 The Lord be with you! Christmas greetings, Cheviot Churches and also to those elsewhere! You are all very welcome. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Epiphany Sunday.
Notices:
Passcode: 076150
Call to Worship In the beginning was darkness And God made the earth and the heavens and set the stars in the sky In the beginning was chaos And God created order and beauty and gave each star its name In the beginning was discord And all the stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy Carol 323 – The first Nowell Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of light and of life,we praise you for your creation,and for the Word made flesh in the child born in Bethlehem.Open our hearts and minds in this time of worship.Just as you led the Magi by the star, lead us by your Spirit beyond the limits of this world’s expectations, to the life where you make all things new through Christ, our Morning Star God of mercy and loving kindness,you sent Christ among us to be the light of the worldand to reveal your love to all people.We confess that our sins hide the brightness of your light.We waste our gifts,we ignore cries for justice,we harm the earth and we do not strive for peace in the world or with each other.In your mercy, cleanse us and make us new. Be assured of God’s love and forgiveness that shine for us in Christ Jesus. As a new year unfolds, make a new beginning with God and with one another. May the peace of Christ be with you all. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2: 1-12 Carol 326 – As with gladness Weekly Prayer Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to guide your people, just as you sent a star to guide the Wise Men to worship Him. We bring our gifts, praying that we may be used in your service and asking your Holy Spirit to guide our Cheviot Churches as we begin a New Year. We pray that you will always be present as we take one more step along the journey of faith. Amen. Reflection In Greek mythology Jason and his Argonauts had a quest – they had to find the Golden Fleece and went through all sorts of adventures and dangers to do so. Indiana Jones had a number of quests, searching out the ark of the covenant or some other archaeological treasure, and again overcame many obstacles to succeed. But as we reach Epiphany, we think of another quest – that of the Magi following the star, believing that it would lead them to a child who would change the world. Over the centuries they have fascinated us. We call them the three kings from the Orient, though the Bible doesn’t mention any number nor does it mention that they were in any way regal. The Venerable Bede in the 8th Century reputedly suggested they represented the whole world and came from Africa, Asia and Europe. Certainly they were wise, they studied the stars and probably came from Iran. Today we might call them astrologers, and in their studies they came to the conclusion that something momentous, something earth-transforming was going to happen, and so they set out on what would be a long and arduous journey. They were wealthy, they could have sent someone and waited for their report, but they didn’t. They weren’t armchair observers: they wanted to see for themselves. We often picture the Magi at the stable presenting their gifts – at least that is how our Christmas cards show it. We forget about the journey. T.S. Eliot wrote the poem, ‘The Journey of the Magi’ and talks of the hardships and the regrets – how they remembered the summer palaces and the servants bringing sherbet. They had given up that life of ease to follow the star. It would have been hard, but they persevered and as often happens, just when they had almost reached their goal, they had a strange lapse. After following the star for so long, this 1st Century GPS, they reached Jerusalem and decided to seek advice from King Herod, and with remarkable folly rather than wisdom, asked the whereabouts of the new-born king, with enormous consequences for the children of Bethlehem. They did eventually reach the stable and presented their gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh, but also their time and the many sacrifices they had made on their journey. They gave of themselves, and that is what true giving is. Then, we are told, they went home by another route. The Magi had succeeded with their quest; they had reached their goal, and had worshipped the baby. But they were not the same people that had started out on the journey. The journey and especially their time at the stable transformed them. Any encounter with Christ changes us. We are not the same afterwards. The Magi had to go by a different route to avoid the paranoid Herod, but at the same time, their whole lives had taken a new turn. As we go into this new year of 2021, we hope our lives will take a new turn and for the better. We have lessons to learn and cannot go back to what it was like before. But at this new year, let us also follow a different route, one that follows the dedication, sacrifice and commitment that inspired the Magi in their journey and ever seek to live out the kingdom values of the Christ child that they came to worship. Carol – We three kings We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light Creed We believe in God the maker, who created heaven and earth, star-maker, singer, source of life. We believe in Jesus the storyteller, who walked the roads of Galilee, befriender, questioner, source of truth. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is as close to us as our heartbeat, challenger, comforter, source of joy. We believe that God is in our midst, calling us to care for one another and to work for justice and peace. We look for the light of God to shine on us and in us through all the adventures of our nights and days. Amen (Ruth Burgess) Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of majesty and mystery, we bring our gifts to you, grateful that you are with us in good times and in hard times. We do not know what the year ahead will hold but your love shines like a star to guide us. Bless these gifts that they may keep the light of Christ shining through the church to guide and embrace the world you love. God of all time and space, as we gather in prayer, we recognize that our lives are but small details in the vast expanse of your universe. So we thank you for attending to the details of our lives. We thank you for the year just past, for walking through the hard days and uncertainties with us, and for the gifts of encouragement and friendship that cheered us. The year just ending has held so many sorrows and challenges for so many. We remember dear ones who have died and pray for those who look ahead in loneliness or sadness… God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who have faced challenges in health, in their families or at work… God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for the earth, that we may live on it responsibly. Teach us to recognise and respect you in the wonders you have made. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who help us to wonder – for scientists, astronomers, designers of telescopes and planetariums, artists, poets and storytellers. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who will sleep under the stars tonight – for travellers, refugees, explorers, for those fleeing danger. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for ourselves, that you will give us dreams and the courage to follow them … God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER God of beauty and mystery, you love each one of us and we are wonderfully and intricately made. Be close to us in our tears and our laughter. Keep us loving and just and full of wonder. Fill us with life. AMEN Carol 324 – Angels from the realms of glory Benediction Lead us on, to learn willingly, to love well and to live in trust. May the blessing of God, loving Father, newborn Son, and living Spirit, go with us, and to all those we are given to love, this day, in 2021 and always, Amen
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