GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
I stand in the midst of these dark times to make a profession of faith. I am a witness to the truth that no darkness, no illness, no death can overcome the light of life and love that exists within each one of us. No darkness will contain that power. Trust what is within you, and then wait quietly for the stars to begin to sing.
Rev. Steven Charleston, retired Episcopal Bishop, citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
(from his April 10, 2020 post on his Facebook page of daily spiritual reflections https://www.facebook.com/bishopstevencharleston)
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The light of God fills all of creation,
inviting us to shine like the dawn.
People: We are called to be open,
to stretch ourselves out
with every movement of the Spirit.
Leader: The light of God fills us with compassion,
inviting us to pray.
People: We are called to follow Jesus,
to open ourselves to the force
of God’s love and justice and peace.
Leader: The light of God fills every moment,
inviting us to reach out
beyond what we think we know or can do.
All: We are called to become the living Word,
filled with divine power and light
for the healing of the world.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: The Holy One calls us to witness the Light in these dark times.
People: We want to believe that the Light shines in the darkness,
but we pay too much attention to the shadows that surround us.
Leader: The Holy One calls us to remember
that the darkness has not overcome the Light.
People: We allow illness and death to hide the Light of life and love
that exists within each of us.
Leader: In this Epiphany season, the Holy One calls us to wait quietly,
trusting the divine spark within.
All: We confess that, living with constant noise and hurry,
we lose our trust in the holy mystery of Light and Love.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One hears our confession and forgives us.
We are set free to wait quietly for the stars to begin to sing.
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: Blessed are you, Holy One:
your light shines out from within all creation;
your sun brings light and warmth
to the planet that is our home.
People: Blessed are you, Holy One:
you sent your Chosen One
to be a light for the world,
whose love reaches the deepest places
of suffering and oppression.
Leader 2: Blessed are you, Holy One:
your eternal Spirit of wisdom and compassion
lights the path by which we find our way to you.
All: Blessed are you, Holy One:
you have raised up a great cloud of witnesses,
of loving and courageous persons
to accompany us on our pilgrim path.
Blessed are you.
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.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant, poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.
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
BENEDICTION
Leader: Let us go forth now
encouraged in the knowledge that nothing
can overcome the light of life and love
that grows in each one of us,
as we wait quietly for the stars to begin to sing.
May the Holy One bless and keep us.
May the Holy One’s face shine upon us and be gracious unto us.
May the Holy One look kindly upon us and give us peace.
All: Amen.
