Epiphany 2026 The Wise Men and Women

 

Epiphany Sunday The Wise Men and Women 2026

Responder:Chrys

Presider: Juanita

Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87935930592?pwd=qZlKA506MIS9okXQQxBkaKsyhsZJDV.1

If everything around seems dark…

look again…You may be in the light.

~Rumi

Chrys: On this the Feast of the Epiphany, we are reminded that an insecure ruler named Herod was so threatened by the birth of Jesus that he tried to overthrow the results by putting a hit out on a toddler.” May our celebration today be filled with more insights and truths as we find light in the darkness. 

Opening Song: "The Three Wise Women" - a witty, jazzy carol for SSA & piano by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange

https://youtu.be/qwPauis-Dk8?si=LJVQqy-k5moVJQmV

Opening Prayer: 

Welcome to you all as we gather to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, a time of seeking and finding and giving gifts. 

Let us pray:

Calling all seekers, all dreamers, all believers…

Calling all glass-half-full optimists and lighthouse keepers…

Calling all star-chasers and bedtime prayer speakers…

Bring your questions, your hope, your faith and your fear

into this sacred space.

God is here. 

Calling all men and women to bring their gifts before the Christ Child. AMEN.

Prayer adapted by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC |sanctifiedart.org.

First Reading: 

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah (Is 60:1-6)Kathy N.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come!

the glory of YHWH is rising upon you! Though darkness still covers the earth

and dense clouds enshroud the peoples,

upon you YHWH now dawns,

and God’s glory will be seen among you! 

The nations will come to your light

and the leaders to your bright dawn! 

Lift up your eyes, and look around:

they’re all gathering and coming to you—

your daughters and your sons

journey from afar, escorted in safety; 

you’ll see them and beam with joy,

your heart will swell with pride.

The riches of the sea will flow to you,

and the wealth of the nations will come to you— 

camel caravans will cover your roads,

the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

everyone in Sheba will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing the praise of YHWH.

These are inspired words from the Book of Isaiah, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible: 

Psalm 72 Emmanuel, Every nation on earth will adore You. Dave

Bring justice to the peoples, O Beloved, and Your mercy to  all generations. R:  

May you heed the cry of the poor! Let their spirits soar as the eagle, let joy abide in every heart. R:

(Psalms for Praying Nan Merrille)

Second Reading: Wise Women Also Came : by Jan Richardson  Pat

Wise women also came. The fire burned
in their wombs long before they saw
the flaming star in the sky.
They walked in shadows, trusting the path would open under the light of the moon. Wise women also came,
seeking no directions, no permission from any king.
They came by their own authority,
their own desire, their own longing.
They came in quiet, spreading no rumors,
sparking no fears to lead to innocents’ slaughter, to their sister Rachel’s inconsolable lamentations. Wise women also came, and they brought useful gifts: water for labor’s washing, fire for warm illumination, a blanket for swaddling.

Wise women also came, at least three of them, holding Mary in the labor, crying out with her in the birth pangs, breathing ancient blessings into her ear. Wise women also came, and they went, as wise women always do, home a different way. 

These are the inspired words of Jan Richardson and the community affirms them by saying: Amen

Alleluia: More Light by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/a8XaUlqb8t0?si=5Wa4dj36tjTEHPZN

Gospel: A reading from the Gospel by the anonymous author called Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)  

After Jesus’ birth—which happened in Bethlehem of Judea, during the reign of Herod—astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay homage.” At this news Herod became greatly disturbed, as did all of Jerusalem. Summoning all the chief priests and religious scholars of the people, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  

“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they informed him. “Here is what the prophet has written: 

‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, 

are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, 

since from you will come a ruler 

who is to shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”

Herod called the astrologers aside and found out from them the exact time of the star’s appearance.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them, “Go and get detailed information about the child. When you have found him, report back to me—so that I may go and offer homage, too.”  

After their audience with the ruler, they set out. The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child lay. They were overjoyed at seeing the star and, upon entering the house, found the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and paid homage. Then they opened their coffers and presented the child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route. These are inspired words from the Gospel attributed to Matthew, and we affirm them by saying, Amen. 

Homily: John

Statement of Faith: Lucia/ Linda alternate

We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery beyond all definition and rational understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word, bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion, bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's prophets, mystics, and saints.

We believe that We are called to follow Jesus as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.

Prayers of the Community: Gina

As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table….” 

Presider: We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen. 

SIGN OF PEACE: Cathy W.

Eternal wellspring of peace- May we be drenched with the longing for peace

That we may give ourselves over

As the earth to the rain, to the dew,

Until peace overflows our lives

As living waters overflow the seas.  (Marcia Falk)

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you.  My peace I give you.”  Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say,  Shalom, Peace be with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Offertory: 

Janet: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness  we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, It will become for us the bread of life, our Eucharist today.

R: Blessed be God forever

Galen: Blessed are you God of all creation, through your goodness

We have received this wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.

R: Blessed be God forever.

Karen: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:

(written by Jay Murnane) 

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST:

Presider: With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:

(written by Jay Murnane) 

Cathy P: Holy One, you are continually creating the universe, continually giving birth to all of us. We sense the need to do the same, to set ourselves free from a sense of emptiness and barren hopelessness.

We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care. We give thanks, and joined with your vision of harmony and peace, we sing:

Holy, Holy, Holy by Karen Drucker

https://youtu.be/nTewBnxBy30?si=gqJZPiTMMXbj9wsA

Rita: Your wisdom invites us to draw on our tradition, as old as the stars, shining through Sarah and Abraham, shining through your prophets in every age and every culture. We join that enlightening, enlivening tradition with what we are as we risk fidelity to a dream.

Barbara: Filled with your spirit, we, like Jesus, can give birth in our day to your living word for the sake of hope enfleshed in creativity and confrontation, healing and reconciliation, justice, universal and unconditional love. 

Please extend your hands in blessing over your bread and wine.

Nick:  We are grateful for your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world. 

Karla:  On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends.  He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.

Please lift your plate as we pray the following the following:

Presider: When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying: 

Take and eat, this is my my body which has been given for you.

(pause) 

Please lift your cup as we pray the following:

Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:

Take and drink. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.

(pause) 

Penny:This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other, for it is through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor be yours, Almighty God forever and ever. Amen 

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge. 

Presider: Please pass the bread with the words: “You are an incarnation of the Divine!”

Communion Song:

[SING-ALONG VIDEO] Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix

https://youtu.be/trW_lD9sBt0?si=HytlXsozeR6qThd0

Post-Communion Prayer:

Penny: Holy One, we dare again to dream the ancient dreams and open ourselves to marvelous

visions. There are mountains of arrogance to lower, valleys of fear and separation to fill in,

to create a community and communion that stretches throughout our consciousness and

around our world.

In this way, working to renew the face of the earth, we are opened up to your Spirit, the Spirit of light and life and love born in Jesus.

For it is through his life and teaching, all honor and glory is yours, Holy One, forever and

ever. Amen.

Ma Donna: Let us pray as Jesus taught us: 

Holy one who is within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, 
now and forever, Amen. 

Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter

BLESSING:

Presider: Please extend your hands and pray our blessing together. 

May we continue to be the face of God to each other.  May we call each other to extravagant generosity!  May we, like Jesus, be a shining light and a blessing in our time!  AMEN

Closing Song: “Take Us Home by Another Way” by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/dkZ1JJlJa14?si=er6vhYvDoDmc9WMv