Feast of the Epiphany and Blessing of
Miracle Margaret Joyner
Welcome and Theme
Opening Prayer
We begin our ceremony with a prayer to
the Source of all Life.
O Holy One, you continually remind us
that you love your creation by sending us brand new possibilities in the form
of daughters and sons. May Miracle grow
in her understanding of your infinite love as she learns the meaning of faith
through service. May she come to appreciate her possibilities as co-creator of
her life in You. Amen.
Opening Song: How Could Anyone by
Libby Roderick
How could anyone ever tell you
You were anything less than beautiful
How could anyone ever tell you
You were less than whole
How could anyone fail to notice
That your loving is a miracle
How deeply you’re connected to my soul
Repeat
Anointing of Miracle
Kim: This blessing begins with a
statement of intent on the part of Kyra Burke and the godparents Britt
Pollatolo and Tyler Burke. Miracle is too young to speak for herself so her mom
and godparents will speak on her behalf. I invite Kyra and Miracle to stand
with Britt and Tyler. Kyra what do you ask of this community?
Kyra: I ask that this community
celebrate and bless my daughter Miracle.
Kim: Kyra this community welcomes the
opportunity to bless Miracle. We also want to acknowledge and bless you as her
mother. Just as you gave birth to her that same birth created you as a mother.
Will you also accept the blessing of this community?
Kyra: Yes I will.
Kim: Kyra you are teaching Miracle to
live justly, to love tenderly and to walk with integrity for all to see and
celebrate. You are teaching her about our brother Jesus and his message of
love. You also are teaching her the truth and beauty found in all spiritual
traditions. Will you continue to do this to the best of your ability?
Kyra: Yes I will.
Kim: (to the godparents) Britt and
Tyler do you promise to help Kyra to teach Miracle about the source of all life
and about Jesus our brother and about the spirit of the Holy One within her?
Britt and Tyler: We do.
Kim: At the dawn of creation God
breathed on the waters making them the wellspring of all holiness. From age to
age oil has been used to anoint priests, prophets, leaders and visionaries.
Kim: (to all present) Please extend
your hands in blessing the water and the oil. The Holy One calls us to be
co-creators of a world filled with miracles. As co-creators with you we bless
this water and oil as symbols of your grace-filled presence in this community.
Kim: (presiders and godparents anoint
Miracle and Kyra; Kyra anoints Miracle) Kyra and Miracle you were created in
love and welcomed to life with love. We anoint you with this oil in recognition
that human love is sacred, that you are sacred.
Kim: I invite you, family and friends
to extend your hands and take this moment to anoint Miracle and Kyra with a
silent blessing.
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!
Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of
their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you
see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be
emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought
to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the
LORD.
This is a reading from the prophet
Isaiah and the community affirms these words by saying: Amen
Alleluia
Gospel Reading
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in
Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the
Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and
the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ
was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of
Judea,
for thus it has been written through
the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers
of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of
the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the
child.
When you have found him, bring me
word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king
they set out.
And behold, the star that they had
seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the
place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the
star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his
mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him
homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not
to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by
another way.
These are the inspired words from the
authors known as Matthew and the community affirms these words by saying: Amen
Community pauses for silent reflection
on the readings
Homily: Feast of the Epiphany 2020
Kim Panaro ARCWP
Today is the Feast of the Epiphany.
The story of the 3 Wise Men, 3 Kings or Magi from the East is a familiar tale.
It is the stuff that holiday songs and nativity scenes are made of. Most certainly not an actual historic event,
what can we see through the eyes of 21 century faith. Why would the writer we call Matthew have
crafted a story about Jesus’ encounter with men from differing cultures and
religious traditions?
There is much academic debate on who
the Magi were. Scholars believe that they would most likely have been wealthy
astrologers from what is now the region of Iraq and Iran. The Magi practiced a combination of modern
astronomy and astrology. They knew about ancient Hebrew prophecy but they were
Gentiles that represented a variety of ethnic and racial groups. Their religious tradition was likely
Zoroastrianism. They believed in the discernment of truth through studying the
movement of the stars and the interpretation of dreams. The Jewish leaders did
not approve of these practices because it took God’s intention and plans out of
the equation in favor of the presumed randomness of natural events. The Magi
often consulted with Roman authorities and so the consultation with Herod is
believable. Interestingly, after they encountered Jesus, they still trusted in
the truth of their dreams instead of their pact with Herod. Thus, they returned
home by a different road. Listening to the still small voice of God in their
dreams they made a wise decision.
Matthew seems to be challenging
religious and political agendas. The
Romans and the Jews in this period were all waiting for a strong leader to be
born to lead their people to victory in the known world. Well, the Magi’s
recognition of Jesus as an embodiment of the Christ challenges the listener to
understand that God has introduced a new plan for humankind. The Magi followed
their own tradition of reading the stars and interpreting dreams to encounter
the child who would be called king, divine and martyr. This is the meaning of
the 3 specific gifts. When their homage was over, they did not convert to
Judaism. They remained astrologers. They stayed true to their own path to
spiritual truth. In doing so, they also protected the vulnerable child Jesus.
Herod’s plot to destroy the Christ child was foiled by faithful astrologers.
In our day, we see that same Christ
child threatened. The children living in cages on our southern borders, the
refugees in Syria, the babies in the Iraq and Iran, the Ukraine, the West Bank
and Gaza. It goes on and on. Yet, like
the Magi, we are each called to be Wise Men and Women who discern the call of
the Holy one to protect and defend the divine Christ light in every person
Matthew demonstrates that race, religion and country of origin are irrelevant
in God’s plan for a just and compassionate world. Just as the Magi did not
collude with Herod’s plan to hold on to power by spilling innocent blood, we
must do the same. We must actively and intentionally seek ways to thwart the
efforts of those who would harm these children, young and old, for their own
greedy intentions. Today we bless
another embodiment of the Christ light, Miracle Joyner. She, like Jesus, is a spark of the divine.
Our blessing today does not add to that Light. No, it is a recognition that
once again, Emmanuel is with us in the form of a human baby. Just as Jesus had his mother Mary, Miracle
has her mother Kyra. She will need her family and community to teach her how to
hear her own voice, the voice of the Holy One and to follow her unique call.
She, like Matthew, demonstrates to the world that God’s kin-dom is here and
now. It is not reserved for any race, religion, country, or gender. In a troubled world full of Herod’s it is
easy to become overwhelmed. The beauty
of community is that none is called to do it all, but all are called to do
something. On this Epiphany Sunday we
recognize the divine spark in Jesus, in Miracle, in refugees worldwide and all
people.
Receiving of Candles
Kim: Kyra may this candle remind you
of Jesus who opened people’s minds and hearts to see the light of God’s
presence within them. Miracle may this candle remind you of Jesus who opened
people’s minds and hearts to see the light of God’s presence within them.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presider 1: As we prepare for
this sacred meal we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us.
As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and
concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words,
“I bring to the table…..”
Presider 1: We pray for these and all
unspoken intentions. Amen.
Presider 2: With open hearts and
hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:
(written by Jay Murnane)
All: Holy One, you are continually
creating the universe, continually giving birth to all of us. We sense the need
to do the same, to set ourselves free from a sense of emptiness and barren
hopelessness.
We celebrate you as the Source of
light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care. We
give thanks, and joined with your vision of harmony and peace, we sing:
Blessed be our God!
Blessed be our God!
Joy of our hearts, source of all life
and love!
God of Heaven and Earth!
God of Heaven and Earth!
Dwelling within, calling us all by
name!
Alleluia, sing!
Alleluia, sing!
Gift of love and peace!
Gift of love and peace!
Jesus Christ, Jesus our hope and
light!
A flame of faith in our hearts!
A flame of faith in our hearts!
Proclaiming the day, shining
throughout the night!
Alleluia, sing!
Alleluia, sing!
(Alleluia Sing by David Haas)
Your wisdom invites us to draw on our
tradition, as old as the stars, shining through Sarah and Abraham, shining
through your prophets in every age and every culture. We join that
enlightening, enlivening tradition with what we are as we risk fidelity to a
dream.
Filled with your spirit, we, like
Jesus, can give birth in our day to your living word for the sake of hope
enfleshed in creativity and confrontation, healing and reconciliation, justice,
universal and unconditional love.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: We are grateful for your Spirit
at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us of our
call to be the body of Christ in the world.
Presiders stand at table
All: On the night before he faced his
own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them,
and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
Presider 1 lifts plate as the
community prays the following:
When he returned to his place at the
table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it
to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self.
(pause)
Presider 2 lifts the cup as community
prays the following:
Then he took the cup of the covenant,
spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you.
(pause)
Let us share this bread and cup to
proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.
Holy One, we dare again to dream the
ancient dreams and open ourselves to marvelous visions. There are mountains of
arrogance to lower, valleys of fear and separation to fill in, to create a
community and communion that stretches throughout our consciousness and around
our world.
In this way, working to renew the face
of the earth, we are opened up to your Spirit, the Spirit of light and life and
love born in Jesus.
For it is through his life and
teaching, all honor and glory is yours, Holy One, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Presider 2: Let us pray as Jesus
taught us:
Holy One who is within, around and
among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever, Amen.
Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter
Presider 1: Please join in our prayer
for the breaking of the bread:
All:
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly.
You call us to be Your presence in the
world. We will love tenderly.
You call us to speak truth to
power. We will walk with integrity in
your presence.
(Presiders hold up bread and
wine)
Presiders: "This is the bread of
life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each
other.
All:
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we
share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s
challenge.
Presider 1: Our Eucharistic celebration
is all-inclusive and nothing can separate us from God’s love. All are welcome
to receive at this table. Please pass
the gluten-free bread and the alcohol-free juice with the words: “Love shines
in you!”
Communion Song /Meditation
Christ Be Our Light
By Bernadette Farrell
BLESSING
Presider 1: Please extend your hands
and pray our blessing together.
May you always remember that the Source
of All lives as a divine spark within you to inspire, renew and uplift you and
all that you meet along your journey. ALL: AMEN
Sofia’s Blessing written by Mary Anne
Nolan
Closing
Presider 1: As we close this liturgy,
Miracle and Kyra will bless us as we have blessed them with the sprinkling of
water. Let us affirm Miracle by singing her favorite song to her, You Are My
Sunshine by Jimmy Davis
Blessing is based on Baptismal Rite
written by Mary Theresa Streck D.Min
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