymn of all creation,
so that we may sing with heaven and earth
the beauty and glory of your name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for all nations . . .
Listen to those who weep for their children,
victims of poverty, famine, and war.
Do not let their cries go unanswered.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for this community . . .
Watch over those who are far from home,
and teach us to show hospitality and care
for refugees and strangers among us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for loved ones . . .
Strengthen those who are weak or suffering;
support and sustain them in times of trial.
Help them to put their trust in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We ask these things with joy, O God,
confident in the knowledge of your goodness;
and we ask these things with hope,
knowing that our redeemer is here—
for to us is born a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord,
Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray. Amen.
Luke 2:10–11
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
From the fullness of God
we have all received grace upon grace.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
John 1:16
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
For gifts abundant and for grace abounding,
we give you thanks, generous God.
Bless the gifts we bring today.
Use these gifts and our lives
to be your gift of grace to others. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
We look to you and we are radiant; we thrill and rejoice
as nations come to your light and leaders welcome your dawning.
You call us to arise, and shine, for your glory has risen upon us.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
With the ancient Magi, we come to pay him homage;
we give him the treasures of our hearts, our lives.
As his star shines down upon us, we are overwhelmed with joy.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
By your Spirit, make us bold and confident in our faith,
as you reveal to us the mystery of ages, your plan for the world—
to bring all peoples to the knowledge of your grace in Jesus Christ.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks, O God,
for the gifts of this table—
precious, prayerful, and poignant—
like gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Lead us forth by your light
to share the gifts of your grace
with all people everywhere,
giving glory, honor, and praise
to Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The loving kindness of the Lord our God,
the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior,
and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit
be with you all. Alleluia!
Titus 3:4–7
Go and tell this good news of great joy:
to us a Savior is born. Amen.
Luke 2:10–11
“Three Wise Men Visit the Baby Jesus”
China, 20th Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
All Hail to God’s Anointed (E) ROCKPORT GTG 149
-
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (G) PERSONENT HODIE GTG 141
-
The First Nowell (G) THE FIRST NOWELL GTG 147
WORD
-
’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (G) UNE JEUNE PUCELLE GTG 142
-
What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright (OG) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 152
-
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (EG) WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET GTG 827
-
Carol of the Epiphany (EG) FIRST HAND STF 2094
EUCHARIST
-
We Three Kings of Orient Are (G) KINGS OF ORIENT GTG 151
-
Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (E) RATISBON GTG 662
-
Come, Light, Light of God (O) COME, LIGHT OF GOD LUYH 107
SENDING
-
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (OG) WE’LL WALK IN THE LIGHT GTG 127
-
As with Gladness Men of Old (G) DIX GTG 150
-
Arise, Your Light Is Come! (O) FESTAL SONG GTG 744
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14
Metrical
- All Hail to God’s Anointed [ROCKPORT]; GTG 149
- The Church of Christ in Every Age [WAREHAM]; GTG 320
- Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor [RHUDDLAN]; GTG 342
Responsorial
- Come, Lord, Come Soon [KELVINGROVE]; PP 133
- O God Give Your Judgement to the King; PRCL 4 (PT #5), 18 (PT #5), LP 786
- Come, O Lord, and Set Us Free; PSA 64
- All Kings Shall Bow Down before You; PSA 65
Organ Music
-
“Oh, Wondrous Type! Oh, Vision Fair, or Oh, Love, How Deep,” DEO GRACIAS, Augsburg Organ Library: Epiphany, Aaron David Miller, AF (MA)
-
“Now the Silence,” NOW, Augsburg Organ Library: Baptism and Holy Communion, Michael Helman, AF (ME)
-
“What Star Is This?” Carols Before, Carols After: Settings of Advent and Epiphany Carols for Organ, Franklin Ritter, LOR (ME)
-
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright!” WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET, Augsburg Organ Library: Epiphany, Paul Manz, AF (M)
Piano Music
-
“Dance toward East, Op. 50, No. 6,” Pleiades Dances III, IV, V, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Ongaku no Tomo (ME)
-
“Clair de lune,” Suite Bergamasque, L. 75, Claude Debussy, HEN (M)
-
“Prestissimo from Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109,” Ludwig van Beethoven, HEN (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
-
“Christmas Light,” Kris Crunk, CGA, 2 pt, pno (E)
-
“Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come,” Allen Pote, TPR, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” Keith Christopher, HAL, SATB, pno, opt fiddle, opt gtr, opt mandolin (ME)
-
“There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob,” Felix Mendelssohn, GSH, SATB, org (M)
-
“Fairest Lord Jesus,” Charles Forsberg, AF, SATB, pno (MA)
-
“O Nata Lux,” Rene Claussen, ECS, SSAATTBB, acap (A)
Art
-
Untitled, Luchita Hurtado, 1975 (WA)
-
Interior of the Church of the Light, Tadao Andō, 1999 (VDL)
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Magi and Mystery, Jan Richardson (JR)
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Three Wise Men Visit the Baby Jesus, China, 20th century (VDL)
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Three More Kings, Annette Gandy Fortt, 21st century (VDL)
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Journey of the Magi, James Tissot, 1894 (VDL)
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Heavenly Window, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France (VDL)
