Thank you for joining us! May this quiet time of worship be meaningful to you and others. Opening ourselves to the Word of God- |
Welcome Lighting of a Candle (if you have a candle it helps to light it for the duration of worship. This gentle light helps you focus and make "sacred time") Leader: In Christ, God says to us: Arise, shine, for your light is come. All: Thanks be to God for starlight and the light in the manger: light of the world. Opening Prayer: God of Light and Love, we have passed through the door of the Old into a New Year. We are here because we need You. We are here to put our hand in Yours. We yearn for accurate predictions, assurances, safety. But we know you can't give us that ahead of time because everyone matters and we create the future together. But we take Your hand, earthy and sacred, we walk with you wherever you lead us. You will give us the strength we need, not in advance, but when we need it. You await our loving action and we are Yours indeed. Thank you for more life, more days, more light, more love: all awaiting to come into being. Amen. |
First reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6 (read by Paul Jennings and Brynja Bachem- Jennings) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land and young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. This is the witness of Israel Thanks be to God. |
The Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 Visit of the Magi (in THE VOICE translation) read by the B.J. family 2 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in the province of Judea, at the time when King Herod reigned. Not long after Jesus was born, magi, wise men or seers from the East, made their way from the East to Jerusalem. These wise men made inquiries. Wise Men: 2 Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him. 3 King Herod began to hear rumors of the wise men’s quest, and he, and all of his followers in Jerusalem, were worried. 4 So Herod called all of the leading Jewish teachers, the chief priests and head scribes, and he asked them where Hebrew tradition claimed the long-awaited Anointed One would be born. Scribes and Priests: 5 An ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah, said this: 6 But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are no poor relation-- For from your people will come a Ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel. From that prophecy we learn that the Savior would be born in the town of Bethlehem, in the province of Judea. 7 Herod called the wise men to him, demanding to know the exact time the special star had appeared to them. 8 Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem. Herod: Go to Bethlehem and search high and low for this Savior child; and as soon as you know where He is, report it to me so that I may go and worship Him. 9-10 The wise men left Herod’s chambers and went on their way. The star they had first seen in the East reappeared--a miracle that, of course, overjoyed and enraptured the wise men. The star led them to the house where Jesus lay; 11 and as soon as the wise men arrived, they saw Him with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They unpacked their satchels and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And then, just as Joseph did a few months before, the wise men had a dream warning them not to go back to Herod. The wise men heeded the dream. Ignoring Herod’s instructions, they returned to their homes in the East by a different route. The gospel of Jesus Christ Thanks be to God. |
Message: Finding the child |
Offering our gift of Talent, Treasure and Time, followed by Offering our prayers for the world and ourselves The Prayer of Jesus |
Rev. Elisabeth