The Celebration of Epiphany
Organ Prelude Epiphany (Peter Lutkin)
Congregational Welcome
Choral Introit “Gathered Here” (Porter)
Call to Worship
*Opening Hymn #411 Arise, Your Light Is Come
*Prayer of Invocation and Manifestation
One voice: Let us recall what Isaiah says together:
All: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but God will arise upon you, and God’s glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of
your dawn… Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you… (bringing) gold and frankincense, proclaiming God’s praise.” (Pause) Abundant, starlight, glorious God, be with us today to share some spark of Epiphany with every person here. Remind us that your word “arise” still applies to us and to our time in history, as a call to faith and to action. Grace us to live in your light now and forever, Amen.
*Assurance of Light
*Response in Praise
Good Christian Friends rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door, and we are blest for evermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
*Sharing of Peace
One Voice: The Peace of Christ be always with you.
All: And also with you!
The Day’s Psalm Ps. 72: 1-7, 10-14
The Gospel Reading Matthew 2: 1-12
The Morning Meditation The Rev. Kenneth Baily
Call to Offering
Choral Offering “Star in the East” (Heber)
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Christ the word in flesh born low,
Praise Holy Spirit evermore,
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
*Hymn (insert) Who Would Think That What Was Needed
The Celebration of Holy Communion
All: For this table is spread for you and for me that we might know that God has come to us and shared our common lot and invited us to receive life anew. Indeed, God has triumphed even over death. So we come to this table for thanksgiving, for grace, for God’s presence, for peace.
Leader: Let us unite our voices in preparation. God be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God!
Leader: Let us praise God together, saying:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, 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 the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest.
Sharing of Communion and Light
Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Hymn #68 What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright, st. 1 – 3
*Assurance and Blessing
*Choral Benediction “Go Out in Song” (Larson)
Postlude
* Those who are able please stand
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NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose:
whoever you are, you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,”
so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.
January 21 after worship a small group gathers to discuss membership at NHCC.
Contact Ken Baily or any reader or welcomer to learn more.
Thanks to worship leaders Ken Baily, Jan Zimmerman, Yevgenia Semeina-Maroyan,
Yumiko Matsuoka, Joy Huber, Sally Brickell, and Misha Hill.