Call to worship
Wise God, you are older than the ages, and you dance in the sunlight
and you love us
Wise God, you shared your bread with strangers and you welcomed little children
and you understand us
Wise God, you wrestle with the powerful and you comfort those who need you
and you disturb us
Wise God shining in darkness, you are felt by those who love you; found by those who seek you
we are here to meet with you.
Candle Lighting
In moving toward the light our lives come into focus and some of what we see is what we would rather keep hidden.
May we receive grace in the gentle light of love,
May we offer each other patience on the slow journey of leaning into light.
May we welcome the revelations of divine love,
letting go of fear and living intriguing lives of freedom and forgiveness.
Touching base
A Musical moment to pause and enjoy
Prayer of Confession
Prepare our hearts to receive you, gentle Christ, by showing us the barriers and obstacles we place in your way:
Open our eyes to our habits of fear, of avoidance and defensiveness; Open our eyes to the ways we resist your tender mercy, insisting we do not deserve or must somehow repay you for love;
Open our eyes to the generosity of your heart, to the fullness of your goodness and the everlasting wellspring of your faithfulness to us and to all creation.
Teach us; show us; grow in us a deep trust that you love us as we are, that you meet us where we are and that you journey with us, drawing us into the flow of grace, healing and peace.
May it be so within our hearts; may it be so among us.
Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 2:1-12
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.
Reflection
Come and see
Communion
Long ago our tradition says, Jesus came in the humble birth of a child,
a child of amazing and divine love,
a child of Mary’s ‘yes’ to you,
a child of Joseph’s acceptance,
a child of our humanity.
All We pledge ourselves to be embodiments of the life and love revealed in him and living within us.
Long ago our tradition says, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said: ‘This bread is broken, as my body will be’.
Bread is broken
And he handed it to his friends inviting them to eat:
‘Remember me whenever you do this’.
Long ago our tradition says, Jesus poured a cup of wine,
offered thanks for it, and gave it to his friends:
Wine poured out
‘This wine is poured out as my life will be poured out.
As you drink remember me’.
It is through the goodness and effort of others, that
we have this bread and wine to offer…
bread, that was once scattered as grain in a paddock
and gathered together and baked into a loaf;
wine, that was once grapes grown on a hillside
and gathered together and pressed into juice.
Prayer after communion
Loving God, We thank you for feeding us, body, mind, heart and soul. May we live each day in the unforced rhythms of your grace. Amen
Prayers of the people
Blessing
May God’s freely-given favour
Christ’s self-giving love
And the Holy Spirit’s constant companionship
remain with each of us now and into eternity.
Amen.
