God Of All The People
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come.
People: The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Leader: Lift up your eyes and look around;
People: they bring gold and frankincense, and proclaim the praise of the Lord.
All: Our God is the God of all the peoples. Praise be to God!
Collect
Lord, we gather this morning to give you thanks for revealing yourself as God of all peoples, not just a chosen few. We bow before you in humble adoration like the Wise Men of old. Our gifts may not be as costly as those brought by the three kings, but we come to dedicate ourselves to the building of your kingdom. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, sometimes we are tempted to think of you as our exclusive deity, and ourselves as your favored children. Forgive our selfishness and self-centeredness, and enable us to make known your love for people everywhere. Help us to accept others as your sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Hymns
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
"There's A Spirit In The Air"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12
Theme: Ministry To The Gentiles
Call To Worship
We have knelt at the manger cradling the infant Jesus. Through this baby God has revealed himself as the Father of all humankind.
As we worship this morning let us open our hearts to the call to take the Good News of God's love to those who are fellow heirs and sharers in the promises in Christ Jesus.
Collect
Lord, as we celebrate your manifestation to those foreign rulers who came to worship the Christ Child, we give you thanks for all those who, across the years, have made it possible for us to know you as our Savior. We know that we are no longer strangers or foreigners, but your children -- joint heirs with Christ of your kingdom. May your Spirit move among us, and motivate us to be faithful witnesses of your revelation in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, we do not understand all the mysteries surrounding the birth of your Son, Jesus. We find it hard to fathom our place in the building of your kingdom. We often treat people who are different from us as unwelcome visitors rather than brothers and sisters in Christ. Forgive us, we pray, and through your Spirit strengthen our faith and enable us to be faithful to your Son's teachings. Amen.
Hymns
"From A Distant Home"
"We Would See Jesus"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12
Theme: Visit Of The Wise Men
Call To Worship
Leader: We have come to pay homage to the Christ Child.
People: We have followed the Star of Faith, and it has led us here.
Leader: As we offer our praise and thanksgiving let us open the treasure chests of our hearts.
People: We have come to present the gifts of our lives to our Lord and Savior.
All: Praise be to God. Amen.
Collect
O God, we come before you as the Wise Men of old to pay you homage. Open our eyes to the signs of your leading that by faith we, too, may follow the Star of Hope that will enable us to share in the joy of your presence. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Father God, we have looked for you in all the wrong places, because we have lacked the faith to follow the Star of Hope that would lead us to the Christ Child. Forgive us, we pray, and through your Holy Spirit enable us to open our lives to your presence. Amen.
Hymns
"We Three Kings"
"The First Noel"
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come.
People: The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Leader: Lift up your eyes and look around;
People: they bring gold and frankincense, and proclaim the praise of the Lord.
All: Our God is the God of all the peoples. Praise be to God!
Collect
Lord, we gather this morning to give you thanks for revealing yourself as God of all peoples, not just a chosen few. We bow before you in humble adoration like the Wise Men of old. Our gifts may not be as costly as those brought by the three kings, but we come to dedicate ourselves to the building of your kingdom. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, sometimes we are tempted to think of you as our exclusive deity, and ourselves as your favored children. Forgive our selfishness and self-centeredness, and enable us to make known your love for people everywhere. Help us to accept others as your sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Hymns
"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
"There's A Spirit In The Air"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12
Theme: Ministry To The Gentiles
Call To Worship
We have knelt at the manger cradling the infant Jesus. Through this baby God has revealed himself as the Father of all humankind.
As we worship this morning let us open our hearts to the call to take the Good News of God's love to those who are fellow heirs and sharers in the promises in Christ Jesus.
Collect
Lord, as we celebrate your manifestation to those foreign rulers who came to worship the Christ Child, we give you thanks for all those who, across the years, have made it possible for us to know you as our Savior. We know that we are no longer strangers or foreigners, but your children -- joint heirs with Christ of your kingdom. May your Spirit move among us, and motivate us to be faithful witnesses of your revelation in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, we do not understand all the mysteries surrounding the birth of your Son, Jesus. We find it hard to fathom our place in the building of your kingdom. We often treat people who are different from us as unwelcome visitors rather than brothers and sisters in Christ. Forgive us, we pray, and through your Spirit strengthen our faith and enable us to be faithful to your Son's teachings. Amen.
Hymns
"From A Distant Home"
"We Would See Jesus"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12
Theme: Visit Of The Wise Men
Call To Worship
Leader: We have come to pay homage to the Christ Child.
People: We have followed the Star of Faith, and it has led us here.
Leader: As we offer our praise and thanksgiving let us open the treasure chests of our hearts.
People: We have come to present the gifts of our lives to our Lord and Savior.
All: Praise be to God. Amen.
Collect
O God, we come before you as the Wise Men of old to pay you homage. Open our eyes to the signs of your leading that by faith we, too, may follow the Star of Hope that will enable us to share in the joy of your presence. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Father God, we have looked for you in all the wrong places, because we have lacked the faith to follow the Star of Hope that would lead us to the Christ Child. Forgive us, we pray, and through your Holy Spirit enable us to open our lives to your presence. Amen.
Hymns
"We Three Kings"
"The First Noel"
