Morning Worship for Epiphany, 8 January 2023

This week, 8 January, there are services of Holy Communion for Epiphany at 9.30am at St Bartholomew, Burstow, at 10am at St Mary the Virgin, Horne; and at 11am at St John the Baptist, Outwood. Then there is Café Church in Smallfield Church Hall at 3pm. And as always, there is an online service here, too, which this week is led by the Revd Charles Sargent

To follow today’s online service just click on the arrow here and find the words below.

As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped, to that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before him whom heav’n and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet ever seek thy mercy-seat.

As their precious gifts they laid, at thy manger roughly made,
So may we with holy joy, pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.

Holy Jesu, ev’ry day keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heav’nly country bright need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown, thou its sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing alleluias to our King.

William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) alt.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Collect prayer for Epiphany

O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The readings
by Sue Wates

The first reading is Isaiah 60: 1-6

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel reading is Matthew 2: 1-12

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Talk
by Revd Charles Sargent

Anthem
‘We have seen his star’
Text from Matthew 2, music written by Roger Hind in 2019 for the choir of the Windmill Benefice on the 300^th anniversary of the death of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal and Rector of Burstow 1684-1719. Recorded at Burstow on 5 January 2020

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of Herod the king.
Behold, there came wise men from the East, saying:

Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the East
and are come to worship him.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said:
Go and seek diligently for the young child.
And when you have found him, bring me word again,
that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed;
and lo the star, which they saw in the East,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding joy.
We have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.

The Prayers

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessing

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar;
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.