Epiphany Sunday
Sunday, January 7, 2024 – 10 a.m.

“The path to love and peace my friends, by following its light.”
– Pete Seeger, “Star Carol”

Our live stream begins here at 10 a.m.

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS – Talia Raymond

A MOMENT FOR ENLISTMENT – Jeremy Archer

PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

READING – “Wise Women Also Came” by Jan Richardson, read by Mary Fukuyama and Shirell Hix

Wise women also came.
The fire burned in their wombs long before they saw the flaming star in the sky.
They walked in shadows, trusting the path would open under the light of the moon.

Wise women also came, seeking no directions, no permission from any king.
They came by their own authority, their own desire, their own longing.
They came in quiet, spreading no rumors, sparking no fears to lead to innocents’ slaughter, to their sister Rachel’s inconsolable lamentations.

Wise women also came, and they brought useful gifts:
water for labor’s washing, fire for warm illumination, a blanket for swaddling.
Wise women also came, at least three of them,
holding Mary in the labor, crying out with her in the birth pangs,
breathing ancient blessings into her ear.

Wise women also came,
and they went, as wise women always do,
home a different way.                                                         

OPENING SONG – “Star Carol” 

‘Twas on a night like this
a little babe was born.
The shepherds gathered round
to guard him ‘til the dawn.
Above them shone a star,
A star so wondrous bright.
That never once in all these years
have we seen one half so bright.

Chorus:
Shining so brightly
Shining so truly
Guiding our footsteps from afar
it led us through the night.
The path to love and peace my friends
by following its light.

Oh come with us tonight
and join us on our way,
for we have found again that star
to guide a better day.
And though throughout the land
we search the skies in vain
yet turned our glance within our hearts
we would find that star again.
Chorus:

TIME WITH CHILDREN & BIRTHDAYS – The Story of Epiphany: “Home by Another Way: A Christmas Story” by Barbara Brown Taylor, illustrated by Melanie Cataldo, offered by Rev. Talia Raymond

INTERLUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERING – “Home By Another Way” by James Taylor and Timothy Mayer, offered by David Evans, guitar; Alan Hill, bass

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READING – “Those Stars That Turn In Us” by Jan Richardson — Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

I do not know
how to keep it all together
or by what patterns
this world might
finally hold.

What I know is that
our hearts are bigger
than this sky
that wheels above us

and what shines
through all this darkness
shines through us,
setting every shattered thing
into a new constellation

and we can turn
our faces
to that light,
to the grace of
those stars
that turn in us.

Sung Response: “As With Gladness, Those of Old”

As with gladness those of old did the guiding star behold; as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright; so, true Morning Star, may we evermore your splendor see.

SCRIPTURE – Isaiah 60:1-8 – Rev. Talia Raymond

SERMON – “Directions, Please” – Rev. Talia Raymond

MEDITATIVE MUSIC – Offered by Mary Fukuyama, flute; Shirell Hix, piano

Poems by Jan Richardson read for meditation:

• “Blessing in the Chaos”
• “Blessing of the Gate”
• “When Fire Comes to Sing in You”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

HYMN – “Arise, Your Light is Come” 

BENEDICTION – “Every Bright Thing” by Jan Richardson                                 
ONE:   If I could write this blessing backwards,
I would begin it at the end.
I would start it from that far place where I could show you
every bright thing that lies ahead for you,
radiant in its wholeness and complete in its own joy.

For now, all I can offer
is this blessing that begins here —
in the gap,
in the hollow,
in the hope
that tells us
this is how a blessing becomes;

ALL:   This is how a blessing
is made —
from the broken things we travel with from here.
Amen.
ALLELUIA

Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!