Helen was absent from today's service because of ill health, so Warwick rounded up members of the congregation to produce the service, the liturgy of which was prepared by Helen, resulting in an extremely thoughtful effort.
Warwick welcomed us all, reminding us that today is the first Sunday in Epiphany, which in the tradition of the Methodist Church, from which many of our members originated, was a time for individuals to renew their covenant with God.
Then notices were given out, keeping members in touch with the life of our group.
Call to Worship
"The Magi came from many places, following a star.
We come to worship, and the star sheds light on our lives.
The Magi brought gifts to offer the Child.
We too bring gifts - ourselves, our hopes, our dreams.
Shepherds and Magi - the meek and the mighty - all were welcome in Bethlehem.
We too come to Bethlehem and then return to our homes rejoicing.
Hymn MP 740 "We three kings of Orient are". The three kings with their gifts, symbols of what was to be, followed a star to guide them "to the perfect light." The message is clear - we need to look for that guiding light in our lives that leads us to our "King and God"
Prayer of Praise and Confession was led by Lyn.
Firstly, an acknowledgement of all that God is: the light of all people; friend to the most lowly; hope to the oppressed. "Glory be to you O God!
Then we asked forgiveness for the times we look away from that light and go our own selfish way, hurting others in the process. "Shine the light of Christ, in and through us. Amen"
Assurance and Pardon
"The Father of all mercies has cleansed...restored us in his image...through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"
The Peace
"The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you
And then we turned to each other to offer the sign of peace, a lovely expression of our shared faith.
Hymn 234 "Brightest and best of the sons.." a message referring to both the guiding star that pointed to the babe Jesus and to Jesus Himself as our light and guide. No matter what gifts we may offer him, none matter like the gift of ourselves.
Eucharistic Prayer
"The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
A declaration that all honour and praise is due to the Almighty and that at this time of the year we remember that His Glory was made plain to all the world through the Magi who witnessed His presence in our midst. Therefore we " sing our joyful hymn of praise:"
"Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest."
For us, Warwick prayed, praising God, and asking that the Holy Spirit would make the bread and wine, for us, the body and blood of Jesus, proclaiming his death.
Then we were reminded of the institution of the meal.
"Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life: Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Warwick then prayed that we will work together until that day when we are together.
"Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread.
"The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
Sustain us, by your grace, O Lord.
The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
By your mercy we are made whole.
Warwick invited all to share, reminding us, that we were at the table of the Lord, not the table of the Uniting Church and everyone was welcome.
Prayer after Communion
Warwick prayed that we may discern God's presence and we answered, thanking God for the spiritual food we were given and offered ourselves to be sent out in his name.
Liturgy of the Word
Scripture Reading Matthew 2: 1 - 12 the story of the Magi following the star to find the new king was read by May. As soon as Herod heard that this birth had been prophesied he acted against Jesus. Those in power today act swiftly when it looks as though their "kingdom" is threatened. Often we look away when we sense that our control over our own lives is being questioned by God.
Reflection Warwick spoke about commitment, illustrated using a number of examples; one from the pen of Rudyard Kipling. Eddi the Priest of St. Wilfred laboured to convert the Saxons and he decided that a mass be offered on Christmas Eve for all who cared to attend.
The Saxons did not, but Eddi continued. A great storm blew up and an ass and an ox pushed into the church for shelter and Eddi resolved to continue so that he should serve that congregation.
So Eddi, the Ass and the Ox worshipped together.
Warwick suggested that Kipling understood the isolation of Eddi's battle and related this to the position of Mary and Joseph after the birth of Jesus and then spoke of the commitment all of these people had. How committed are we to spread the message of the meaning of Christmas?
Hymn TIS 675 "Lord, the light of your love is shining" A prayer for God's transforming light to shine upon us to set us free.
Freewill Offering "...May our gifts be a sign, as were the gifts for those travellers of old, that wisdom is marked by an offering of self and to you. Amen"
A Time of Reflection led onto The Prayers of the People led by Nerida,who prayed that 2013 would be a year when we would trust God and follow the star. She then gave thanks for all those men and women who followed their star and shared their faith.
This was followed by the Lord's Prayer, one of the most important expressions of our faith.
Affirmation of Faith. "Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of he cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen"
Hymn 221 "The First Nowell" The Christmas story always leads to the same conclusion:
"Now let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, who brought forth heaven and earth from nought, and with his blood mankind has bought."
The Blessing
Go forth in the light of God's star, committed to the Journey in 2013 of faith and courage.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
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