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Seekers Church

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour


Epiphany 2007 - A New Dawn

 

GATHERING

 

ENTRANCE

 

REFLECTION

When the song of the angels is stilled

When the star in the sky is gone

When the kings and princes are home

When the shepherds are back with their flocks

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost

To heal the broken

To feed the hungry

To release the prisoner

To rebuild the nations

To bring peace among the people

To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      The New Dawn will arise upon you.

 

People:      You shall see and be radiant.

 

Leader:      The New Dawn will arise upon you.

 

People:      The Holy One will bless the people with peace.

 

Leader:      The New Dawn will arise upon you.

 

People:      The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

Leader:      The New Dawn will arise upon you.

 

All:             God is here among us.

                  Let us rejoice and be glad in God's presence.

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:    Rise up in splendor, the light has come!  Alleluia

                 

Voice 1:   One star burns in the sky more brightly than all the others.

 

Voice 2:   The sun and moon and stars

                  form a joyful chorus around the one star.

 

Leader:    God, in your light we see a new dawn. 

                  Our voices join the chorus.

 

All:            Christ, our light is born.  Alleluia!

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:      O Holy One, the year begins with war around the world.

                  Bombs fall day and night,

                  Hour after hour, by death abroad appeasing wrath,

                  folly and greed at home.

 

Voice 1:     Our hate comes down to kill those whom we do not see,

                  For we have given up our sight to those in power

                  And to machines, and now are blind to all the world.

 

Voice 2:     This is a world where no lovely thing can last.

                  We trample, gouge and blast;

                  The people leave the land; the land flows to the sea.

 

Leader:      Fine men and women die,

                  The fine old houses fall, the fine old trees come down:

 

People:      Highway and shopping mall

                  still guarantee the right and liberty

                  to be a peaceful murderer,

                  a murderous worshipper,

                  a slender glutton, or a healthy whore. 

 

All:             O Holy One, forgiving no enemy,

                  forgiven by none, we live the death of liberty,

                  becoming what we have feared to be.

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

 

ASSURANCE

Leader:      O God, you cleanse us from our hidden faults,

                  And through the love of Christ

                  and light of the Holy Spirit

                  you offer us salvation each new day.

 

All:             Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

JESUS PRAYER

All:             Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

                  your kingdom come, your will be done,

                  on earth as in heaven.

                 

                  Give us today our daily bread.

                 

                  Forgive us our sins

                  as we forgive those who sin against us.

 

                  Save us from the time of trial

                  and deliver us from evil.

 

                  For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours

                  now and forever.  Amen.

 

HYMNOn the alter, the cross is set on a gold foil base on a fabric of stars.

 

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING 

 

The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader:      Go slowly
                  Consent to it, but don't wallow in it
                  Know it as a place of germination and growth
                  Remember the light
                  Take an outstretched hand if you find one
                  Exercise unused senses
                  Find the path by walking it
                  Practice trust
                  Watch for dawn

 

All:        Amen. 

 

 

WORSHIP RESOURCES

Confession: From 1999:I by Wendell Berry, A Timbered Choir, pp 125-126.

Jesus' Prayer: United Methodist Hymnal, #894: Ecumenical Text

Benediction:What to Do in the Darkness by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, in Weavings

 

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