St Clement Church
The Epiphany Community Service
Good morning
Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany – the coming of the Magi. In church, the kings will be placed in the stable scene but, in our gospel reading it tells us that they ‘went into the house where the child was with his mother.’
Following the star was an unknown journey to an unknown place, taking an unknown length of time, to find an unknown child.
That sounds like each of our earthly journeys, doesn’t it?
My love to you all
Liz
Arise, shine, for the Light of the World has come!
Darkness covers the earth and its people,
but the radiance of God’s Light burns away its shadows, illuminates the smallest corner,
and heralds in the start of a new dawn, where hearts no longer fear,
souls might be set free, and sister shall follow brother,
nation shall follow nation, and kings and princes bow down in awe before the one who comes to reign.
Arise, shine, for the Light of the World has come!
Alleluia!
We say together:
You have gifted the Church through the goodness of your Grace to be your hands and do your work,
to be your voice and share your words, to bring healing to a fallen world and broken lives make whole.
You have gifted your people with the blessings of your Spirit, the power to transform lives and make all things new.
Now may our hearts receive, our mouths proclaim, our hands prepare for your service,
that the love that we have known might overflow the lives we live and pour into the hearts of others,
that all might receive your Grace, your renewing Spirit and your love.
Amen
Hymn: 49 Brightest and best are the sons of the morning
Prayer of Confession
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you and against one another, in thought, word, and deed.
We are truly sorry for our pride, and for our lack of faith, of understanding and of love.
We repent of our narrow-mindedness, of our bitterness and our prejudices.
Pardon and forgive us, save us, and renew us, that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Collect
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Readings:
Isaiah 60. 1 - 6
Ephesians 3. 1 - 12
Hymn: 47 As with gladness men of old
Gospel: Matthew 2. 1 - 12
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in 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 Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the high 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 way.
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany which commemorates the magi or wise men visiting Jesus and bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But, what is an epiphany? If you look the word up in a dictionary you will read … ‘It’s a moment of sudden powerful realization or insight, like a light bulb switching on in your head, where you suddenly understand something important about a problem or life. It’s a ‘Eureka!’ moment, a flash of deep understanding or a new perspective.’
But, is it?
I am sure all of us can think of epiphany moments in our lives, I certainly can … the epiphany of becoming a parent. I had no idea what I was in for when I became a mum - the strength of feeling; where my three children would take me; how they would change me; what impact I would have on them; the depth of my joy and gratitude or the depth of my regrets and wishes that I could re-do certain parts.
Through my life the variety of experiences, things offered and expected of me, the struggles and joys, the faith and the doubts, the blessings and the disappointments – many not what I expected – so many ways my life has been formed.
There’s also the epiphany of my grief at Martin’s death … I had never thought about life without him or the impact it would have on me, my life, everything.
So, what can we do at such times? Like the magi, follow the star.
I’m not sure that I agree that an epiphany is always a ‘sudden’ realisation, a sudden flash of insight, sometimes it’s a more gradual realisation that ‘ah, it’s got me’ kind of moment.
Something rises from deep within us, awakens our heart, and touches a desire or longing, known or unknown, in such a way that all we can do is follow the star even when we don’t know where it is taking us, what will happen along the way, or how our lives might be changed.
I think perhaps that’s what happened with the “wisemen from the East” in today’s gospel reading.
They “observed his star and its rising” and all they could do was to follow it. They didn’t know where they were going the day they left home. They didn’t know how long their journey would be … days, months, years. They couldn’t predict what would and would not happen along the way, or how their lives might be changed. They couldn’t see their destination any more than I could see the destination of my parenting or my grief.
Something had claimed and called them. Something got a hold on them and wouldn’t let them go.
I wonder when you’ve experienced that. What are your epiphanies? What has gotten a hold on you and just won’t let go?
We mustn’t worry about where it’s taking us. Trust the star. Easier said than done, I know. I don’t know how many times I’ve said or heard others say, “But I don’t know where I’m going.” “I don’t know what to do.” “I don’t know what will happen.” “I’ve never done this before.” “I’m scared.”
Follow the star. The star knows the way. That’s all there really is. It’s all any of us can do. It’s all the wise men can do. It’s enough.
The wise men can’t see the child or Bethlehem or where they will eventually find him, but they trust the star can. Maybe epiphanies are not so much an event or point in time but an ongoing journey. Maybe we can never see the destination and maybe we don’t need to. Maybe we just need to follow the star.
So, what star is each of us following these days? What is the compass of each of our lives?
Are there particular values and qualities that direct and guide each of our lives, standards, and principles to which we hold ourselves accountable?
Who are the wise women and men whose advice and counsel we seek and trust?
Maybe there are certain scriptures and prayers that keep us centred and on track.
What if love, compassion, justice, mercy, hope are the stars in each of our lives?
Who are the people that orient our lives and what relationships give us stability?
What nurtures and strengthens our lives and lets us be more fully us?
What challenges, enlarges, and grows our lives?
What practices help us return to and care for ourselves?
What dreams, hopes, and passions energise and move our lives forward?
What expands and deepens our relationships with others?
These and many other things like them are the starlight of Epiphany. There’s never just one star but a whole constellation giving our lives shape and direction.
Today’s gospel tells us that the wise men didn’t know their destination, but they knew the way. They knew which star they needed to follow. All they could do was follow the star. It’s the one that led and allowed them to open the treasure chest of their lives.
That’s the star I want to follow. What about you?
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with His love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Hymn: We three kings of Orient are
Our Intercessions
Let us pray to God, who is made manifest in Jesus Christ.
As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come;” empower your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News pf the Light of your Son Jesus, which pieces even the deepest darkness.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer
As a star rose high into the night-time sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your peace and truth.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptised Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country, and its leaders, to the ways of justice and righteousness.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Like the Magi who travelled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Saviour’s birth; we pray for this community, and for those who celebrate special events at this time of year, remembering especially Daphne and Dave who celebrated 65 years of marriage on Boxing Day.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world; we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the frightened, the lonely and the homeless. We especially bring before you:
Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger and Helen, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Mary, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Coral and Paul, Barbara, Simone, Felicity, Dinah, Daphne and David, Liz, David and Jeanette, Stanley, Carol, Rachael, all those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
As Jesus called His disciples to leave their nets and follow Him; we pray for those we love and who have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. Give them your peace.
We remember those whose year’s mind occurs at this time:
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all the nations would be drawn to You and be overwhelmed with joy.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Andrew, St Allen and St Clement and all Christian people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
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, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Epiphany by Malcolm Guite
It might have been just someone else’s story,
Some chosen people get a special king.
We leave them to their own peculiar glory,
We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean a thing.
But when these three arrive they bring us with them,
Gentiles like us, their wisdom might be ours;
A steady step that finds an inner rhythm,
A pilgrim’s eyes that sees beyond the stars.
They did not know his name but still they sought him,
They came from otherwhere but still they found;
In temples they found those who sold and bought him,
But in the filthy stable, hallowed ground.
Their courage gives our questing hearts a voice
To seek, to find, to worship, to rejoice.
The Peace
God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 52 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
The Blessing
May the love of Jesus Christ bring us wholeness,
the grace of God the Father grant us peace,
the breath of the Holy Spirit instil passion,
and the unity between them give us strength
for this and every day,
Amen