Feast of the Epiphany
Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only) Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 825 1215 9155
Suzanne: Welcome
Dave - Opening Prayer:
O Christ-Light from the beginning of time you have graced the universe with your brilliance and your love. As we gather to celebrate travelers who followed a star to discover the birth of a child, and the Divine light within him and within them, may we remember our own birth into the light and love of Holy Mystery. May we, in this time of giving, reach out, now and throughout the year, to those in need of your loving touch and healing graces. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Opening Song: Where the Light Comes Down by Carrie Newcomer
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: A reading from the prophet Isaiah
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
These are the inspired words of the prophet Isaiah, and the community affirms them by saying, Amen.
Second Reading: A reading by John Phillip Newell
That light is here and now. The gateway is all around us and within us. As the Qur’an says, whichever way you look, “There is the face of God.” (Cow 2:115) It is a Light that is forever waiting to come forth again in new ways. To reconnect to that Light --in our individual lives, families, communities, and religious traditions-- will again be to bear blessings for the world.
We are invited to pay attention, to see the Light that is at the heart of this moment and every moment, to know that we are full of Light and can shine, and when the time comes to let it go, to let go of even our most cherished embodiments of Light. But above all else……we are to love the Light and keep giving ourselves to it:
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms…..”
(Mary Oliver- When Death Comes)
These are the inspired words of John Phillip Newell and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Alleluia: Gospel Acclamation/Alleluia from The Celtic Mass
Gospel: A reading from the anonymous writer known as Matthew
After Jesus’ birth—which happened in Bethlehem of Judea, during the reign of Herod—
astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay homage.” At this news Herod became greatly disturbed, as did all of Jerusalem. Summoning all the chief priests and religious scholars of the people, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
In Bethlehem of Judea,” they informed him. “Here is what the prophet has written: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, since from you will come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Herod called the astrologers aside and found out from them the exact time of the star’s appearance. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them, “Go and get detailed information about the child. When you have found him, report back to me—so that I may go and offer homage, too.” After their audience with the ruler, they set out. The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child lay. They were overjoyed at seeing the star and, upon entering the house, found the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and paid homage. Then they opened their coffers and presented the child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route.
After the astrologers had left, the angel of God suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph with the command, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is searching for the child to destroy him.” Joseph got up, awakened Jesus and Mary, and they left that night for Egypt. They stayed there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what God had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I have called my Own.”
These are inspired words of the anonymous writer known as Matthew and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Dennis: Homily Starter & Shared Homily
One of the themes that is prevalent throughout the Christmas season is that of the journey. It begins with the journey to Bethlehem by Mary and Joseph, who arrive to find that no one will open their door to them, until they are offered a stable or a cave. Next is the journey of the angels to announce this great event to the shepherds. The arrival of a child who is the Messiah, Emmanuel, God With Us, and with his arrival a new age of peace, hope, and love.
Today we hear of two other journeys, that of the Magi, astrologers from the East, Gentiles, and that of the escape of Joseph and Mary to Egypt to protect their son, Jesus, from certain death. The introduction of the Magi is Matthew’s way to introduce that Jesus’ birth was for all people, and the message of peace, hope, and love was meant for the world. The escape to Egypt speaks to the immigrant status of the holy family and the disruption of peace, hope, and love in their lives.
As we look at the world today there seems to be a great need for the message of Christmas, the call for peace, hope, and love, to be embraced and lived. We see doors being shut to immigrants who are escaping from death or seeking a safer life for their children. We hear calls to ban certain people, those considered outsiders, from entering our country and other countries. Many fail to remember that most of our families were immigrants seeking a new start. In our own country the number of poor and homeless continues to grow, and the income gap grows between the haves and have nots. Injustice continues and calls go out that black lives matter, that women are not second class but are equals in all aspects of life, that those who love someone of the same gender are to be treated with dignity and respect, that people of other faith traditions have within them the same divinity and are integral members of Divine Light.
So, how do we work, you and I, to bring the Christmas message of peace, hope, and love to life in our community, in our country, in the world? Where is our journey taking us? In the readings we chose for today the symbol of light brings some answer. The first reading speaks of a single burning light serving as your peace as you face your own struggles, perhaps your own demons. The second reading speaks of the light being here and now, being all around us and within us, and that no matter where we look, there is the face of God. We are called to respond to the Light, the Light of peace, hope, and love. We are called to follow the star and share this light with the world, bringing blessings, at times in small ways, at other times large ways. It is recognizing the divine spark within us, calling us to live the Gospel of Good News. Ours is a journey of service, of presence, of speaking out against hatred and oppression. It is a journey of bringing the Light into the darkness of our world.
Please share your reflections on the readings. What did you hear? What moved you? How can you be a Light in the darkness? Please be brief and focused on the readings and/or the homily starter.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Suzanne: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware of our call to serve, and just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. We bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns.
Intentions shared
We bring these and all deeply held blessings, cares, and concerns to the table of friendship and peace.
Suzanne/Dave: Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together:
All: O Holy One, you have birthed us in goodness, gifted us with life and cherished us in love. In the heart of our being, your Spirit dwells; a Spirit of courage and vision, a Spirit of wisdom and truth.
In the power of that same Spirit, we lift our hearts in prayer, invoking anew the gift of wisdom and enlightenment, that we may continue to praise and thank you, in union with all who sing the ancient hymn of praise:
Here in this Place – Holy Holy Holy by Christopher Grundy
Suzanne/Dave: Holy One, we see around us the work of your hands, the fruit of your wisdom and love. The unfolding story of creation witnesses unceasingly to your creative power. We, your creatures, often deviate from that wisdom, thus hindering your creative presence in our midst.
Sending among us Jesus, our brother, you birth afresh in our world the power of Sophia-Wisdom, and in the gift of Your Spirit, your creative goodness blooms anew, amid the variety and wonder of life.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
Suzanne/Dave: We invoke Your Spirit upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, that they may become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.
On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift their plate and pray the following:
Suzanne/ Dave: When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is my very self.
All lift their cup and pray the following:
He then raised high the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives,
As we share communion, we will become communion
Both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please consume the bread and drink the cup with the words:
Communion Meditation: Be a Light by Thomas Rhett
Suzanne/Dave: In faith and hope we are sustained; in grace and dignity reclaimed. In praise, we thank you.
In union with all peoples living and dead, we unite our thoughts and prayers, asking wisdom and courage:
- to discern more wisely your call to us in the circumstances of our daily lives;
- to act justly and courageously in confronting the pain and suffering that desecrates the Earth and its peoples;
- to take risks in being creative and proactive on behalf of the poor and marginalized;
- and to love all people with generosity of heart, beyond the labels of race, creed and color.
Suzanne/Dave: May we ever be aware and alert to the new things Your Spirit makes possible in us, as our world unfolds amid pain and beauty, into the fullness of life to which all are called, participating in the wise and wonderful work of co-creation.
Like Jesus, we will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and we will live compassionate lives, for it is through living as Jesus lived, that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to glorify you, O Holy One, at this time and all ways.
Amen.
Reader: Let us pray the prayer Jesus:
O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,
We celebrate your many names.
Your Wisdom come.
Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us,
Each day you give us all we need;
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen
(Miriam Therese Winter)
BLESSING
Suzanne/Dave: Let us pray together our blessing:
May we bring to our lives the knowledge that “God loves things by becoming them. God loves things by uniting with them, not excluding them. Through the act of creation, God manifested the eternally flowing Divine Presence into the physical and material world.” (The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr). May we shine our light with courage and spread Jesus’s Good News of The Way by our lives. Amen.
Closing Song: Go Make a Difference by Steve Angrisano & Tom Tomaszek
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