Spirit Alive! upbeat Christ-Centered

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1 Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit 3461 Cedar Crest Blvd. Emmaus, PA PHONE FAX Spirit Alive! upbeat Christ-Centered Epiphany of Our Lord Sunday, January 6, :45 am The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for Ministry in Daily Life Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world.

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3 ELW refers to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the red worship book. Page numbers are in the front of the book with hymn numbers following in the middle & end. During worship, please silence all communication devices. *As you are able, please stand. Gathering Gathering and Fellowship Welcome and Theme of the Day Epiphany means manifestation. On this day we celebrate the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles that is, to all nations. The word and sacraments are for us the great epiphany of God s grace and mercy. We go forth to witness to the light that shines brightly in our midst. *Gathering The assembly reads responsively. Let us celebrate God s glory around us, and the light of Christ within us! Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of God has dawned on us. For shadows cover the earth, and deep gloom enshrouds the people. But over you, God will rise, and God s glory will appear on you. You are the light of the world. You will be radiant, your hearts will thrill and rejoice! Christ will be our everlasting light; and God will be our glory! *Gathering Song Christ Be Our Light ELW Hymn 715 *Prayer of the Day Let us pray together. O God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to see your presence in our lives, and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 3

4 Word First Reading A Reading from Isaiah 60:1 6 in The Message Bible. Jerusalem is assured that nations will make a pilgrimage to her, because the light of God's presence is in her midst. The bountiful food of the sea and the profits of international trade will come streaming to Jerusalem and thereby declare God's praise. Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. GOD s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But GOD rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness. Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you ll smile big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations! And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of GOD. And yes, a great roundup of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth, Welcome gifts for worship at my altar as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor. Word of God, Word of Light. Thanks be to God! Word for God s Children Children ages 3 7 are invited to the All Saints Room. They will return after the Sermon. We encourage at least one parent to be present. *Gospel The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 2:1 12 in The Message Bible. Open Our Hearts, Lord God's promise shines bright in the night as magi follow a star to honor a new king. Strangers from a faraway land, they welcome the long-awaited messiah of Israel. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory this was during Herod s kingship a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We re on pilgrimage to worship him. When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified and not Herod alone, 4

5 but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, Where is the Messiah supposed to be born? They told him, Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It s you, Bethlehem, in Judah s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel. Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I ll join you at once in your worship. Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. This is the good news! Thanks be to God! Hallelujah! Sermon Pr. Spencer Steele *Word in Song The First Noel ELW Hymn 300 *Epiphany Affirmation Let us affirm our faith. We believe in God, the creator and giver of life, who brought all creation to birth, who mothers us and fathers us, protecting, nurturing, and cherishing us. We believe in Jesus Christ: God born among us as a fragile baby, embodying both love and the need for love, and calling us to rest in God as trustingly as a tiny child. 5

6 We believe in the Holy Spirit, breathed into us at our birth, always drawing us to be born again, encouraging, comforting, nourishing our growth and inspiring our living. We believe in the reconciliation of the world to God, through Christ. Hunted at birth and humiliated at death, Christ entered our fearful darkness so that we may enter his glorious light and share the life of his resurrection. And we believe that each new child is a glimpse of the face of God, a sign of the life to come, and a call to live in peace and celebrate living together. Glory to God in the highest, and God's peace to all people on earth. Amen. *Prayers of the People Rejoicing with all the faithful, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. After each petition: Shine, Jesus, shine, set our hearts on fire. Pondering the mystery of your love, we offer our prayers in the name of Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen. *Share the Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people greet one another with the peace of Christ. Offering King of Heaven Crocker Eric Kahler, soloist The assembly responds to the Word of God by gathering an offering for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. The music is offered as a gift to the glory of God. You may give your offering in the offering plate, or by using a credit or debit card at the Giving Kiosk, or Give by Text ( ), or through Simply Giving, or by sending it to the church office. The table is set. 6

7 *Procession of the Kings Song We Three Kings 7

8 Meal *Word in Meal We have come looking for the child wondering where that love is born, Seeking that joy that satisfies our thirst. We have come to this place where wise people and shepherds and young women met. We have come to this place called Bethlehem. To this place where our hearts rise like yeast. To this place where we meet our newborn hope. To this place where we taste our deepest joy. In Bethlehem, where we assumed the worst, imagining that no good can come, we somehow missed its name - Bethlehem. Bethel means house. Lehem means bread. There is something here that will satisfy our hunger. No matter how long we have wandered, here our hearts arise. Our light has come. In this bread and in this cup, we celebrate something we can t quite understand. Because God has made a house at this table. Because God satisfies our hunger in the most unlikely places. Because God comes to be with us in and through the bread. It is with this expectation that we come to the table to taste and see that God is here. Holy Spirit, be present in this bread and this cup. Words of Institution Transform these ordinary objects as you change our hearts to shape and form your world with the joys you promise. Pour your grace on us, so we overflow with your love. Help us to remember how a newborn baby grows into a little child that would one day turn to his hope-filled friends in an upper room Come, Lord Jesus, come and transform our lives for the sake of the world. 8

9 *Lord s Prayer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: 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. *Invitation to Communion Come to the table of love and forgiveness. Come, radiate the light. Sacrament of Holy Communion All who are baptized and believe in the presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are welcome to receive the Sacrament. To facilitate flow, the ushers invite the side sections, the front few rows and then the back rows. The people come forward, using the center aisle in two lines, to receive the bread from the ministers, then go to the side to dip their bread into the wine. Grape juice is used in our celebration so that all may freely receive. In addition, gluten free wafers are available. After receiving the elements, people may kneel at the altar rail for prayer, and return to their seats using the side aisles. Children may receive the sacrament if they have completed instruction with a pastor. Children who do not commune may come forward for a blessing. Communion Songs The assembly sings of the light of the world. This Little Light of Mine ELW Hymn 677 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light ELW Hymn 815 He Came Down ELW Hymn 253 *Prayer Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God, that in this bread and cup of Christ's very life, you give us food for our journey. As you led the magi by a star, as you brought the holy family home again, guide us on the way unfolding before us. Wherever we go, may our lives proclaim good news of great joy in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 9

10 Sending *Blessing May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. *Sending Song Shine, Jesus, Shine ELW Hymn 671 *Dismissal The assisting minister sends the assembly into mission. Go, shine brightly with the love of Christ. Shine, Jesus, shine. CCLI # One License A The Toolkit all content Changing Church Forum, Inc. Reproducible for church use only. Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by Permission. All rights reserved. HymnPrint.net License # The Message (MSG) Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission. Some liturgy reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion Used by permission. Epiphany Affirmation of Faith written by Nathan Nettleton, 1999, incorporating some lines from "Midwife of our lives" by Kathy Galloway published in Kathy Galloway (ed.) The Pattern of Our Days, Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications, 1996, p.138. from laughingbird.net/seasonalpages/christmas.html. Word in meal Eucharistic prayer submitted to Liturgylink.net by Rev. Elsa Peters, the United Churches of Olympia, WA. Blessing from Sundays and Seasons. 10

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