A moment of contemplation for yourself or on behalf of others on everything from the life-altering to the mundane.


Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Prayers of the People: Epiphany!


              EPIPHANY! 

      The dictionary definition is a sudden intuitive understanding; an appearance of God. For Christians, it is the celebration of the sudden appearance or manifestation of Jesus.  The traditional image for many are the "Three Kings", the "Magi", or "The Wise Men" who traveled to present their offerings in recognition of the Divinity of the Infant and unwittingly giving Herod a heads up that something dangerous to his power was nearby.  The travelers' gifts were symbolic of their understanding of the momentous occasion of the long-awaited birth of the King of the Jews:  gold to symbolize Kingship, the sweet burning frankincense honors the Child's Divinity, and the bitter myrrh as a foretelling of what is to come. 

        Once a significant marker of the end of the Christmas season as the Twelfth Night, in recent times the "holiday" celebration of Epiphany is more often merely a mention on the calendar. There is the occasional parish that centers on children and youth searching for the token inside a "Three Kings Cake."  It's time for us to engage again.  The glory of God is with us!  Let us each experience an Epiphany and grow along with this Holy Child.  Find the Light of Christ, even if only a single beam, and Follow.  Where is the Star leading YOU?

Prayers of the People 2nd Sunday after Christmas, Readings for Epiphany
Readings:  Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Mt 2:1-12

~ Holy Child of God, the darkness of our past is pierced by the brightness of Your dawn.  Lift our eyes to see, and open our hearts to feel the blessings of Your Radiance.

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, You have come to us that we may rejoice in the blessings You bring and flourish in Your love as we humbly and gratefully serve You. 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, the Wisest of the Wise came to You with profound joy to acknowledge this auspicious Birth.  May those who govern in our names also come to You to receive and deliver Your Rich Wisdom to this world with peace, justice, and mercy, and rid the world of brutality, poverty, and despair.  We pray especially for those we have elected for our local and national positions: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, shine Your Healing Light on those who are ill and on those who love and care for them. Shield them from fear and pain and guide them to Your peace and comfort.  We pray especially for: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, even in our Joy at Your Sacred Birth, we are saddened by the loss of those we love.  Shepherd us through our grief and warm our hearts with Your Grace until we come to know that those we mourn live again with You. We prayer especially for: (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, sanctify the Leaders of Your Church and give them Your Vision and Strength to defend the poor and provide deliverance to the needy.  Let Your Leaders enfold and embolden the rest of us to live our lives in order to prosper all of Your People, for Your Glory and with all confidence in our Faith in You.  We pray especially for:  (add your petitions here) 

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.

~ Holy Child of God, we know we are precious in Your sight.  Let us feel the Love in Your Holy Heart written on our own from the rising of Your Star until the moon is no more.

Blessed Child, Your Star has risen! All the Glory of God is upon You and through You to all of us together.
 

The Celebrant adds:  Blessed and Holy Child of God, Your Glittering Star shows itself again as the Compass for our lives.  Let us follow the Light of Your Guidance to fulfill God’s Perfect Mystery for our lives and seek the bold path that will lead us to Eternal Life.  We ask this through Your Grace and for the Glory of God and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

 





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