Communications. Creative. Sample LEADER S GUIDE. of Wisdom. A Service for Epiphany LWB

Transcription

1 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany LEADER S GUIDE LWB

2

3 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany Leader s Guide LWB 3

4 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany Index Notes/Ordering Information...5 Newsletter/Bulletin Notices...6 Order of Service Complete Script For Worship Leaders Scripture Readings Children s Message Sermon Prayers Music Guide By Carol Geisler. Cover image: Shutterstock for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Purchase of this kit gives the purchaser the copyright release to use the material in any format for use in worship. 4 LWB

5 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany About This Service In this service for the celebration of the Festival of Epiphany, parishioners join with the wise men to worship Jesus, who is revealed as the Savior of all nations and the Light of the world. Hymns, Bible readings, a children s message and a sermon give praise to Jesus our King, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Hymns include As With Gladness Men of Old, Songs of Thankfulness and Praise and Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning. The CD includes a.pdf of the entire service, text of the order of service, readings, prayers, sermon, a children s message, and hymns in.rtf (rich text format) and a PowerPoint document of the service with text (with a copyright release) for use on screens. LWB 5

6 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany Newsletter/Bulletin Notices Newsletter Notice The Festival of Epiphany is sometimes called the Christmas of the Gentiles. The wise men were Gentiles, not Jews, and they followed a star to find and worship the Child of Bethlehem. The word epiphany means to reveal or make known. In the worship of the wise men Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all nations and the Light of the world. Where is the one who is wise? Come to our Epiphany service and join the wise men as we worship Jesus our King, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Bulletin Notice Where is the one who is wise? Wise men followed a star to find the Child of Bethlehem, and today we will join the wise men and worship Jesus our King, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). 6 LWB

7 The Light of Wisdom A Service for Epiphany Complete Script For Worship Leaders The Theme Verse is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader or is read silently by the congregation before the start of the service: Where is the one who is wise? 1 Corinthians 1:20 The Opening Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Dix : 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 they offered gifts most rare at thy cradle, 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. In the heav nly country bright need they no created light; Thou its light, its joy, its crown, thou its sun which goes not down; There forever may we sing alleluias to our King. 12 LWB

8 The Responsive Reading (from Psalm 111:1-4, 9-10) is spoken responsively by the pastor and the congregation: PPPraise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. CC Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. PPFull of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. CC He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. PPHe sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. CC Holy and awesome is his name! PPThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. CC His praise endures forever! The Confession and Absolution is spoken responsively by the pastor and the congregation: PPThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but so often we forsake that wisdom and seek the foolishness and temptations of the world. Let us confess our sins to God and ask his forgiveness. CC Almighty God, we turn away from the wisdom of your holy Word and instead follow the temptations of the devil, the world and our own sinful desires. We sin against you each day in our thoughts, words and actions. Have mercy on us and forgive us for the sake of Jesus our Lord. PPChrist our Lord, the Child of Bethlehem, was born to save us. He carried our sins in his own body to the cross. For his sake and by his command, I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. CC The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. His praise endures forever! The Prayer of the Day is spoken by the pastor: PPLord Jesus, Light of the world, a bright star proclaimed your birth and led the wise men to find and worship you, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Lead us by your holy Word that we too might be filled with your wisdom and walk in your light. Teach us by your Spirit to love and serve LWB 13

9 others in your name. As the star announced your birth, may we too proclaim the good news of your birth, life, death and resurrection to a world trapped by its own foolish wisdom and lost in the darkness of sin. Amen. The Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Wo Gott Zum Haus LM: The star proclaims the King is here; but, Herod, why this senseless fear? For he who offers heav nly birth seeks not the kingdoms of this earth. The eastern sages saw from far and followed on his guiding star; And, led by light, to light they trod and by their gifts confessed their God. For this thy glad epiphany all glory, Jesus, be to thee, Whom with the Father we adore, and Holy Spirit evermore. The Children s Message is delivered by the pastor or other worship leader: (Needed: a diploma) PPThis certificate, this piece of paper, is called a diploma. When does a person receive a diploma like this? (Let children respond.) A diploma is awarded to students who have finished their school studies. Students receive diplomas when they graduate from grade school or high school or college. The diploma shows that they have studied hard and that they have read many books and passed many tests. They learned all the things that they were supposed to learn in that school. The wise men who came to worship Jesus may not have had diplomas, but they were very smart and they probably knew many things. That is why they were called wise. We don t know very much about them, but they may have studied the stars, and perhaps they even read parts of the Old Testament and learned about God s promise to send the Savior. Maybe they knew the Bible verse that said: A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17). The wise men followed a star to find Jesus the King, and when they found him, they worshiped him and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men were wise. They studied books and the stars and they learned many things. But they were truly wise because God led them to worship his Son Jesus, the Light of the world. In one of our Bible readings today, the apostle Paul asks the question: Where is the one who is wise? Where do we find wise people? People who are truly wise are wise because God has led them just like he led the wise men to worship Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Where is the one who is wise? The ones who are wise are right here, right where you are today wise people, all of you, who have come to worship the Savior of the world! Let s pray: Lord Jesus, the wise men worshiped you as their King. Fill us with the light of your wisdom today as we worship you and listen to your holy Word. Amen. 14 LWB

10 The Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune St. George s, Windsor D: Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise, Manifested by the star to the sages from afar, Branch of royal David s stem in thy birth at Bethlehem: Anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest, Grant us grace to see thee, Lord, present in thy holy Word Grace to imitate thee now and be pure, as pure art thou; That we might become like thee at thy great epiphany And may praise thee ever blest, God in man made manifest. The Old Testament Reading, Isaiah 60:1-6, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPArise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord. The Epistle Reading, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPFor the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. The Gospel Reading, Matthew 2:1-12, is spoken by the pastor or other worship LWB 15

11 leader: PPNow after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. The Sermon Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Morning Star : Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining; Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all. The Sermon: Where Is the One Who Is Wise? is delivered by the pastor: P P God created us. He gave us not only our physical abilities but our intellect as well, our ability to learn, to grow in wisdom and knowledge. These gifts of our Creator are described in Martin Luther s explanation to the First Article of the Apostles Creed: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. God our Creator has given us our reason and all of our senses. We have only to look around at the technology in our homes or reach into a purse or pocket for a cell phone to discover the immense variety of things that our human reason 16 LWB

12 Tune...O Durchbrecher D 40 LWB

13 The Closing Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune O Durchbrecher D: Hail, O Source of ev ry blessing, Father of our human race! Gentiles now, your grace possessing, in your courts obtain a place. Grateful now, we fall before you, in your Church rejoice to live, See your glory and adore you, thankful for the grace you give. Once far off, but now invited, we approach your sacred throne, In your covenant united, reconciled, redeemed, made one. Now revealed to eastern sages, see the Star of Mercy shine, Myst ry hid in former ages, myst ry great of love divine. Hail, O all-inviting Savior! Gentiles now their off rings bring, In your temples seek your favor, Jesus Christ, our Lord and King. May we, body, soul, and spirit, live devoted to your praise, Glorious realms of bliss inherit, grateful anthems ever raise. LWB 41