Order of Worship for Epiphany

The following service of holy communion according to the Anglican rite has been prepared by the Venerable Colin Williams, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches. Colin will preside at the eucharist on Monday and Rev Michael Wallace, general secretary of the World Student Christian Federation will be deacon. Michael, who comes from New Zealand, was ordained deacon with the Old Catholic or Christian Catholic Church here in Switzerland. That has meant he's had to learn some interesting liturgical French. Nothing like having to lead prayers in a language to put you on an upwards learning curve! And sometime over the weekend I'll have to write a sermon.
Time constraint is always our main concern on a Monday morning but occasionally we allow ourselves an extra 15 minutes for communion or other special services.
Afterwards we'll have a pot luck breakfast and share some traditional galette des rois for epiphany - this kind of fellowship is important in an ecumenical community when we are very aware that we cannot all share together in the eucharist.

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – (WESTERN) EPIPHANY
7 January, 2008, Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre

GATHERING

Gathering Hymn Cantai ao Senhor Agape 12

Welcome and Introduction
God in Christ has revealed his glory.
Come let us worship.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the Lord's name is greatly to be praised.
Give him praise, you servants of the Lord.
O praise the name of the Lord!

Greeting
The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Prayers of Penitence
When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

We have not held out the word of life in a dark and twisted world. Lord have mercy,
Gospodi pomilui (Agape 28)

We have failed to share our bread with the hungry. Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy (Agape 28)

We have closed our hearts to the love of God. Lord have mercy,
Gospodi pomilui (Agape 28)

The leader pronounces God’s forgiveness.

Gloria Gloria a Dios Agape 26
(v1 Spanish v2 English v3 German)

Prayer of the Day
Creator of the heavens, who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us, that we may find our journey's end in Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

WORD

Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 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. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
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 on their nurses’ arms. 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. 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.

Matthew 2:1-12
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to You O Lord

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of 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 chief 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 road.

This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ

Homily The Revd. Jane Stranz

The Prayers of the People

Let us worship the Saviour with joy
and make our prayer to our heavenly Father.

The Magi came from the east to worship your Son:
Father, grant to Christians everywhere the spirit of adoration . Especially we pray for the Church in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Iran, Iraq

Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

The infant Christ received gifts of gold, incense and myrrh:
Father, accept the offering of our hearts and minds at the beginning of this year
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ:
Father, grant an abundance of peace to your world, especially in Kenya, in Pakistan, in the Middle East, in Serbia and Kosovo
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

The Holy Family lived in exile and in the shadow of death:
Father, look in mercy on all who are poor and powerless, and all who suffer
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Your Son shared the life of his home and family at Nazareth:
Father, protect in your love our neighbours, our families and all who work in this Centre
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in fellowship with the shepherds, the angels, the magi, the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph
and all the faithful departed,
we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
For the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ

The Sharing of Peace
Christ came and proclaimed the gospel,
peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

Hymn Let us Break Bread Together Agape 52

MEAL
The Preparation of the Table
Look upon us in mercy not in judgement;
draw us from hatred to love;
make the frailty of our praise a dwelling place for your glory.
Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us, but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join in singing the eternal song of heaven:
Santo, santo, santo, !Mi corazon te adora. Mi corazon te sabedecir !Santo eres Senor
Holy, holy, holy. With joy my heart adores you! My heart cries out to worship you! Holy are you Lord!
Dieu saint, Dieu saint, Dieu saint! Mon coeur, mon coeur t’adore! Mon coeur le sait, mon coeur le dit,: sacré est ton nom!

Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in our own language…

Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.

Giving of Communion
God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy; Jesus Christ is Lord; To the glory of God the Father.

During the giving of Communion we sing Eat this Bread (Agape 20)

Prayer after Communion
Lord God, the bright splendour whom the nations seek:
May we, with the Wise Men, being drawn by your light,
recognise the glory of your presence in your Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ
our Lord.
Amen

SENDING

Blessing
May the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shine in your hearts and fill our lives with his joy and his Peace. And the blessing…

All turn to face the door
L The Cross,
C We shall take it.

L The Bread,
C We shall break it.

L The Word,
C We shall bear it.

L The Joy,
C We shall share it.

L The Gospel,
C We shall live it.

L The Love,
C We shall give it.

L The Light,
C We shall cherish it.

L The Darkness,
C God shall perish it.

Dismissal
L Let us go in peace,
C Thanks be to God.

Sending Hymn Nun Danket Alle Gott Agape 62