Sunday School, January 6, 2019 The Epiphany C
The Wise-men and the Epiphany
The Epiphany ends the Christmas Season and begins the
Epiphany Season in the Church Year
What does Epiphany mean?
It is a great discovery.
Think about the time that you have found something special and said, “Wow!” Or you read something and learned how to do
something new and it changed your life.
When little baby learn how to speak or walk it is a great Epiphany. Why? When
a baby learns how to walk they no longer want to be held as much and they want
their freedom to go wherever they want to go.
When you discover something really wonderful, it can change
your life because it gives you new ability to do new things and act
differently.
The story about the Wise-men coming to visit the baby Jesus
is the story about foreigners who were not born in the country of Jesus but who
came to honor the birth of someone who was to be the king of their hearts. The foreigners in the early church were
called Gentiles, this means they were not born into Jewish families. Many Gentiles were excited to have the birth
of Christ happen inside of their hearts and the story of the three Wise-men celebrates the fact that many Gentiles came to know the birth of Christ.
The birth of Christ into the lives of anyone who wants to
know it is the meaning of The Epiphany and the Season of Epiphany.
Sermon:
Once upon a time in a desert area, people came to live. It is hard to live in a desert because of the
lack of water.
One day, a certain tribe of people discovered a cave and
when they went deep into the cave, they found a great underground river of
water. They were so excited to find such
a great source of water, but they wanted to keep the water a secret. So, they carried buckets of water out for
themselves and they put guards at the entrance of the cave to stop other people
from discovering their secret. When the
tribe met, they told everyone to keep their cave water a secret or it would be
stolen by others.
The members of the tribe watched the other tribes around
them suffer because they did not have enough water, but they kept their
secret.
One day the children of the tribe began to talk with each
other. They played with children in the
other tribes and they saw how they suffered because they did not have enough
water. The children from the other
tribes asked them, “How come you are so healthy and get enough to drink? How do you water all of your plants to grow
such big gardens?” But the children who
had the water had to keep the secret, but they soon began to feel guilty when
they saw the other children suffer. They decided to do something.
At the next tribal meeting, the children ask the oldest
child to speak for them. He said, “Members
of the tribe, we children have seen the suffering of the other children and their
parents because they don’t have enough water.
And we’ve seen the endless source of water in the cave. And we know that they only right thing to do
is to share it with others and find a way to bring it to others to help them. Water is so necessary that it should be
available to everyone.”
The older members of the family were embarrassed by their hoarding
the water. On that day they voted to
share the water with everyone. They
found a way to bring the water to the surface in great amounts and build
adquaducts to share it far and wide.
When you have something good and necessary, you have to
share it with everyone.
This is the meaning of the Epiphany. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the birth
of Christ into our hearts does not just belong to us; it belongs to anyone who
wants to know the joy of God living close in their hearts.
The Epiphany means the birth of Christ must be shared not
only to the foreign wisemen but to everyone..
Amen.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 6, 2019: The
Epiphany
Gathering Songs: We Three Kings, The King of Glory, The Lord
Is My Light, When the Saints Go Marching In
Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Liturgist: Oh God,
Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship
you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song: We Three Kings, (Blue Hymnal, # 128)
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse
afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. Refrain: O
star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading,
still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him
again, King for ever, ceasing never over us all to reign. Refrain
Liturgist: The
Lord be with you.
People: And
also with you.
Liturgist: Let us
pray
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son
to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your
presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia
O God, you are Great!
Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Alleluia
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah
Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill
and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the
wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and
shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
All kings shall bow down before him, * and all the nations
do him service.
For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
and the oppressed who has no helper.
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; * he shall
preserve the lives of the needy.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to
God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks
be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of
our friends and parish family.
Thanks be to God!
Liturgist: The
Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the
child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its
rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he
was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to
be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written
by the prophet: `And you, Bethlehem, in
the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from
you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men
and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent
them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and
when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him
homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of
them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the
place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were
overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his
mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure
chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having
been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country
by another road.
Liturgist: The
Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise
to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon – Father Phil
Children’s Creed
We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father
is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus,
son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the
life, death and
resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy
Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church
where everyone is
welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve
us forever. Amen.
Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.
For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have
mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have
mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in
our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have
mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have
mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have
mercy.
For the forgiveness of all our sins. Christ, have mercy.
Youth Liturgist: The
Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving
of an offering
The King of Glory (Renew!
# 267)
Refrain: The King of Glory comes the nation rejoices. Open the gates before him, lift up your
voices.
Who is the king of glory, how shall we call him? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. Refrain
In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his
people curing their illness. Refrain
Sing then of David’s son, our savior and brother; in all of
Galilee was never another. Refrain
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all
creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost.
Prologue to the Eucharist
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong
the kingdom of God.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to
his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made
us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all
of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might. Heav’n 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. Hosanna in the Highest.
All may gather around the altar
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to
live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob
and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured
by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this
Holy Meal so that when we eat
the bread and drink
the wine, we can know that the Presence
of Christ is as near to us as
this food and
drink that becomes a part of us.
And so, Father, we
bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy
Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so
that we may love God and our neighbor.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the
blessing, broke the bread, 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."
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and
said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which
is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we
eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the
life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in
our future.
Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a
special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ. May we forever live with praise to God to
whom we belong as sons and daughters.
By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
is yours, Almighty
Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,
Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.
Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.
And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.
Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.
Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy
name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Alleluia!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore
let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Words of Administration
Communion Hymn: The Lord Is My Light (Renew! # 102)
The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: in Him I
trust, in Him I trust.
Post-Communion Prayer
Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus
asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and
the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and
brothers
and sisters in
Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that
the blessing in the
bread and wine
spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Closing Song: When the Saints Go Marching In (Christian
Children’s Songbook # 248)
Oh when the saints, go marching in. O when the saints go marching in. Lord I want to be in that number, when the
saints go marching in.
O when the boys go marching in…
O when the girls go marching in…
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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