Epiphany
Eve
As We Gather
Epiphany is a time for us to celebrate that Jesus is
made known to us as Savior and Lord. He was revealed to the Wise Men as “King
of the Jews.” We know Him as King of the Universe, Lord of the Church, and King
of Heaven. He is not only the babe born
in Bethlehem
Hymn
~ “As with Gladness Men of Old”................................. Page
379
Entrance
Hymn ~
“Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure”
.......................... Page 533
Hymn
of Praise “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” Page 399
(Service Note: This ancient hymn titled “Herodes hostis impie” was written by Coelius
Sedulius in about A.D. 450. Luther
published the German translation “Was
fuercht'st du, Feind Herodes, sehr?” in one of the first hymnals of the
Reformation, Geistliche Lieder in the
town of Wittenberg
Collect
of the Day
P ... O
God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the
Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of
Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Reading
from the Book of Concord -
The
Formula of Concord
We believe, teach, and confess that God’s
Son from eternity has been a particular, distinct, entire, divine person. Yet He is true, essential, perfect God with
the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the
fullness of time He received also the human nature into the unity of His
person. He did not do this in such a way
that there are now two persons or two Christs. Christ Jesus is now in one
person at the same time true, eternal God, born of the Father from eternity,
and a true man, born of the most blessed Virgin Mary. This is written in Romans 9:5, “from their
race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed
forever.”
Readings
from Holy Scripture
Old
Testament Reading Isaiah
60:1–6
1Arise,
shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2For
behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord
will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3And
nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4Lift
up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the
hip.
5Then
you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be
turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6A
multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
Epistle
Reading Ephesians
3:1–12
1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus
on behalf of you Gentiles—2assuming that you have heard of the
stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3how the
mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4When
you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which
was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been
revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This
mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and
partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7Of this gospel I was made a
minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the
working of his power. 8To me, though I am the very least of all the
saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of
the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10so that
through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the
rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according
to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in
whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Verse
P Alleluia.
Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?
C For we saw his star when it rose and have
come to worship him. Alleluia.
Holy
Gospel Matthew
2:1–12
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the
days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying,
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it
rose and have come to worship him.” 3When Herod the king heard this,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
6“‘And
you, O Bethlehem, in the land
of Judah
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel
7Then Herod summoned the wise men
secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8And
he sent them to Bethlehem
HYMN
~ “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”.............. Page 395
(Service Note: Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608) was a
pastor in Germany
Sermon
They
Fell Down and Worshiped Him
Matthew 2:1–12
Offertory
~ “O God of God, O Light of Light” ................. Page 810
Distribution Hymns
“Arise and Shine in Splendor”..................................................... Page
396
“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”....................................................... Page
398
Post-Communion
Canticle
“Brightest and Best of the Stars of
the Morning”................ Page 400
Post-Communion
Collect.................................................................... Page
166
Benediction................................................................................................. Page
166
Hymn ~ “The People That in Darkness Sat”........................ Page 412
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