Epiphany of our Lord

This feast day commemorates the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, thereby proclaiming that the birth of the Christ is for all peoples and nations. The color of the day is white.

GATHERING

The Confession and Foriveness may be omitted on this feast day and a petition for the forgiveness of sins mah be offered during the intercessions.
Possible Gathering HymnsELW 300 – 303, 308

A possible Greeting:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God; blessed is your glorious name.
You alone do wondrous deeds and all the earth is filled with your glory.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God …

WORD

The texts focus on Jesus as gift of God to all peoples and nations. The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the visit of the Magi; Isaiah 60 and Psalm 72 proclaim that all nations will come and adore; and the reading from Ephesians speaks of God’s salvation being for Jews and Gentiles.

A Gospel Procession is especially appropriate in the Christmas/Epiphany season.  The movement of the procession into the midst of the people may be seen as the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

One might surround the Gospel reading with a Sequence Hymn, using ELW 416 or 511.  With either hymn, sing stanzas 1-4 before the Gospel is read and stanzas 5-6 afterward.
Possibilities for Hymn of the Day:  301, 302, 303, 308, 310, 311

The Nicene Creed is the appointed creed for feast days.

MEAL

The Peace may be introduced:

In the time of Christ our King the righteous shall flourish, and there shall be an abundance of peace.
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

An appropriate Offertory would be ELW 296, stanza 3.
“What Shall I Render”, with the focus on Jerusalem (Isaiah 60) is also an appropriate offertory.

Eucharistic Prayer III or XI fits well.

The Invitation to Communion may be:

Come! Here there is an abundance of food for all peoples.
Happy are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

“Lord, Now You Let Your Servant Go in Peace” is an appropriate post-communion canticle throughout the Christmas-Epiphany seasons.

SENDING

For the dismissal:

The boundless riches of Christ have been shared with you. Go in peace. Remember the poor.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!