A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 3 OT

Psalm 19(NIV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens

    and makes its circuit to the other;

    nothing is deprived of it

Wherever we look, your creation shouts

Hallelujah

God be praised

On the shoreline we marvel at the expanse of the ocean

and listen to your voice roar in the waves

In the middle of the dark green forest

we hear you whisper amidst the pines and mocking jays

Glancing at the midnight sky

we watch the dance of the stars across the cosmos

In the waking of the dawn

we watch the world and its creatures awake to a new day

 Wherever we look, your creation shouts

Hallelujah

God be praised

We observe the seasons come one after another

The heat of the summer

and colors of the fall

The snows of the winter

and green of the spring

We marvel as days roll on

the rush of the weeks

and the passing of the years

the measure of a lifetime

and the preciousness of the moment

Wherever we look, your creation shouts

Hallelujah

God be praised

How can we express our thanks

voice our gratitude

We raise a chorus of acclaim

Chants and songs of thanksgiving

Words of exaltation for the creation

we are blessed to live and work

and participate in

How can we express our thanks

voice our gratitude

Our words fall short

our anthems and creeds inadequate

to what we see

hear

touch

smell

Wherever we look, your creation shouts

Hallelujah

God be praised

May our lives be our humble thanks

May our gifts be our response

May our work be our anthems

May our prayers be our witness

Wherever we look, your creation shouts

Hallelujah

God be praised

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 2

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NIV)

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

O spirit of God

Rain down upon us the gift of wisdom

for we too often are a people of ignorance

We act on what we know not

and refrain from what we must do

We look upon our neighbor with suspicion

and believe the stranger to be dangerous

We desire wisdom to know when to act

and how we should engage

those whom we live in community

As see as our brothers and sisters

O spirit of God

Rain down upon us the gift of wisdom

for we too often are a people of ignorance

O Spirit of God

Bestow on us the gift of healing

for we are often a broken people

The lame clutter our streets

and the blind fill our beds

The suffering are too many to count

and their cries crowd the night

Enable us to bandage their wounds

and be healers of their pain

that they may spring from their mats

And dry their tears and recover from their heartache

 O Spirit of God

Bestow on us the gift of healing

for we are often a broken people

O Spirit of God

Pour upon us the gift of prophecy

for we are a people of silence

We refrain from speaking the truth

and fear the honesty which confronts

We observe violence without protest

and witness abuse with timidity

Give us the courage to break our silence

and speak the Word of Good News

To proclaim the reign of Jesus

and establish justice and peace throughout the land

O Spirit of God

Pour upon us the gift of prophecy

for we are a people of silence

O Spirit of God

Shower upon us the gift of discernment

for we are often a confused people

Multiple voices compete for our attention

and lay many paths before us

Numerous gods invite our worship

and predatory causes beg for allegiance and funding

Teach us the ways of truth

and the power to decipher falsehood

Open our eyes to the righteousness of our God

and the power of his living Spirit

O Spirit of God

Shower upon us the gift of discernment

for we are often a confused people

O Spirit of God

Bestow upon us the gifts

of wisdom and healing

prophecy and understanding

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 2 OT

Isaiah 62

2 The nations will see your vindication,

    and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

    that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,

    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,[a]

    and your land Beulah[b];

for the Lord will take delight in you,

    and your land will be married.

you will be called by a new name

We need a new name, Lord

We don't like the one we have now

We call ourselves exceptional

Nothing like us exist

or ever did

We are the richest

We trip over our wealth

Gold piled upon gold

Look at our homes

Look at our fashion

We are the richest

Yet we are empty

all dressed up and no where to go

Empty streets and empty souls

all shine and no substance

Few rich

Many poor

you will be called by a new name

We need a new name, Lord

We don't like the one we have now

We call ourselves mighty

Nothing like us exist

or ever did

We are the strongest

Our armies too many to number

Our arms too muscular to face

We defeat our foes

Overcome our enemies

Conquer anyone and everyone

Yet we are weak

We have clout on the battlefield

but none in our communities

Our casualties are all at home

children with no bread

families with no bed

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

Redeem us, O God

Turn us from avarice to sacrifice

from hoarders to givers

So that none may be homeless

but all are welcomed, sheltered, nurtured

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

Redeem us, O God

Turn us from warriors into lovers

turning our swords into ploughshares

So none will go hungry

But all are fed, healed, comforted

you will be called by a new name

May we be called children of the Eternal God

May we be called children of the Risen Savior

May we be called children of the Disturbing Spirit

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (OT)

ISAIAH 43

But now, this is what the Lord says—

    he who created you, Jacob,

    he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

The waters look dangerous, Lord

We're not sure we can stay afloat

Swim to the other side

It looks a long way over

We want to cross over to the other side

To discover a new future

Get a fresh start

We have made a mish mash of our lives

We have done so much wrong

We just want to wash it all away

The waters look dangerous, Lord

The fire is too hot

We fear just jumping in

Living for all we are worth

Reaching for today, tomorrow

If we drown in the fire

Burn up

We will lose everything

We are desperate amidst the blaze

Panicked that we will not make it

We will lose everything

What if we can't escape the flames

What if we can't hold our breath long enough

We will lose everything

The fire is too hot

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

If you swim along side of us

We can make it

If you keep ahold of us

We'll reach the other side

If you are right beside us

We can grab the other bank

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

If you walk with us

We will survive

If you guide us

We will not be scorched

If you lead

We will follow safely

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Into your arms we race

In your love we rest

By your grace we are whole

With your baptism we are cleansed

Hallelujah

Amen

A PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (NT)

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit

Bathe us in your power

so we may have the strength to preach

the Good News

Send us out to the highways

the street corners and shadows

where silence prevails

and fear stalks the dark

May we have the power

to stand against the powers of the night

and bring the presence of God's glory

so all may have light and joy

Come Holy Spirit

Immerse us in your love

so that we can love our enemies

and comfort those in sorrow

Dispatch us to the sick and grieving

in nursing homes and hospital rooms

where sickness attacks and death hovers

and tears flow and hearts ache

May we be a holy presence

to heal the suffering

comfort the mourning

and bless the dying

Come Holy Spirit

Purify us in the ways of peace

so that we can be a force for justice

and messenger of Shalom

Dispatch us to every front and battlefield

where your children are wounded and lonely

to cry for the killing to end

and calm and solace begin

Make us agents of reconciliation

to sow seeds of harmony and understanding

so plants of understanding and forests of cooperation

will grow and flourish in the warmth of your love

Come Holy Spirit baptize us

Strengthen us

Immerse us

Purify us

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY (NT)

Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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.’[b]”

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.

 

Here we come Jesus

We come to greet you

welcome you to our world

bring the new baby gifts

What gift can we bring you Jesus?

What is proper for

A messiah born in a barn

A savior sleeping in a manger

The wiseman brought gold,

frankincense and myrrh

gifts fit for a king

What gift can we bring you Jesus?

We can bring our worship

sacrifices and offerings

kneel in reverence

We can bring our songs

anthems of praise

hymns of thanksgiving

We can bring our prayers

petitions for grace

supplications of forgiveness

What gift can we bring you Jesus?

We know what you want, Jesus

You want disciples

to your follow your call to

feed the hungry

and comfort the mourning

We know what you want, Jesus

You want evangelists

to announce the Good News

the Kingdom is here

The Lord of Peace reigns

We know what you want, Jesus

You want healed healers

to give sight to the blind

new legs to the lame

new life to the dying

What gift can we bring you Jesus?

We can bring ourselves

All that we are

All that we have

for you Lord Jesus

Savior and King

Amen

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY (OT)

Psalm 72

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,

    the royal son with your righteousness.

2 May he judge your people in righteousness,

    your afflicted ones with justice.

3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,

    the hills the fruit of righteousness.

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people

    and save the children of the needy;

    may he crush the oppressor.

5 May he endure[a] as long as the sun,

    as long as the moon, through all generations.

6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,

    like showers watering the earth.

7 In his days may the righteous flourish

    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

God of glory

God of might

We pray for justice

We dwell in a land

where it comes infrequently

where chaos often overtakes

our orderly and quiet ways

We pray for peace

We desire an end to the violence

An end to the shootings

An end to the madness

An end to so much loss

We pray for righteousness

We live in fear of the other

We hide from them

Shrink from encountering them

Avoiding their looks, their cries, their needs

We pray for justice

We pray for peace

We pray for righteousness

Come Lord Jesus

and show us the way

Remind us O Just and Holy One

to have justice

we must be just

Remind us Prince of Peace

to have peace

we must live peacefully

Remind us Righteous King

to have righteousness

we must behave rightfully

Show us justice begins when

the hungry are fed

the blind can see

the poor sleep warmly

the lame dance joyously

Remind us peace comes when

swords are replaced by plows

tears are vanquished by laughter

disease is defeated by wellness

hatred overturned by loving

Teach us righteousness appears when

our neighbor is seen as our friend

hand of the stranger is grasped

the sick and lonely are comforted

forsaken and rejected are loved

Come Just One

Come Prince of Peace

Come Righteous King

Come Lord Jesus

Amen