Epiphany and Baptism of Christ
Below are some worship resources which you are welcome to use at no charge. Please just use a copyright acknowledgment "Copyright Lisa Frenz 2006. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."
Order of Worship
Prelude & Lighting of Candles
Stand
A: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. Isa. 60:1, 6;
C: We observed his star in the East, and have come to pay him homage. Matt. 2:2
Away in a Manger
Text: North American, anonymous, 19th cent.
Tune: CRADLE SONG
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay;
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, `Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.' When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, `In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel."' Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, `Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.'
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Text: John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1820-1891, alt.
Tune: THREE KINGS OF ORIENT
All
We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain: Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again;
king forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. Refrain
Men
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a deity nigh;
prayer and praising, gladly raising,
worshiping God Most High.
All Refrain
Women
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
All Refrain
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
heav'n sings alleluia:
alleluia the earth replies. Refrain
P: Let us pray,
C: Lord God, you led the wise men to your Son, the revelation of our Salvation, with the light of a star. Lead us now and always to you through the everlasting Light of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
(With One Voice Light of Christ, Setting 4, Augsburg Fortress or other appropriate liturgy)
Gathering:
GATHERING SONG: "O Come Little Children"
Christoph von Schmid (1768-1854). J.A.P. Schulz (1747-1800)
O come, little children, O come one and all,
O come to the cradle in Bethlehem’s stall!
Come, see what has happened this holiest night;
Come, gaze on the gift from the Father of Might.
O Come, join the shepherds, and on bended knee
Give thanks to the Father for Jesus, our King.
O lift up your voices and join in the praise,
That angels from Heav’n to the Father now raise.
GREETING
The minister greets the congregation.
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
HYMN OF PRAISE (With One Voice pg. 15-16)
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P Let us pray. (The Prayer of the Day is said, concluding:)
C Amen
Sit
FIRST READING
A: A reading from ________.
After the reading, the reader may say: The word of the Lord.
All may respond: Thanks be to God.
PSALM
The Psalm is sung or said.
SECOND READING
A: A reading from ________.
After the reading, the reader may say: The word of the Lord.
All may respond: Thanks be to God.
Stand
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (With One Voice pg. 17)
GOSPEL
P The Holy Gospel according to _______, the _______ chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
After the reading:
P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
Music for Meditation
Message
THEME SONG: Baptized
Text & Music: Jay Beech, Everyone Come p. 40, Augsburg Fortress
Baptized into the death of Christ....
.AFFIRMATION of BAPTISM BY THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY
When the whole assembly makes public affirmation, this may be followed by a sprinkling of the assembly with water from the baptismal font as a visible reminder of baptism. The service then continues with the prayers of intercession.
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
PEACE
The Peace is shared.
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you.
PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
The Offering is received as the Lord's table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERING SONG: As with Gladness Men of Old v.1-3
Text: William C. Dix, 1837-1898, alt.
Tune: DIX
As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright;
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore be led by thee.
As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to thy lowly bed,
there to bend the knee before
thee, whom heav'n and earth adore;
so may we with willing feet
ever seek thy mercy seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
at thy cradle, rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin's alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heav'nly king.
OFFERING PRAYER
GREAT THANKSGIVING & PREFACE (With One Voice pg. 22-26)
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks . . . (Here the minister continues with the proper preface, concluding:) we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
LORD'S PRAYER
P: Let us pray with confidence in the words our Savior gave us:
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen
Sit
LAMB OF GOD
Distribution of Communion
Dismissal from Communion
CANTICLE (With One Voice pg. 27)
A post-communion canticle or an appropriate hymn or song may be sung.
PRAYER
Silence for reflection..
BLESSING
Sit
Announcements
Stand
SENDING SONG: “It Came Upon The Midnight...”
Text: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876, alt.
Tune: CAROL
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heav'n's all-gracious king."
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heav'nly music floats
o'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hov'ring wing,
and ever o'er its babel sounds
the blessed angels sing. Continued
And you, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow:
look now, for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing;
oh, rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing!
For lo! The days are hast'ning on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and all the world give back the song
which now the angels sing.
DISMISSAL
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude