Holy Eucharist
Holy Eucharist
Notes on particular elements in the January 6, 2001, service and its details are provided as footnotes. These notes also offer explanation and suggestions for local adaptation.
Gathering
Prelude 1
Greeting 2
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen
There is one Body and one Spirit;
There is one hope in God's call to us;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
One God and Father of all.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the star of our Lord's birth shines for us today. As the Magi were brought together to know the glory of God's presence among us as Jesus of Nazareth, so too have we been brought to this place to show forth his glory and to answer God's call that all may be one as Christ and the Father are one. We join together in Jesus' name to share in his sacraments, in his ministry, and in his mission, as one Body in the power of one Spirit. By water and the Spirit we have inherited our share in God's kingdom, and to this end we begin by remembering our new life in Christ.
Procession to the Font 3 God is here! With One Voice #719
Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant 4
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that it may be for all assembled here a sign and reminder of our baptism into the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen
Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy catholic Church. And as a right beginning to our call to common mission, let us join in remembering our new life in Christ through water and the Holy Spirit. 5
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers ?
I will, with God's help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin,
repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God's help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God's help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God's help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, through Christ our Lord.
Amen
The entire Assembly is sprinkled with baptismal water as a sign and reminder of our Baptism into the risen life of the Risen Christ. 6
Hymn of Praise
This is the feast Lutheran Book of Worship, page 60
The Hymnal 1982 #417
Prayer of the Day 7
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lord God,
on this day you revealed your Son to the nations
by the leading of a star.
Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives,
and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory,
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
Word
Reading: 8 Isaiah 60:1-6, 9
After the reading:
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 72:1-2, 10-17 9 Antiphon: Wonder, Love, and Praise #883
The verses of the psalm will be sung freely by a cantor.
Reading: Ephesians 3:1-12
After the reading:
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation 10 Wonder, Love, and Praise #848
"Alleluia. We observed his star in the East, and have come to pay him homage. Alleluia."
Gospel Matthew 2:1-12
Before the reading:
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After the reading:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day 11 O Morning Star Lutheran Book of Worship #76
Prayers of the People 12
Let us pray for the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, its members and its mission.
Holy God,
you bind the baptized as one people,
built upon Christ the sure foundation.
Look with mercy upon your Church.
Heal the wounds that divide its members.
Rid it of all arrogance, inspire its teaching,
and strengthen its witness to your suffering love
poured out for the world in Christ Jesus.
In the course of the silence after each prayer the people offer their prayers either silently or aloud.
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all who serve the baptized in ministries of oversight, Sacrament, Word, and service. 13
O God,
you provide for your people
by raising up faithful servants of your Word
and stewards of your mysteries.
Grant wisdom and courage to all ministers
who care for and nurture your people,
especially our presiding bishops, Frank and George.
Prosper their work and defend them
that the world might see and know the riches of your grace.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the whole creation: the earth and sky, the rivers and seas, the galaxies beyond our knowing.
O God,
you fill the world with wonders and satisfy the hunger of every living thing.
Forgive us when we hoard your bounty
and abuse the earth for selfish gain.
Open our eyes that we might see
our rightful place in your design
and join creation's song of praise.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for this nation, its leaders, its citizens, the sojourners and the refugees among us.
O God,
look with compassion upon this country,
rich in power, yet lacking wisdom.
Guide those who govern.
Sustain those who work for justice.
Grant to all who come to this land
a full measure of its bounty.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the well-being of the world, the health of its nations, and the welfare of its peoples.
O God,
your ways are just, your paths are peace.
You grieve to see the world at war,
divided by walls, poisoned by hatred.
Fill us with a longing for your righteousness,
until every nation shares in the commonwealth of creation
and each child sleeps in safety and wakens to peace.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the poor, the oppressed, and those who have no helper.
O God,
you come among us as One who is despised.
Draw near to all who are cast aside or ignored.
Incline our ears to hear the cries of those held captive.
Make us bold to break the chains of violence and inequity.
And give us eyes to see you in the least of these,
our brothers and sisters.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for those in need, the sick, the grieving, the lonely and despairing, and those to whom death draws near.
O God,
you are the solace of those in pain,
the comfort of all who mourn,
and the companion of the dying.
Do not forsake those who call upon you.
Surround them with your healing presence
and fill them with your abundant life.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Let us give thanks for the saints in light, those remembered by many, those dear to a few, and those held only in the memory of your love.
Holy God,
you gather your people from the ends of the earth
and feed them with heaven's bread.
In this meal bind us to you
and to the great cloud of witnesses
whose lives reveal the breadth and depth of your mercy.
Silence
God of mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Into your wide and merciful embrace, O God,
we place all for whom we pray,
trusting in your unfailing love
made manifest to us in Jesus,
your Son, our Lord, the Light of the world.
Amen
Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Meal
Offering 14
Presentation of the Gifts I Come With Joy The Hymnal 1982 #304
Great Thanksgiving 15
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right, and good and joyful,
to give you thanks, all-holy God,
source of life and fountain of mercy.
Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh,
you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts,
to give the knowledge of your glory
in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels
and with the faithful of every generation,
we lift our voices with all creation as we sing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, 16 Lutheran Book of Worship, page 89
Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of the universe and giver of life.
You formed us in your own image
and called us to dwell in your infinite love.
You gave the world into our care
that we might be your faithful stewards
and show forth your bountiful grace.
But we failed to honor your image
in one another and in ourselves;
we would not see your goodness in the world around us;
and so we violated your creation,
abused one another,
and rejected your love.
Yet you never ceased to care for us,
and prepared the way of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham and Sarah
you called us into covenant with you.
You delivered us from slavery,
sustained us in the wilderness,
and raised up prophets
to renew your promise of salvation.
Then, in the fullness of time,
you sent your eternal Word,
made mortal flesh in Jesus.
Born into the human family,
and dwelling among us,
he revealed your glory.
Giving himself freely to death on the cross,
he triumphed over evil,
opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night before he died for us,
our Savior Jesus Christ took bread,
and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said:
"Take, eat:
This is my Body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me."
As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine,
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them, and said:
"Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant,
which is poured out for you and for all
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Remembering his death and resurrection,
we now present to you from your creation
this bread and this wine.
By your Holy Spirit may they be for us
the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Grant that we who share these gifts
may be filled with the Holy Spirit
and live as Christ's Body in the world.
Bring us into the everlasting heritage
of your daughters and sons,
that with all your saints,
past, present, and yet to come,
we may praise your Name for ever.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to you be honor, glory, and praise,
for ever and ever.
Amen
Lord's Prayer 17
As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,
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 for ever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread 18
Cordero de Dios . . . Libro de Liturgia y Cántico #240
(O Lamb of God)
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
Communion 19
Here, O Lord, your servants gather Wonder, Love, and Praise #793
We know that Christ is raised The Hymnal 1982 #296
Lutheran Book of Worship #189
Hallelujah! We sing your praises Wonder, Love, and Praise #784
With One Voice #722
Sending
Prayer 20
Let us pray.
God of abundance,
you have fed us
with the bread of life and cup of salvation;
you have united us
with Christ and one another;
and you have made us one
with all your people in heaven and on earth.
Now send us forth
in the power of your Spirit,
that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world
and continue for ever
in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen
Procession to the Font 21
Christ is made the sure foundation The Hymnal 1982 #518
With One Voice #747
Blessing
May Almighty God,
who led the Magi
by the shining of a star to find the Christ,
the Light from Light,
lead you also, in your pilgrimage, to find the Lord.
Amen
May God,
who sent the Holy Spirit
to rest upon the Only-begotten
at his baptism in the Jordan River,
pour out that Spirit on you
who have come to the waters of new birth.
Amen
May God,
by the power that turned water into wine
at the wedding feast at Cana,
transform your lives and make glad your hearts.
Amen
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you for ever.
Amen
Dismissal 22
Let us go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.