Reading: A Story for Epiphany
An
audio reading from my book Sacred Attention,
Chapter 3,
"To See with New Eyes."
Reading: A Story for
Epiphany
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Photo by Rose McGee.
Prayers of the People for Epiphany
These Prayers of the People
were first used in the 2007 Epiphany Eve service at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington.
In the silences throughout these prayers, you are invited to hold
up to God, either silently or aloud, the names of those you
remember especially today. More about
responsive prayer.
Bathed in starlight, we pray together
(Leader's words in plain text.)
to the One who created all things, saying,
Show us your child, O God,
For we observed a new star at its rising
(People's responses in bold italic.)
and have traveled far, bearing gifts.
Make your wisdom in its rich variety known through all faithful
people, and give your holy church grace to bear the gifts of
truth and love to all your children on earth.
[silence, for all faithful people and
ministers]
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in faith.
Give your justice to the nations and their leaders, and give
your mercy to all whose decisions affect the peace and
well-being of the world. Where we have power ourselves, open our
ears to the cries of the weak, the poor, and the needy, and open
our hearts to answer their call.
[silence, for leaders and decision-makers]
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in hope.
Bless this community, that in your light we may each become a
servant, one to the other. Bring us together in story, song,
joy, and sorrow; and let every daughter and son who comes among
us find kinship in this place.
[silence, for this community]
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in love.
Have mercy on those among us who journey in sickness, fear, or
any kind of trouble. Meet them on your road with rest, peace,
and good cheer.
[silence, for those with pain or sickness in
body or spirit]
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together by your side.
We remember those who have died.
[silence, for the dead]
Your star goes before them. Show them your child, O God,
For they have traveled far to be with you.
Dear God, with longing and thanksgiving, knowing that you hold
this world and all its children dear in your heart, we pray this
night for the grace to receive your gifts, to lift up our eyes
and look around, and to offer back those same gifts to you and
your world, with love.
Show us your child, O God,
For we observed a new star at its rising and have traveled
far, bearing gifts.
To the One who is the road on which we travel, our companion
along the way, and our journey’s end, we pray in boldness and
confidence through faith in Christ Jesus,
Amen.
Bible
references
The
call, “Show us your child, O God” and the various refrains are
inspired by the story of the Magi as told in Matthew 2.
Language about the mission of the church and the phrase “in
boldness and confidence through faith…” are taken from
Ephesians 3.
Language and inspiration about bringing God’s justice to the
world comes from Psalm 72.
The phrase “to look up our eyes and look around” and inspiration
for the reference to daughters and sons comes from Isaiah 60.
Meditation for Epiphany
Matthew 2 : 1 - 2; 9b - 11a
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.” …
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…
An epiphany is a revelation – a sudden, often-intuitive
sighting of the essence that lies behind the world’s mask.
An epiphany comes at a turning point on the road. A place where
the trip expands into something larger than it seemed at first.
A moment that changes not only the route and destination, but
also the pilgrim.
Every Epiphany comes with its own journey. And every journey
starts with the will and courage (or in some cases, the
harebrained craziness) to set out on the road, and to be
vulnerable to change.
By the grace of God, this will, courage, craziness, and
vulnerability seems to be built right into us.
A Prayer for Epiphanies
Dear God, who made the rocks just the way they are,
rising from the earth;
Who made the stars just the way they are,
red stars dying and new stars being born;
Who made the wind just the way it is,
bending a tree or breaking it;
Who made the waters just the way they are,
cold soup running with live ingredients;
Who made the mule deer just the way it is,
stepping from forest shade into meadow light;
Who made the gray mole just the way it is,
digging deep;
Who made us, who made me, just the way I am,
blood-filled and trembling, trying to move:
How do I love myself with your love?
Speak to me now, I beseech you.
How do I love others with your love?
Speak to me now, I beseech you.
How do I love You with your love?
Speak to me now, I beseech you.
Amen
Prayer excerpted from
Stumbling Toward God, A Prodigal’s Return, by Margaret
D. McGee.
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