Music and Liturgy for Epiphany

Today (Monday 14th) at 6pm we have Andy Salmon and the HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholars exploring Music and Liturgy for the Season of Epiphany. We'll be sharing it live on our HeartEdge Facebook page or if you're in the area pop in to Sacred Trinity Church in Salford. We will share the video afterwards.

These are the words for the songs, so that you can sing along.

Words for the Hymns.

 

Christ is our light!

 

1          Christ is our light! the bright and morning star
            covering with radiance all from near and far.
            Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray         
            into our hearts, into our world today.

2          Christ is our love! baptized that we may know
            the love of God among us, swooping low.
            Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face
            and see in you the light of heaven's embrace.†

3          Christ is our joy! transforming wedding guest!
            Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
            Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
            as your disciples did in Galilee.

Leith Fisher (1941-2009)

 

In our darkness light has shone

1          In our darkness light has shone,
                        Alleluia ,
            still today the light shines on,
                        Alleluia ;
            Word made flesh in human birth,
                        Alleluia ,
            Light and Life of all the earth,
                        Alleluia !

2          Christ the Son incarnate see,
                        Alleluia ,
            by whom all things came to be,
                        Alleluia ;
            through the world his splendours shine,
                        Alleluia ,
            full of grace and truth divine,
                        Alleluia !

3          All who now in him believe,
                        Alleluia ,
            everlasting life receive,
                        Alleluia ;
            born of God and in his care,
                        Alleluia ,
            we his Name and nature share,
                        Alleluia !

4          Christ a child on earth appears,
                        Alleluia ,
            crown of all creation's years,
                        Alleluia ;
            God's eternal Word has come,
                        Alleluia ,
            he shall lead his people home,
                        Alleluia !

Timothy Dudley-Smith (born 1926) from John 1

 

A Song of the New Jerusalem (Epiphany)

1    Arise, shine out, for your light has come,  ♦

the glory of the Lord is rising upon you.

2    Though night still covers the earth,  ♦

and darkness the peoples;

3    Above you the Holy One arises,  ♦

and above you God’s glory appears.

4    The nations will come to your light,  ♦

and kings to your dawning brightness.

5    Your gates will lie open continually,  ♦

shut neither by day nor by night.

6    The sound of violence shall be heard no longer in your land,  ♦

or ruin and devastation within your borders.

7    You will call your walls, Salvation,  ♦

and your gates, Praise.

8    No more will the sun give you daylight,  ♦

nor moonlight shine upon you;

9    But the Lord will be your everlasting light,  ♦

your God will be your splendour.

10  For you shall be called the city of God,  ♦

the dwelling of the Holy One of Israel.

 

 

Lord Jesus Christ – Taize

Lord Jesus Christ your light shines within us.

Let not my doubts nor my darkness speak to me.

Lord Jesus Christ your light shines within us.

Let my heart always welcome your love.

 

 

We shall draw water joyfully

 

We shall draw water joyfully, singing joyfully, singing joyfully,

We shall draw water joyfully from the wellsprings of salvation.

 

Truly God is our salvation;

we trust, we shall not fear.

For the Lord is our strength, our song; He bacame our Saviour.

 

Give thanks, O give thanks to the Lord; give praise to His holy Name!

make His mighty deeds known

to all of the nations,

proclaim His greatness.

 

Jesus, come! for we invite you

1          Jesus, come! for we invite you,
            Guest and Master, Friend and Lord;
            now, as once at Cana's wedding,
            speak, and let us hear your word:
            lead us through our need or doubting,
            hope be born and joy restored.

2          Jesus, come! transform our pleasures,
            guide us into paths unknown;
            bring your gifts, command your servants,
            let us trust in you alone:
            though your hand may work in secret,
            all shall see what you have done.

3          Jesus, come in new creation,
            heaven brought near in power divine;
            give your unexpected glory
            changing water into wine:
            rouse the faith of your disciples?
            come, our first and greatest sign!

4          Jesus, come! surprise our dullness,
            make us willing to receive
            more than we can yet imagine,
            all the best you have to give:
            let us find your hidden riches,
            taste your love, believe, and live!

Christopher Idle from John 2

 

Jesu, redemptory omnium – Taize

Jesu, redemptor omnium, tu lumen et splendor Patris. Tibi sit gloria, tibi Jesu sit gloria.

 

Jesu, redeemer of the world, light and splendour of God the Father,

Glory and praise to you, all glory and praise to you.

 

 

Light of the world

1          Light of the world,
               true light divine,
            in glory break
               and splendour shine
                    upon our nature's night!
            The darkness dies
               before the morn
            and God himself
               a child is born,
                    the long-awaited Light.

2          Life of the world,
               a life laid down,
            who chose the cross
               before the crown
                    and opened heaven's door:
            he broke the chains
               of death and hell,
            our Saviour Christ,
               Emmanuel,
                    who lives for evermore.

3          Lord of all worlds,
               a manger bed
            was room enough
               to lay your head
                    when, from your throne above,
            you came to set
               a lost world right,
            immortal Life,
               unfading Light,
                    and all-prevailing Love.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (born 1926)

 

Some of the material we'll be referring to:

Liturgical resources for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany

A Star-Filled Grace by Rachel Mann (Wild Goose Publications)

Sounding the Seasons by Malcolm Guite (Canterbury Press)

Dreamers and Stargazers by Chris Thorpe (Canterbury press)

Wild Goose big book of worship resources (Wild Goose Publications)

Cloth for the Cradle (Wild Goose Publications)

 

Internet resource:

https://worshipwords.co.uk/ describes itself as “creative and refreshing liturgy for today’s church”. The language is all inclusive and it includes sections on times of the churches year. It includes new hymns, poetry, prayers, images and whole orders of service.

 

Referred to in previous workshops and with good resources for Epiphany:

“Common Worship: Times and Seasons” by Church of England (publisher: Church House Publishing) (available in multiple bookshops)

“Living Word” is available from Redemptorist Press here: https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/the-cw-living-word.

“The Pattern of our Days” by The Iona Community, edited by Kathy Galloway (publisher: Wild Goose Publications) (limited availability but a lot of material is available as E-books or  E-Liturgies on IonaBooks.com)

“Liturgies from Lindisfarne – Prayers and services for the pilgrimage of life” by Ray Simpson (publisher: Kevin Mayhews) (available in multiple bookshops)

 

Music

Sing Praise (Canterbury Press)

Ancient and Modern: Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd)

In Every Corner Sing ed. Geoff Weaver (Royal School of Church Music)

Innkeepers & light Sleepers (Iona Community)

 

Closing Act of Worship taken from Ray Simpson Liturgies from Lindisfarne

 

Opening

A star leads the wise three to the infant King of all.

Alleluia.

In the waters of baptism Jesus is revealed as Christ.

Alleluia.

In the water made wine Christ revealed a new creation.

Alleluia.

Let us worship the Lord whose Glory streams

towards us.

 

Hymn

Christ is our light! the bright and morning star
covering with radiance all from near and far.
Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray
into our hearts, into our world today.

Christ is our love! baptized that we may know
the love of God among us, swooping low.
Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face
and see you in the light of heaven's embrace.

Christ is our joy! transforming wedding guest!
Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
as your disciples did in Galilee.

 

Let us say together:

Holy, holy, holy is our God Emmanuel,

present with us now.

 

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 60:1–3 (or the reading of the day)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
   and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
   and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
   and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
   and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

 

Let us affirm our faith:

Christ was revealed in human form,

shown to be right by the Spirit,

worshipped by angels,

proclaimed among the nations,

believed in throughout the world,

taken up into heaven.

A very early Creed – 1 Timothy 3:18

 

New Testament reading John 1:29–34 (or the reading of the day)

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

 

1

Jesus, come! for we invite you,
Guest and Master, Friend and Lord;
now, as once at Cana's wedding,
speak, and let us hear your word:
lead us through our need or doubting,
hope be born and joy restored.
2
Jesus, come! transform our pleasures,
guide us into paths unknown;
bring your gifts, command your servants,
let us trust in you alone:
though your hand may work in secret,
all shall see what you have done.
3
Jesus, come in new creation,
heaven brought near in power divine;
give your unexpected glory
changing water into wine:
rouse the faith of your disciples
come, our first and greatest Sign!
4
Jesus, come! surprise our dullness,
make us willing to receive
more than we can yet imagine,
all the best you have to give:
let us find your hidden riches,
taste your love, believe, and live!

 

Proclamation

Christ, Splendour of the Father’s glory,

sustaining the worlds by your Word of power,

renew your Presence in our lives.

Christ, begotten of the Father before time,

born at Bethlehem in time,

make us a sign of simplicity and joy.

Christ, our bright Morning Star,

when this world’s darkness is past,

bring us into your eternal light.

 

Intercessions

Silent, free or prepared intercessions may follow any of the headings below.

 

May your light, O Christ, stream into the five continents;

Africa, America, Asia, Australasia, Europe . . .

 

May your light stream into seekers, people of all faiths and of none . . .

 

May your light stream into dark places of neglect, crime and conflict . . .

 

May your light stream into centres of commerce, industry and government . . .

 

May your light stream into us, our homes and communities . . .

 

From the rising of the sun to its going down,

God’s name will be praised.

 

Hymn

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

Light and splendour of God the Father,

Glory and praise to you,

All glory and praise to you.

 

Closing

The Lord bless you, keep you

and be gracious to you.

The Lord’s face shine upon you

and give you peace.