Epiphany 1B

Confession, you know us — Cara Heafey, UK

Confession and assurance God of love, you know us inside and out. With you there is no point in hiding or pretending. You invite us into your presence, and we come as we are. We confess that we often forget to listen for your voice. That moments of stillness are few. We hurry about with […]

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On Epiphany day — Walter Brueggemann

Note: this piece may be attached to a copyright; apologies if this is the case. We are still the people walking. We are still people in the dark, and the darkness looms large around us, beset as we are by fear, anxiety, brutality, violence, loss — a dozen alienations that we cannot manage. We are […]

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When the Road Seems Closed, a prayer — David Long-Higgins, USA

Loving God, Grant me a vision Greater than any barricade Daring me to despair At signs screaming out ‘No possible way forward, This road is closed.’ Yes, lift up my eyes To Your emerging light Stretching a horizon of hope Bearing Your resurrection rising Larger than any obstruction Of the world’s weary making Or of […]

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Reflection & confession of the Magi — Jim Burklo, USA

Reflection of the Magi A Christmas & Epiphany Poem What wisdom I have Awakens me to my blindness. I cannot see light itself What I know of light Is only an alluring shadow Of what it is and does. From billions of years away in space-time, Through darkness intervening, At its inconceivable speed The light […]

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Bend me toward Bethlehem — David Long-Higgins

O Love, Like wise ones of old Bend me toward Bethlehem And every place of birth Where You saturate earth And world with joy Surprising sleepy shepherds Of one kind or another. Wake me from slumbers Of every sort Daring to distract me From Your grand gift Poured again and again Through heavens torn Revealing […]

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A letter to Melchior — Duncan Wilson, UK

Post-Christmas correspondence from a shepherd to a traveler from the East Dear Melchior, Greetings from all of us. We trust you made the journey home safely and didn’t run into any of Herod’s lot because terrible things happened after you left! When you and your friends didn’t report back to him after your visit to […]

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Acts 19.1-17, The disciples were baptised, drama — Ana Gobledale, UK

Scripture     Acts 19:1-7  adapted from the New Revised Standard Version Readers:  Storyteller, Paul and 1 or 2 Disciples Storyteller:  While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. Paul had this conversation with the disciples: Paul:  Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you […]

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Epiphany

Wise ones… Magi… Kings, queens, rulers… Astronomers… What words do we use to tell the story of those traveling from the east? Those arriving with gifts? Those growing in wisdom as a result of encountering the Presence of Love?   Worship resources for Epiphany — an alphabetical listing  (Further resources for the Epiphany Season are listed […]

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There you are — Sam Goodman, UK

There you are In quieter moments In fragile sunrises In delicate tapestries There you are In words of encouragement In the tenderest touch In a subtle embrace There you are In sweeping majesty In roaring oceans In crashing thunder There you are In a stable On a cross In hope you are there

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Plough (Plow) Sunday – blessing the land

Plough Sunday is held annually the Sunday before ploughing commences. In English tradition, taking into account the warmer clime and Northern Hemisphere location, Plough (Plow) Sunday is held on the Sunday after Epiphany, the Sunday between 7-13 January. Farmers arrive in farm carts and tractors, carrying a ploughshare (a section of the plough’s blade) which […]

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Epiphany sending out and blessing — Cary Heafey, UK

Originally written for Epiphany Sunday, Year C. Let us look for Christ wherever we go Let us never stop seeking Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome   And may the love of the Creator The joy of the Spirit And the peace of the […]

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