THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
This service may be used on the evening of January 6,  the 12th day after Christmas, sometimes called  the Gentile’s Christmas.
The church is dimly lit. 
Silence for meditation on Christ, the Light of the world.
Stand
M:	Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
C:	The light no darkness can overcome.
M:	Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,
C:	And the day is almost over.
M:	Be our light and scatter the darkness,
C:	And hear our evening hymn of praise.
The church’s lights gradually brighten.
C:	O gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ, in you the Father’s glory shone.
	Immortal, holy, blest is he, and blest are you, his only Son.
	Now sunset comes, but light shines forth; the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
	Praise Father, Son, and Spirit:  God, who dwells in the eternal light.
	Worthy are you of endless praise, O Son of God. life-giving Lord;
	Wherefore you are through all the earth and in the highest heaven adored.
M:	Lord God, by the leading of a star you once made known to the nations your one and only Son. Guide us, also, who know him now by faith, to come at last to the perfect joy of your heavenly glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:	Amen.
Be seated
FOCUS: First Lesson
FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 60:1-6
	Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. 
	Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
M:	This is the Word of the Lord.
C:	Thanks be to God.
FOCUS: Psalm of the Day
Psalm 72
M:	Endow the King with your justice, O God
C:	The royal Son with your righteousness.
M:	He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
C:	The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
M:	He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
C:	He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
M:	He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
C:	In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
M:	He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
C:	The desert tribes will bow before him, and his enemies will lick the dust.
M:	The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
C:	All kings will bow down to him, and all nations will serve him.
M:	For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
C:	He will take pity on the weak and the needy, and save the needy from death.
M:	He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
C:	Long may he live! 
M:	May gold from Sheba be given him. 
C:	May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
M:	Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. 
C:	Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
M:	May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. 
C:	All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
M:	Praise be to the Lord God,
C:	the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
M:	Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. 
C:	Amen and Amen.
PSALM PRAYER
M:	Almighty God, we praise you for the gracious rule of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let his kingdom come to us and to all people so that the whole earth may know his saving help and be filled with his glory, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever.
C:	Amen.
FOCUS: Second Lesson
SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 3:2-12
	Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
	This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 
	I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.  Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
	His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
M:	This is the Word of the Lord.
C:	Thanks be to God.
HYMN 79, stanzas 1-3  “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”
FOCUS: Gospel of the Day
Stand
GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12
	After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 
	When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
	Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
	After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
M:	This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C:	Praise be to you, O Christ.
M:	We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Be seated
HYMN 83  “As with Gladness Men of Old”
Stand
M:	Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Mary’s son, in the fullness of time you came into our world to save us from sin and death.
C:	You ushered in the day of grace so long foretold.
M:	Beloved Son of the Father, revered by the Magi, baptized by John, you came preaching and teaching, healing and comforting, forgiving and encouraging.
C:	You brought the light of life to those walking in darkness, and the joy of salvation to those doomed to death.
M:	Prince of Peace, shine like a beacon for us and the people of our world. Let the good news of salvation be heard in the most remote corners of the earth.  Open our own lips to speak your name to those around us who still live without faith or hope.
C:	Arouse us and our missionaries to flood the world with the light of your gospel.
M:	Preserve your truth among us and by that truth preserve us until you appear in dazzling splendor to bring us to the glory of heaven.  Let our anticipation of the heavenly kingdom ennoble our thinking and speaking, enrich our conduct, and increase our joy in all aspects of earthly life.
C:	Be gracious to all and lead us to reflect your love in everything we say and do.
Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
M:	Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M:	Finally, bring us and all your believers to the heavenly home where we will stand in the full light of your glory and with all your saints and angels sing the everlasting song of triumph.
C:	Amen.
Remain standing
HYMN 79, stanzas 4-5 “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”
Be seated
M:	May the blessing of the eternal God be upon us:  his light to guide us, his presence to shelter us, his peace to unite us.
C:	I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
C:	In peace, Lord, you let your servant depart according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for every people. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
M:	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C:	Amen.

service notes
•	Coming on the heels of the busy seasons of Advent and Christmas, the Festival of the Epiphany of Our Lord is often underplayed. This service requires limited preparation by pastor and musicians. It is not meant as an ideal form for celebrating a festival of the church year but as an alternative useful in some circumstances.
•	This service will require some publicity. Explain the importance of this service as the start of the Epiphany season, the service which focuses on the star-gazing Magi. First Sunday of Epiphany is The Baptism of Our Lord. A full church is a good thing. However, a small attendance also works well for a contemplative service—a quiet gathering of those who are eager to take time for this spiritual nourishment. One may even lay Christmas ribbon over the entrances to most back pews so all gather in the front, a community of God’s children gathered around the Word.
•	There is no need for lengthy preservice music. A single prelude can precede the service. A piano may be used to accompany this service.
•	The opening responses and hymn stanzas may be sung using the music from Christian Worship, page 54. The final portions of the service may be sung using the music from Christian Worship, page 61. If limited attendance is expected, parts of the service may be spoken or sung by rehearsed singers.
•	Ushers are instructed on how to brighten the church after the opening responses. If possible, gradually increase the light during the singing of stanzas one and two of “O Gracious Light.”
•	In place of a sermon, the pastor introduces the lessons and psalm with a brief “Focus.” These need not be of the same length. Alternatively, a brief sermon or meditation may follow one or more of the lessons.
•	The responsive prayer is adapted from the prayer on page 124 of Christian Worship.
•	If an offering is desired, include a note in the service folder that the offering will be gathered at the door at the end of the service.
•	Possibilities for choir, cantor, soloist, or instrumentalist:
1.		The opening responses from CW p. 54 may be sung unaccompanied between solo voice and choir. A handbell may sound the pitch.
2.		A musical version of Psalm 72 may be used. One such unison version is NPH #28N6045 “Music for Epiphany: Psalm 72, Verse of the Day, Gospel Response” which can be used throughout the Epiphany season.  
3.	 	The words following the Gospel, “We have seen his glory…” may be sung. See “Seasonal Responses” NPH #28N0009. A simple version for solo voice or unison choir is in CW:Altar Book, p.128 (under Christmas). The accompaniment is on p.46 of CW:Accompaniment for Liturgy, the accompaniment volume for CW:Altar Book. This response may be sung unaccompanied.
4.		Special music may adorn the hymns, especially Hymn 79 stanzas 4 and 5.