January 7 – Epiphany!

Happy New Year from Ivy Chapel. Star of Wonder! Today we celebrate Epiphany and are glad to have guest musician Judy Lindquist here with us to lead worship.

We also mark this day with Communion. If you are worshipping with us at home, please gather the elements before the service begins so we may celebrate God’s gift to us together.

WELCOME

PRELUDE

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!
All: Be glad, and celebrate!
One: Hear God’s word for our day.
All: May we respond as the shepherds did.
One: Let’s go to Bethlehem.
All: May we display the ambition of the Magi!
One: Let’s follow God’s starlight to the Christ Child’s birthplace.
All: Come and behold him; born the king of angels!

*HYMN – We Three Kings of Orient Are – #220

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O 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]

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high. [Refrain]

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Peals through the earth and skies. [Refrain]

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of new things and God of all things; you are the Giver of grace. You surprised the world in Bethlehem. The way that you came alive in the commonplace was amazing! You did not send someone else. You came yourself! You were born as a vulnerable, little baby. We are grateful that you often come to us in quietly reassuring ways that do not call attention to yourself.

We praise you, Christ Jesus, for your wonderful, everlasting love! We give you thanks from the bottom of our hearts. May our lives humbly point to your presence in the world and faithfully contribute to your vision of a world led by you, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen.

*RESPONSE – The First Noel – #205

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

GOD’S WORD – Isaiah 60:1-6 & Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

SPECIAL MUSIC – How Beautiful (T. Paris) – Judy Lindquist

RESPONSIVE READING – ADORATION OF THE MAGI, Matthew 2: 1-2 – #640

SERMON – Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome to receive the sacrament.
The cups in the outer ring on each tray contain grape juice. The other cups contain wine.

*HYMN – As With Gladness Men of Old – #219

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,
To that lowly manger bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him, whom heav’n and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At the manger, 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.

Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE