A morning service during the Covid-19 restrictions
Epiphany Sunday - January 3, 2021
Introductory Responses
Blessed are you, O Christ, Son of God, you were before time began
and came into the world to save us.
Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness you shine with the Father’s love
and illumine the whole universe.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary; born a child, you shared our humanity.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.
With all the voices of heaven we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.
With all the creatures on earth we sing and dance at his birth.
Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.
#410 The First Nowell
The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star, shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a King was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
This star drew nigh to the north west; o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay; right over the place where Jesus lay.
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
Then entered in those wise men three, full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence their gold and myrrh and frankincense
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood mankind hath bought.
Refrain: Nowel, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel
English traditional Carol, c 17th century
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us: O come, let us worship.
Canticle
Arise, shine, for your light has come; *
the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Though night still covers the earth *
and darkness covers the nations,
Over you will the Lord arise, *
over you will his glory appear.
Nations will stream to your light *
and kings to your dawning brightness.
Your gates will always be open; *
day or night, they will never be shut.
They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders;
you will name your walls, Salvation, *
you will call your gates, Praise.
No longer will the sun be your light by day, *
no longer the moon give you light by night;
the Lord will be your eternal light; *
your God will be your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen.
The Psalm for the day, Psalm 72:1-7;10-14
The Readings for the day: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-13
A reflection on the readings (see attached - written by the Ven. Glen Miller)
#432 Brightest and Best
Brightest and best of the sons 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 dew drops are shining; low lies his head with the beast of the stall;
angels adore him in slumber reclining, maker and monarch and saviour of all.
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, odours of Edom and offering divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation, vainly with gifts would his favour secure;
richer by far is the heart’s adoration; dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Brightest and best of the sons 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. Reginald Heber 1783-1826
Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment, the second is like it:
Love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.
Prayers (see litany below)
Our prayers have been requested for: Thelma, Joanne, Wendy, Vivian, Spruce, the family o f Helen Reid as they mourn her death, the homeless and the efforts of supporting organizations who serve those disadvantaged people.
The Collect for the day
Eternal God, who by a star led wise men to the worship of your Son. Guide by your light the nations of the earth, that the whole world may know your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Lord’s Prayer
#12 All People That On Earth Do Dwell
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice,
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed; without out our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise, approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.
For why, the Lord our God is good; his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
Ascribed to William Kethe c1530-1594 as in Scottish Psalter 1650
Dismissal
Then may be said or sung,
Officiant Let us bless the Lord. People Thanks be to God!
Litany for the Christmas Season
(In joy and humility let us pray to the creator of the universe, saying, “Lord, grant us peace.”)
By the good news of our salvation brought to Mary by the
angel, hear us, O Lord. Lord, grant us peace.
By the mystery of the Word made flesh, hear us, O Lord. Lord, grant us peace.
By the birth in time of the timeless Son of God, hear us, O Lord. Lord, grant us peace.
By the manifestation of the King of glory to the shepherds and magi, hear us, O Lord.
Lord, grant us peace.
By the submission of the maker of the world to Mary and Joseph of Nazareth, hear us, O Lord.
Lord, grant us peace.
By the baptism of the Son of God in the river Jordan, hear us, O Lord. Lord, grant us peace.
Grant that the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; hear us, O Lord. Lord, grant us peace.
The text above is taken from the Book of Alternative Service published by the Anglican Church of Canada and used with permission. The words of the Hymns are all in public domain unless otherwise noted.