Litany of Gratitude by Rev. Kathy Jo Blaske

 

Generous God, for the abundance of your blessings to us
day by day and year by year,
We give you our thanks.

 

For the simple pleasures of life: for garden harvests,
coffee conversation, and familiar surroundings,
For health and strength to appreciate the wonder of life,
For needs met and desires fulfilled,
We give you our thanks.

 

For foods distributed to nourish body and spirit,
For homes which supply shelter, which nurture
order and beauty, and offer hospitality,
We give you our thanks.

 

With hearts that forgive as freely as you have forgiven,
With enthusiasm of spirit for the gift of life,
With music which declares your everlasting goodness,
With prayers for mutual understanding and peace,
We worship you with joy.

 

With creative pursuits which contribute our God-given talents,
With words which honor you as Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit,
With time volunteered and dedicated to service in church and community,
With years committed to extending the love of Jesus Christ,
We worship you with joy.

 

With gifts of money which reach farther than we can manage ourselves,
With deeds done in service of neighbor and stranger,
With holy days set apart to celebrate your goodness and grace,
With family and friends distant and nearby,
We worship you, God, with grateful hearts and joyful spirit.
Alleluia. Amen.

 

Song – The First Noel

 

Reflection on the Dawn of a New Year, by Susan Durber

 

At the dawn of a new year,
we come to welcome hope for a new world.

 

Let the darkness lift,
to welcome a dawn of plenty,
with enough for everyone
and people ready to share.

 

Let the day begin,
with new energy for the struggle
to protect our children
and to care for the vulnerable.

 

Let the light shine,
to open a path to safety
for all who are seeking home
and longing for life.

 

Let the sun rise
on new talks and new resolve
to end the bombing and the terror
and to find solutions that will last.

 

At the dawn of a new year
we come to declare our hope
and to welcome a new world.

 

Scripture Reading – Micah 5:2

 

 

Song –We Three Kings/ O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:1-3

 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

 

 

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

 

Video Sermon

 

Litany of Confession and Assurance by Bruce Prewer

 

The coming of Christ was not, and is not, widely welcomed.
Wherever there is epiphany there will also be darkness:
the darkness of old superstitions and dogmas which refuse to fade away easily;
the darkness of pride in the half truths that have masqueraded as wisdom;
the darkness of entrenched evil that hates the light and tries to dispose of it;
the darkness of apathy that cannot be bothered to open the shutters;

 

Let us make our confession together,

 

Most holy and most loving God, we admit to you and to each other,
that we are creatures who either through foolishness or wilfulness
often choose darkness instead of light.

 

Here and now we surrender to you our fears and proud opinions,
our short-sighted folly and our pompous wisdom,
our deep seated sins and our apathy towards change and renewal.

 

Please forgive the darkness and pain we have inflicted on others,
and restore the light-starved hopes and ideals within our own souls.
Trusting your grace, we earnestly pray: “Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.”
Through Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen!

 

Hear these words of assurance.
My friends, Epiphany is good news!
The Light comes not to sear and blind us but to save us.
Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.
In his name I declare to you: Yours sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!

 

Take up your forgiveness with thanksgiving,
and live without shame or anxiety.

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ enables us. Amen!

 

Communion

 

 

In this moment, we transition to participation in a sacred meal. We have the privilege of breaking bread with the Jesus. We will drink again from the cup he offers. The bread and cup are a commitment to us that Jesus loves us, cares for us, and never abandons us. Not only that, but when we participate in this holy meal, we do it as one Church, one body, united in the mystery set before us. God meets us at the table.

 

Whether we are communing in our homes, parks, over the phone with a friend, or on Zoom, God’s banquet is available to all of us. It unites us despite our circumstances.

 

As you gather remarkably simple elements, begin to prepare yourself to receive Christ. When ready, say these beautiful words as you eat the elements. “This is the body of Christ.” Take any bread or cracker you have and receive God’s bread of life. “This cup represents Christ’s promise of forgiveness.” Take any juice in your home and receive God’s blessing. Jesus tells us to do this in remembrance of me. May we remember that our identity is found in Jesus. Spend some moments remembering who you are in relation to God. Give praise!

 

Benediction