Feast of the Epiphany St. Timothy s Episcopal Church Signal Mountain, Tennessee January 6, 2017; 6:00 p.m.
Before the service: TALK to God. During the service: LISTEN to God. After the service: TALK to one another! Epiphany means manifestation. On this day, we celebrate the relevation of Christ to the Gentiles that is, to all nations. Feast of the Epiphany and Burning of the Greens Everyone gathers in the gravel parking lot behind the church around a small Epiphany fire. The Presider greets the people with these words: Presider Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. People Thanks be to God. The following is read from Matthew 5:14-16: Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp to put it under a bucket, but on a lamp-stand where it gives light for everyone in the house. And you, like the lamp, must shed light among your fellow men, so that they may see the deed you do, and give glory to your Father in heaven. The beginning of this service is from An Order of Worship for the Evening and is found in the Book of Common Prayer (pg. 109). The service typically begins in a dark church with the lighting of the candles following the singing the Phos Hilaron ( O Gracious Light... ). Presider People Presider People Let us pray. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Greens are added to the fire. Phos hilaron: O Gracious Light After the closing of the hymn, the congregation will process to the nave carrying a candle while singing the Processional Hymn below. Candles are extinguished and placed in basket at the entrance to the outer narthex. 2
Processional Hymn This Little Light of Mine Harry Dixon Loes 1. This little light of mine, This little light of mine, This little light of mine, Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. Once in the nave, all standing, the collect is read. 2. Hide it under a bushel? No! Hide it under a bushel? No! Hide it under a bushel? No! Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. The Collect of the Day Presider The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Presider Let us pray. O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Sequence Hymn 1. 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! 2. Born a King on Bethlehem s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King for ever, ceasing never over us all to reign. Refrain We Three Kings 3. Frankincense to offer have I: incense owns a Deity nigh; prayer and praising, gladly raising, worship him, God Most High. Refrain 4. Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain 5. Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice; heaven sings alleluia; alleluia the earth replies. Refrain The Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 Clergy The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage. When King 3
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. Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage. When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Clergy People The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ. Reflection The Rev. Derrick Hill Silence for reflection. All stand. Prayers for Ourselves and Others Presider Let us pray for ourselves and the world. Silence Leader Let us bring before God all those people and situations that are in any kind of need. The People may add their own petitions silently or aloud. Leader Let us bring before God the poor, the forgotten, and those who are marginalized, as we renew our commitment to the lonely and the unloved. The People may add their own petitions silently or aloud. Leader Let us ask God to use our prayerful intentions for the benefit of all who are in this room with us now, people we know and love, as well as people who are strangers to us. May we be blessings to one another? The People may add their own petitions silently or aloud. Leader Let us call to mind our reasons to be thankful, as we remember our abundance and the life giving way of gratitude. The People may add their own petitions silently or aloud. 4
Presider All May God still our minds, calm our hearts, breathe fresh life into us, and make us instruments of peace, justice, and compassion. Amen. The Peace Priest People Christ, the Good Shepherd, bind us with a bond of love that cannot be broken. My sisters and brothers, the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. The Holy Communion Alms basins are not passed through the congregation at this service. For your offerings, a basket is located in the sanctuary. All are invited to gather around the sanctuary for Holy Communion. Offertory The Great Thanksgiving Presider The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Presider Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give God thanks and praise. The Presider continues, It is our joy and delight to give you thanks and praise Emmanuel, God with us. We give you thanks and praise for your hallowing of human flesh. We rejoice at your light which shines out of darkness and enlightens all who seek you. We praise you that you brought forth new life in the family of Mary and Joseph as you do today from all who faithfully await the fulfillment of your word. We praise you that you were known first by poor shepherds and wise seekers as you are known today by the poor and outcast. We rejoice with the angels at your promise of peace for those who trust in you. We rejoice that the extraordinary is given birth in the ordinary places of life. So with the angels who sing Glory and with all the saints and ancestors who have known you to be with us, we sing together: Sanctus Picardy 5
We bless you for Jesus, born of the Spirit s love and a woman s body and blood. We bless you for Jesus who shows us how to live the fullness of our humanity and thus become one with you. We remember Jesus who laughed and wept and felt tiredness and fear; who praised Mary when she anointed him for death and blessed a woman of the city who washed his feet with tears. We remember Jesus who touched lepers and the sick and feasted with tax collectors and sinners. We remember Christ who lives on in all who courageously and faithfully bring forth the light of your love in earth s darkest places. We remember Jesus who on the night before he died, shared a meal with his friends. He took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave it to them saying: Take and eat. This is my own body given for you. Do this to remember me. After supper he took a cup of wine, gave thanks and gave it to them saying: This is my life-blood given for you. Do this to remember me. So we proclaim the mystery of faith, Presider and People: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. O God who is known to us in human flesh, send your Holy Spirit on us and on these material things of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ, and we may be the body of Christ, food and life for the world. We ask these things through Christ, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit be glory now and forever. Amen. As Jesus taught us, we now pray. All people are invited and encouraged to receive Communion at the altar. At the time of Communion, you may come forward and receive the bread in the palm of your hand. Assist the minister by guiding the chalice to your lips. If you do not wish to receive Communion, you can let the priest know by simply crossing your arms over your chest. The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, A period of silence is kept. The Breaking of the Bread Presider Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. The Invitation as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The Communion The bread and the cup are given to the communicants with these words. The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen. The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Amen. 6
Stand or kneel. Post Communion Prayer Presider Let us pray. People Lord Jesus Christ, you have put your life into our hands; now we put our lives into yours. Take us, renew us and remake us. What we have been in the past; what we shall be, through you, still awaits us. Lead us on. Take us with you. Amen. The Blessing Sending Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old The Dismissal The Clergy dismisses the people. People Thanks be to God. Copyright Notice: The opening chant, Sanctus, and hymns are in the public domain. 7
Welcome to St. Timothy s! We are happy to have you with us today! Please feel comfortable to ask questions and explore all we have to offer at St. Timothy s! If you are visiting, please make yourself known to us (we don t bite!) so that we may welcome you. Some Notes for our Guests: All people are invited and encouraged to receive Communion at the altar; at the time of Communion, you may come forward and receive the bread in the palm of your hand; assist the minister by guiding the chalice to your lips; if you do not wish to receive Communion, you can let the priest know by simply crossing your arms over your chest. This bulletin is available to view online at sttimsignal.com/epiphany Clergy and Staff The Rev. Derrick C. Hill, Rector The Rev. Taylor W. Dinsmore, Associate Rector Philip Newton, Director of Music Ministries Vestry 2017 John MacCoon, Senior Warden Bill Chimley, Junior Warden Tarbell Patten, Director of Zammarin Elizabeth Burns, Youth Director Jessie Pogue, Director of Children s Christian Formation Jenna Haines, Secretary and Communications Cary Haney, Bookkeeper Jabus Braxton, Facilities Manager Joselyn Willis, Thrift Shop Manager Susan Laseter, Director of STEPS Beth Hackett Buffie Harper Kitty Kay Chip Langley John Leavens Judith Miller Cathy Pyron Tonda Rawls Cathy Robbins Nancy Ruby Rick Sommer Today s Musicians Kathy Tugman, Guest Organist/Choirmaster James Kee, Director of Folk Music 630 Mississippi Avenue, Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377 Sunday Service Times: 8 a.m. (Rite I), 10:30 a.m. (Rite II), 5:00 p.m. (Late Church) (423) 886-2281 FAX: (423) 886-9905 sttims@sttimsignal.com www.sttimsignal.com facebook.com/sttimothysepiscopal Thrift Shop Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 3-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.