THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME
The First Sunday After Epiphany:
The Baptism of Our Lord
January 12, 2025
THE WORD OF GOD
Opening Hymn: Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies #7
The Opening Acclamation BCP p. 355
Presider: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Purity BCP p. 355
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Reading Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 36: 5-10
5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep;
you save both man and beast, O Lord.
7 How priceless is your love, O God!
your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast upon the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the well of life,
and in your light we see light.
10 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you,
and your favor to those who are true of heart.
Second Reading I Corinthians 12:1-11
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn Blessed Be the God of Israel #444
The Holy Gospel John 2:1-11
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Giving thanks for God’s great gifts, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.
You breathe new Life into your church. Inspire the body of Christ to rejoice in and make good use of the various gifts and vocations with which you have entrusted it. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
You are the Word that brings forth life. Guide us to be good stewards of all plant and animal life entrusted to our care. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
In your light we see light. Shine on the path for all nations to seek peace, justice, and the well-being of all your children. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
You are a refuge to those in peril. Grant help, healing, and wholeness to all who are in need of your care. We pray especially for refugees, for Christians being persecuted for their faith, and for the sick, especially Cathy, Deon, Helena, Holly, Jeanne, Lee, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Pat, Ray, Ron, Zach, and others? (pause). Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Bless the leaders of this congregation. Help them to use their gifts to the glory of your holy name. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give thanks for the faithful departed, especially Bob Rydell, who have gone to join the marriage feast that has no end. May their lives inspire us to trust always in your promise of eternal life. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all of your beloved for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Confession of Sin
Most merciful God,
We confess that have sinned against you
In thought, word, and deed,
By what we have done,
And by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
Have mercy on us and forgive us;
That we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
To the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer BCP p. 364
A Prayer For Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive The Sacrament
Dear Lord Jesus,
I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion.
I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come at least spiritually into my heart.
As I trust that you have already come,
I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you.
Never let me be separated from you,
that I may love and serve you with all my being,
and at the last day, be welcomed into your kingdom. Amen
Closing Hymn Go Forth For God #347
The Blessing
May the peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and may the blessing of God Almighty:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with us, and remain with us always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Presider: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.