THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
January 6, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, that is the ‘shining forth” of God in the person of Jesus Christ brings the celebration of Christmas to a climax and fulfillment. Join us Wednesday, January 6th, at 7:00 p.m. on “ zoom” for a special evening service from St. Mary’s that will include a “Blessing of the Waters” in anticipation of the Baptism of the Lord next Sunday. Please print off the attached order of service.
The link to the zoom meeting is as follows: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84430621200?pwd=dmtjYWIyZTRCNDl3aXVIajVJMmg5QT09
Meeting ID: 844 3062 1200
Passcode: 729521
A Service of Evening Prayer and the Blessing of the Waters
Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can extinguish.
O Gracious Light Phos Hilaron
O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be sung by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Lord our God our eternal Father and David’s king.
You have made our gladness greater and increased our joy by sending to dwell among us
the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace.
Born of Mary,
proclaimed to the shepherds,
and acknowledged to the ends of the earth,
your unconquered Sun of righteousness
destroys our darkness and establishes us in freedom.
All glory in the highest be to you,
through Christ, the Son of your favour,
in the anointing love of his Spirit,
this night and for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 72
Give the king your justice, O God, * and your righteousness to the king’s son;
That he may rule your people righteously * and the poor with justice;
That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, * and the little hills bring righteousness.
He shall defend the needy among the people; *he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, * from one generation to another.
He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, * like showers that water the earth.
In his time shall the righteous flourish; * there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
He shall rule from sea to sea, * and from the River to the ends of the earth.
His foes shall bow down before him, * and his enemies lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, * and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
All kings shall bow down before him, * and all the nations do him service.
For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, * and the oppressed who has no helper.
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; * he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, * and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
Long may he live! and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; * may prayer be made for him always, and may they bless him all the day long.
May there be abundance of grain on the earth, growing thick even on the hilltops; * may its fruit flourish like Lebanon, and its grain like grass upon the earth.
May his name remain for ever and be established as long as the sun endures; * may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed.
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, * who alone does wondrous deeds!
And blessed be his glorious name for ever! * and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen.
Amen.
Lesson: Ephesians 3. 1-12
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 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.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 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, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Hymn: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.
Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, Wedding-guest,
In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.
Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.
Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Mirrored in Thy holy Word;
May we imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou
That we like to Thee may be
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.
Lesson: Matthew 2.-12.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Mag from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Theological Reflection: On Epiphany.
A Blessing of the Waters
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
Opening Sentences
The voice of the Lord upon the waters cries out, saying, ‘Come all of you, receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, of Christ who has appeared’. Today the nature of the waters is made holy, and Jordan is parted and holds back the flow of its waters as it sees the Master washing himself.
As man, Christ King, you came to the river, and in your goodness you hasten to accept the baptism of a servant at the hands of the Forerunner, on account of our sins, O Lover of mankind.
At the voice of the one crying in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’, you came, Lord, having taken the form of a servant, asking for Baptism, though you did not know sin. The waters saw you and were afraid. The Forerunner trembled and cried out, saying, ‘How will the lamp enlighten the Light? The servant place his hand on the Master, Saviour, who takes away the sin of the world, make me and the waters holy’.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Readings
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 35:1-10
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 55:1-13
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 12:3-6
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, * it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me, * yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me, * yet will I put my trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; *that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the LORD * and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; * he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.
Even now he lifts up my head * above my enemies round about me.
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; * I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hearken to my voice,O LORD,when I call;* have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say,”Seek my face.”* Your face, LORD, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me,* nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You have been my helper; cast me not away; * do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me,* the LORD will sustain me.
Show me your way, O LORD;* lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries,* for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the LORD * in the land of the living!
O tarry and await the LORD’S pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; * wait patiently for the LORD.
A reading from the 1st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. ( 1.9-11)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Prayers of the People
In peace let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace from on high and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy.
For our bishops, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Elizabeth our Queen, for the leaders of the First Nations of Canada, for the leaders of all nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this city (town, village, etc.), for every city and community, and for those who live in them in faith, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For good weather, and for abundant harvests for all to share, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our deliverance from all affliction, strife, and need, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died (especially…), let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy.
That these waters may be sanctified by the power, and effectual operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That he will endue them with the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That Satan may speedily be crushed under our feet, and that every evil counsel directed against us may be brought to nothing, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord our God will free us from every attack and temptation of the enemy, and make us worthy of the good things which he has promised, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That he will illumine us with the light of understanding and of piety, and with the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord our God will send down the blessing of Jordan, and sanctify these waters, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That this water may be to us the bestowing of sanctification; unto the remission of sins; unto the healing of soul and body; and unto every expedient service, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That this water may be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That it may manifest itself effectual unto the averting of every machination of our foes, whether visible or invisible, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who shall draw of it and take of it to sanctify their homes, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That it may be for the purification of the souls and bodies of all those who, with faith, shall draw and partake of it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
That he will graciously enable us to perfect sanctification by participation in these waters, through the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace. Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.To you, O Lord our God.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests. Fulfill now our desires and petitionsas may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come eternal life; for you, Father, are good and loving, and we glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, almighty God and Father, for by the gift of water you nourish and sustain all living things.
Blessed be God for ever.
We give you thanks that through the waters of the Red Sea, you led your people out of slavery to freedom in the promised land.
Blessed be God for ever.
We give you thanks for sending your Son Jesus. For he was baptized by John in the river Jordon. For us he was anointed as Christ by your Holy Spirit. For us he suffered the baptism of his own death and resurrection, setting us free from the bondage of sin and death, and opening to us the joy and freedom of everlasting life.
Blessed be God for ever.
We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit who teaches us and leads us into all truth, filling us with his gifts so that we might proclaim the gospel to all nations and serve you as a royal priesthood.
Blessed be God for ever.
The water is blessed, three times, with the sign of the Cross or with a Cross dipped in the water; each time the following is said:
Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Almighty and Merciful God, in the Baptism of your Son, you have restored Creation and fulfilled it as a means of salvation. Show this water to be the water of redemption and the purification of flesh and spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your works, and no word will suffice to praise Your wonders.
Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your works, and no word will suffice to praise Your wonders.
Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your works, and no word will suffice to praise Your wonders.
Today the grace of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove dwelt upon the waters.
Today the Sun that never sets has dawned and the world is made radiant with the light of the Lord.
Today the Moon with its radiant beams sheds light on the world.
Today the stars formed of light make the inhabited world lovely with the brightness of their splendour.
Today the clouds rain down from heaven the shower of justice for mankind.
Today the Uncreated by his own will accepts the laying on of hands by his own creature.
Today the Prophet and Forerunner draws near, but stands by with fear seeing God’s condescension towards us.
Today the streams of Jordan are changed into healing by the presence of the Lord.
Today all creation is watered by mystical streams.
Today the failings of mankind are being washed away by the waters of Jordan.
Today Paradise is opened for mortals and the Sun of justice shines down on us.
Today the bitter water as once for Moses’ people is changed to sweetness by the presence of the Lord.
Today we have been delivered from the ancient grief, and saved as the new Israel.
Today we have been redeemed from darkness and are filled with radiance by the light of the knowledge of God.
Today the gloomy fog of the world is cleansed by the manifestation of our God.
Today all creation shines with light from on high.
Today error has been destroyed and the coming of the Master makes for us a way of salvation.
Today things on high keep festival with those below, and those below commune with those on high.
Today the sacred and triumphant festal assembly of the Church exults.
Today the Master hastens towards baptism, that he may lead humanity to the heights.
Today the One who does not bow bows down to his own servant, that he may free us from servitude.
Today we have purchased the Kingdom of heaven, for the Kingdom of the Lord will have no end.
Today earth and sea share the joy of the world, and the world has been filled with gladness.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Blessing
The Dismissal