Worship at home for the Epiphany Season

Please use this liturgy each week during January – prayers, hymn suggestions and readings will be provided with the pewsheet each week.

 

Preparing for worship – if possible, beginning at 9am or 10.30

 

You’ll need a table, set with a piece of bread and a glass of wine or juice.

A cross.

A candle, lit on the table.

Some sparkly decoration (tinsel or similar!) if possible to mark the Epiphany season – or your Nativity scene

 

 

PREPARATION

 

Arise, shine for your light has come!

The glory of the Lord is rising upon you.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

God’s name is proclaimed in all the world!

 

Though each in our homes, we are together with all our sisters and brothers in the faith,

as we worship and give thanks. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

HYMN (said or sung) Suggestions for hymns are on the weekly pewsheet.

If you need a hymnbook, please contact Rod and he will deliver one to you.

 

As we wait in stillness,

Come, Holy Spirit.

As we hear your word,

Come, Holy Spirit.

As we long to be made new,

Come, Holy Spirit.

 

PENITENCE

 

The grace of God has dawned upon the world, through our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who gave his own life, that sins might be forgiven.

 

After a moment of quiet reflection, we confess our sins to God with this prayer;

 

God of compassion and mercy, in our sin we have avoided your call.

Our love for you is like a morning mist, like the dew that goes away early.

Have mercy on us;

deliver us from our indifference;

bind up our wounds and revive us;

in Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Amen.

 

THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

 

God of love,

you forgive us and free us from our sins,

you heal and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit,

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen

 

We say a version of the “Te Deum” from Janet Morley

 

We long for you, O God, we confess our deep desire for you.

For the heavens are arrayed with your inexpressible beauty.

 

You, O Christ, are the source of all our yearning: you are our path to glory.

Bearing our sweet and humble flesh, fruit of a woman’s womb,

you were made and moulded as we are.

 

Spirit of discernment, integrity and fire:

breathe on our fearfulness, rekindle our truthfulness,

and sing through our speechlessness;

that we may refuse what is evil,

and be taken up with praise.

 

Merciful Creator, of infinite tenderness;

Wounded Redeemer, in whom we are reclaimed;

Comforter of fire, who leads us into truth;

we offer you our praise.

 

THE COLLECT and the two readings for today are printed on the pewsheet

 

The first scripture reading

 

 At the end, there may be a short period of silence followed by this response:

 

For the word of the Lord.       Thanks be to God.

 

                 We say the Psalm or Canticle, printed on the front of the pewsheet

 

THE GOSPEL   

 

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ is the light of the world!

A light no darkness can quench. Alleluia!

 

                         The Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ according to …      Glory to you, O Lord.

 

At the end       for the Gospel of the Lord,                                                     Praise to you, O Christ.

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

 

Let us affirm our faith in God.

 

We believe in God the Composer and Creator,

from whom every family

in heaven and on earth receives its motion and being.

 

We believe in God the Word incarnate,

who lives in our hearts through faith,

and fills us with that perfect love which casts out fear.

 

We believe in God the Spirit of wisdom,

who strengthens us with power from on high.

 

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

now and through all the ages of ages.  Amen

 

SIMPLE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION             –          these may be replaced with material sent out each week.

 

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For the renewal of hope that God alone can give ….

Silence

Lord, hear and have mercy.

 

For the whole world in turmoil, and for all who live in fear ….

Silence

Lord, hear and have mercy.

 

For our church family, held and enfolded in God’s love ….

Silence

Lord, hear and have mercy.

 

For those who are ill, and all of us in our need, gracious Lord ….

Silence

Lord, hear and have mercy.

 

For ourselves and our loved ones, and for all who have died ….

                              Silence

Lord, hear and have mercy.

 

THE PEACE

 

Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’.

 

Alleluia! May the peace of our Lord be with us always.

and with all our sisters and brothers, near and far. Alleluia!

 

We share a sign of peace with all people of faith throughout the world, by clasping our hands together and bowing our heads saying the word “Shalom”, peace.

 

 

HYMN

 

SHARING THE FEAST

 

Gracious God, we welcome your presence with us.  May the table at which we share, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds, and may our spirits be refreshed.  As we live in the light of your presence, with us now and at all times and places.  Amen.

 

Blessed be God, by whose grace creation is renewed,

by whose love heaven is opened, by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.

Blessed be God for ever.

 

Take and eat a piece of the bread. If you are with another, give the bread to each other. As you give and receive the bread, say this prayer:

 

As we break this bread, and as we share it, we thank you, God, that you give us this day our daily bread.

For the food which delights and nourishes us and for the companionship that sustains us as your people.

 

Drink a sip of the wine or juice. If you are with another, give the wine to each other. As you give and receive the wine, say this prayer:

 

We thank you for drink to quench our thirst and for the Living Water with which you surprise and enrich and transform our lives.

We give thanks for this feast at which all can share, though separated now. A foretaste of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

                                                 As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

 

        Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

        your kingdom come,

        your will be done on earth as in heaven.

        Give us today our daily bread.

        Forgive us our sins

        as we forgive those who sin against us.

        Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

 

        For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,

                                                 now and forever.  Amen.

        HYMN    

 

 

PRAYER                           God of Glory, you nourish us with your Word,

                                        the Bread of Life.

                                        Fill us with your Spirit,

                                        that through us, the light of your glory

                                        may shine for all to see,

                                        in Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

BLESSING

                        Jesus, King of Glory, bless all that we offer in your name:

                        Our prayers and our giving, our action and our concern

As your love has held us,

                        may we rest in you

As your love has called us

                        may we journey on with courage

As your love has blessed us

                        may we abide in your love always.

 

DISMISSAL

May Christ the Son of God gladden our hearts with the good news of his kingdom.

 

Let us go in the peace of Christ, and in the good news of his victory.

                                    Thanks be to God, Alleluia!

 

This entry was posted in Uncategorised. Bookmark the permalink.