Epiphany is Coming – Prayers for the Season

It is another beautiful cold crisp day here in Seattle and I am looking out once more on snow capped mountains.  This morning I am struggling a little because in spite of the fact that we are still in the Christmas season (you know those 12 days of Christmas which the consumer culture tries to convince us come before, not after Christmas Day), my focus is on preparing for the coming season of Epiphany.  In fact if I am entirely honest my focus in the month of January tends to switch from the liturgical calendar to the garden calendar and the preparations that need to be done both for planting and for the upcoming garden seminars.

Wednesday evening is the Eve of Epiphany and commemorates the visit of the magi to Jesus.  It also ushers us into a new season on the church calendar, the season of Epiphany when we are encouraged to Come and see, Come and follow, Go and tell.  A couple of years ago I wrote this liturgy which we will use for morning prayers at the Mustard Seed House during this season.  However I just realized that I have never posted the evening prayers that we will also use over the next few weeks so thought that it was about time to do so:

Evening Prayer for Epiphany

God whose star guided the wise men by night,

Guide us through this night and give us rest

Christ whose light shatters the darkness,

Shatter the darkness within our souls and grant us peace

Spirit whose truth penetrates all shadows,

Penetrate the shadows of our lives and bring us light.

(Pause to give thanks for the ways in which Christ has been revealed to you today and for the ways in which Christ has been revealed to others through you this day)

Jesus Christ today you have revealed yourself to us

You have helped us in times of trouble

You sustained us through our struggles

Jesus Christ today you have revealed yourself to us

You have strengthened us when we were weak

You guided us when we were lost

Jesus Christ today you have revealed yourself to us

You have been with us in the flood and in the storm

You have been with us in the drought and in the chaos

Jesus Christ today you have revealed yourself to us

You have directed our steps to what is right

You have guided our actions to what is true

Thanks be to God today you have revealed yourself to us

Read evening psalms from daily lectionary.

Through Advent we have watched and waited

In Christmas we have found the Messiah

And we have been changed

Now we must follow God’s guiding star

Light to the world, redemption for all people

We can no longer be satisfied with the old life

We must journey deeper into God

May we open our ears to listen

So that we can hear God’s heartbeat

May we open our eyes to watch

So that we can see God’s presence

May we open our minds to believe

So that we can embrace God’s ways

May we open our hearts to trust

So that we can share God’s salvation

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen

Lord Jesus Christ today we have seen you,

In the faces of strangers,

In the cries of the hungry,

In the anguish of the oppressed.

Lord Jesus Christ today we have followed you,

In acts of compassion,

In sharing of generosity,

In standing for justice.

Lord Jesus Christ today we have told others,

Through the beauty of love,

Through the celebration of joy,

Through the transforming of life.

Thanks be to God through us God’s son has been revealed.

(Pause to offer prayers for loved ones near and far)

Lord Jesus Christ, who came as our light and the redeemer of our world, reveal yourself to all those who still live in darkness.  May they see your power at work in their lives and be filled with the hope of your presence.  May they come to follow you our God who is with us and will remain with us this night and always.

Amen