Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Epiphany
Epiphany! These Epiphany Sunday resources open the way to recognize the “manifestation” or “showing” of Jesus as holy. In Matthew 2, we hear the story of travellers from the east bringing gifts to Jesus.
Consider inviting the congregation to bless and chalk the doors of the sanctuary, and of their houses as they remember and recall this Matthean text. You could model this old, fairly unknown, tradition by
– sharing a blessing for the congregation’s space and for use in their homes.
– blessing chalk to give out and then use a piece to write above the entry of
the sanctuary.
– write the current year with the initials of the wise men between (whose
names are traditionally given as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.)
This is how the blessing would be written for 2022: 20 + C + M + B + 22
(Some folks note “C M B” can also stand for “Christus Mansionem Benedicat”
which means “May Christ bless this dwelling.”)
Call to Worship
One: Arise! Shine!
Many: God’s light has come to reveal The Way in this new year.
One: Arise! Shine!
Many: The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
One: Arise! Shine!
Many: God’s light penetrates the darkness that covers the world.
One: Arise! Shine!
Many: Nations shall come to God’s light
and rulers to the brightness of God’s dawn.
All: Arise! Shine! For the Glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Opening Prayer
God who ever and always shows up,
you never give up,
so today we thank you for bringing us to this new year,
and blessing us by continuing to light up the dark places
of our lives and of this world.
We’ve been busy; so many things we wanted to do for Christmas, and then for New Year’s! Now here we are, staring into the return to a week of “as it was”. Walk with us, God, and renew us, by the remembrance of a baby newly born, and the anticipation of your Spirit calling us into the future.
Accept our praise and lead us on!
AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
With the onslaught of Amazon boxes behind us, and the memory of “perfect” gifts fresh with us, we come to this first Sunday of a new year. Did you write down new year resolutions? Or, at least THINK about what you want to improve in your own life?
How about a resolution to give something of yourself and/or your resources EVERY day to build up God’s Realm on earth (“as it is in heaven”)? It could be giving to a neighbor, a service organization, or here, through the life of this congregation. Your time, your talent, your treasure; all are welcome!
{Perhaps it could be a “noisy” offering, when folks are invited to bring their change to contribute (if you don’t currently do this, you might introduce the idea today and take the offering on the second or third Sunday each month!)
Perhaps it could be a “special day” offering, with each month a different outreach opportunity}
For THIS day, we invite you to begin the new year with your own decision to make a daily offering to God and God’s Realm!
Let’s start here and now:
will you offer your tithes for the on-going work of our congregation?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Generous God, for all these gifts, tithes and offerings, we give you thanks! Please accept them, bless each giver, and multiply these resources, that we might be equipped to share Good News today and every day.
Help us be molded into generous followers of Jesus, willing to share our gifts, even as the Magi did so long ago. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
With the beginning of this new year, we’re opening a door onto 52 new weeks. Perhaps it’s a door marked by
Each Sunday, this Table will be set.
Each Sunday, you’ll be invited to be a guest at the feast where Christ offers you forgiveness, and a covenantal promise not to leave you or forsake you.
The thing is, you must be willing to walk through the door.
Once you do, the blessing of Emmanuel, “God with us” is yours!
So come, share in this communion feast as we give thanks for Jesus, described by Brian Wren in our communion hymn as One “prepared for nail and thorn, constricted into maleness and of a woman born” (CH #158 “Her Baby, Newly Breathing”)