2022 Epiphany: Unveiling Love

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

Jesus did not come to make God’s love possible,
but to make God’s love visible

–Anonymous

LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Come, let us worship the Holy One,
whose abundant love fills and surrounds us. 

People:      We come,
wanting to tear down the veil
that separates us from Love.

Leader:      Come and worship,
for the heavens reveal the glory of the Holy One.

People:      Our hearts and bodies sing
for joy to the living God.

Leader:      Come, let us worship the Holy One
in Jesus, the revelation of unlimited love.

People:      We worship Jesus, the Christ,
in whom God’s love is made visible.

Leader:      Come, let us worship the Holy One in Spirit and truth.

All:             We come to worship,
for the Spirit opens our eyes to see
and our hearts to share God’s love.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN

SILENCE 

CONFESSION

Leader:            Holy One, your unveiling love is there for all to see.

People:            Like the people in Galilee,
we struggle to see
how Jesus makes your love visible.

Leader:            Your love is abundant and never ending.  

People:            Like the disciples
we try to fish in possibilities
rather than opening our eyes
to the abundance all around us.   

Leader:            Along with the Magi,
you invite us to follow the star,
to encounter the revelation of your love.

People:            Forgive us, Holy One,
for our hearts are limited,
and we struggle to see  the fullness
of the love that you continually reveal to us.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader: The Holy One, with us now and still coming,
loves us, hears our prayers, and gives us grace to wait
amid all the injustices and brokenness.
We are forgiven and restored.

All:             Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

INTERCESSION AND PETITION

COMMITMENT
All:  O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.

Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.

Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.

We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ.  Amen.

HYMN

THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1:   This is the table of the heavenly feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.

Leader 2:   We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us,
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once.

All:             Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven, we make one circle
of knowing, believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Leader 1:         Unveiling Love, we give you thanks 
for your abundant and unfailing grace.

People:            We give you thanks for the gift of Jesus,
who made your love visible
and showed us how we too
can be vessels for your grace.

Leader 2:         We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit
as she lives and moves and breathes among us.

People:            We give you thanks for your Church
where, in the company of your people,
we are both nourished and challenged.

BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1:   Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.

Leader 2:   Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger;
you who believe in me shall never thirst.

Leader 1:   On the night he gave himself up,
Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,
broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.

Leader 2:   After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.

All: O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of grain and grape,
and work of human hands
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation
to your eternal realm.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All:  God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this Body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully
to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world. Amen.

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

Leader:      Let us go out to follow the call of the Holy One,
so that, in all that we do or say, we unveil Love.
And let us greet all we meet with signs of peace.

All:  Amen.