Tag Archives: Epiphany Sunday

A Blessing on the Last Days of Christmas

04 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by in Epiphany Liturgy/Prayers, Holidays, Prayers

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Divine Glimmer-

The strands of lights are unhooked from the eavestroughs,
And the metallic garland removed from tree’s branches.
January’s shadows prevail when Christmas is removed.

Yet you are the Great Light.
When the brightness of Christmas has been erased from our sight,
The Epiphany glow in our souls brightens.

May the Epiphany Glow expand from our hearts
to reach our neighbors hurting from the cold nights,
short days, and seasonal silence.

May the Epiphany Glow draw us together
even greater than the parties of December
and the hustle of Advent.

May the Epiphany Glow kindle kindness,
knowing that the Christ is present in our midst,
as you, Holy Light, are eager to build your bright realm in our shadowed world.

Amen.

A Liturgy for Epiphany

31 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by in Epiphany Liturgy/Prayers, Liturgy, Pop, Prayers

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Call to Worship (Inspired by John 1)

One: The light shines in dimness
Many: And dimness did not overtake the light.
One: The light shines in each space.
Many: No gloom, no despair will overtake it.
One: The light shines in our souls.
Many: The shadows of life did not shade Divine light.
One: We celebrate the light of Christ
Many: A steadfast presence from the beginning
Which will shine through the end of time.

Invocation

Holy Lamplighter, as night prematurely encroaches upon us each day, may your illumination brighten our souls.  As we wait for dawn’s first glimmer, may the warmth you carry radiate across this community.  Kindle our hearts made cold by the world’s frostiness, and brighten the road ahead as we ponder what is most important in our lives.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation

One: Spirit of God, we have blocked your light and love from our neighbors.  We have barricaded the Divine glow which enlightens and empowers all of us.  We have turned our backs on the gleam of your wisdom, God.

All: Yet no matter how far we flee, your light still flows near.  You will never hide your light from us.  Encourage us to open doors and shutters to your brilliance so that your illumination will reach our souls.  May this enlightenment bring us closer to your intentions for this earth.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace

One: God’s warmth melts our hardened hearts.  God’s brilliance lights the path on which we will start again.  May we embrace God’s luminosity as we start on this new year journey.  Amen!

Call to Offering

As we seek the presence of God in our lives, we will begin to sense how God is calling us to use our gifts to build our church, our community, and our world.  It is a privilege to share what we have been given to love and light this this earth.

Prayer of Dedication

Divine Lamplighter, in gratitude, we share our treasures, our talents, and our time with this congregation.  We humbly ask that you illuminate our minds and hearts as we use all our resources to craft a just world for all.  Amen.

Benediction

One: As we travel dim streets during this new year, God,
Be our Divine Lamplighter.May your light shine on the road ahead of us.
May the warmth from your flame melt the frost covering our hearts.
May our souls come alive at the sight of your brilliance.
And may your light draw us closer to our neighbors as we begin this season together.

Amen!

A communion liturgy for Epiphany can be found here.

(c) 2019 Michelle L. Torigian.  Permission to use with attribution.

Communion Liturgy for Epiphany

03 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Church Life, Holidays, Liturgy, Pop

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Invitation

One: Here at this table and in this sanctuary, let the Divine Spark enter our lives.
Many: Let the Holy Light aid us in seeing the Christ in our midst.
One: The Brightness of Jesus the Christ will illuminate our way.
Many: The Radiance of the Christ will warm our hearts.

One: God is shining upon you!
Many: And God’s light streams upon you!
One: Open your hearts.
Many: We open them to the brilliance of God.
One: Let us give thanks for the light and love of God.
Many: We praise our Creator with joy and thanksgiving.

Prayer

One: We enter this stunning space eager to experience the presence of the Christ.  Notice the Christ in the cries of the children. Spot the Christ your neighbor’s singing.  Recognize the Christ in the laughter from the back of the sanctuary. The Christ is gleaming here, summoning us to share love and light as we greet our neighbors, share peace, pass the bread and cup, and love kindness across this earth.

On the night before Jesus died, when some were plotting to extinguish the Holy Light, warmth was shared between friends.  Jesus took bread. In his blessing, he passed the Divine Glow to his followers. As he broke the bread, he reminded them to eat in remembrance of him.

Later that same evening, Jesus took the cup.  He blessed it and invited his friends to taste from the cup of grace.  “Do this, as often as you drink of this, for the remembrance of me.”’

Holy Spirit, may your Divine Glow bless this bread and cup.  Warm our hearts made cold by a chilled world. May this meal inspire us to carry your warmth into our world.  Amen.

Distribution of the Elements

Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of Light and Love, we cherish this table in this season when the nights are long and cold.  Through this meal, the Christ, and our neighbors, our hearts have warmed. May the comfort in our souls sustain us through winter and nudge us to create welcoming spaces for our neighbors.  With gratitude, we leave here energized to kindle your love in this world. Amen.

Please feel free to use this service of communion with attribution to Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.