Liturgy

God of dawn and dusk,
You gather us here to witness your Light.
A light that pierces through the thickest fog; a beacon for all to find warmth and comfort.
God of morning and evening,
awaken us from our slumber.
Open our eyes to the boundless compassion that draws all things to Yourself.
Like a mother beckons her children,
You draw us into your continuous embrace. We do not have frankincense or gold to offer, yet You joyfully accept us as we are.
May we discard our prejudices and suspicions toward those different than ourselves, and lift up our eyes to the Light that calls all people forth out of darkness.
We pray this in the name of
God our Creator,
Christ our selfless Brother,
and the Holy Spirit, our constant Companion. Amen
(Vox Prayer Team)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the book of Isaiah 60:1-6

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Homily and Reflection

Homily Podcast: The Epiphany Society

Reflection

Reflection

Where might you “lift your eyes” and see the world around you?

Is there a place that you once felt like you didn’t belong but now do?

 What changed? What needs to change?

Benediction

As the seeds of a new year sprout and unfold,
know that God holds us through every season and cycle. God holds us in our pain, in our joy, in our uncertainties, and in our celebrations.
When we struggle to feel God’s presence,
may we remember that the Divine has woven Themselves through every good and beautiful thing.
Through the warming rays of the sun and the cooling gusts of the wind. Through the laughter of children
and the comforting touch of a friend.
Though we do not know what awaits us in the new year, we can trust that Love will always find us;
like water flowing downward to fill every empty place.
Let us go in the name of
God, the Creator,
Christ, the Risen One,
and Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life. Amen

(Vox Prayer Team)

[Photo by Tools For Motivation]