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Epiphany
=> Inviting => Join us for
Epiphany
This year, the congregation of St James' Church of Groveland joined us in worship, and pageantry.
After the service, Marya De Carlen, rector of St James, spoke to us about her experiences as Priest in Charge.
Narrator: After Abraham returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedik, king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
Melchizedik: blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be god Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand.
Narrator: Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.
Word of the Lord: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.
Abram: O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.
Word of the Lord: This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.
Narrator: Then the Lord took Abram outside.
Word of the Lord: Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.
St. Stephen – The king shall come when morning dawns vs 1-3
Congregation: The Lord says to my Lord “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty from the womb of dawn You will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Narrator: Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
Word of the Lord: You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
Narrator: And he says in another place,
Word of the Lord: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Narrator: This Melchizedek was king of Salem and Priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”, then also “king of Salem” means “king of peace”. Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
Puer Nobis – What star is this with beams so bright vs 1-3
Narrator: In the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile in Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
Salzburg – Songs of thankfulness and praise vs 1-2
Narrator: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
St. Louis – O little town of Bethlehem vs 1-3
Narrator: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
Magi: Where is the one born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.
Narrator: When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
Congregation: In Bethlehem, in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”
Narrator: Then Herod called the magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
Herod: Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.
Narrator: After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were over joyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and of myrrh.
Three Kings of Orient – We three kings of orient are vs 1-5; 2,3,4 solos
Magi 1: vs 2
Born a king in Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Magi 2: vs 3
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship him, God on high.
Magi 3: vs 4
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Narrator: Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
Angel: Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.
Dix – As with gladness men of old vs 1-3
Many thanks to Nancy Morrisey, who wrote this Epiphany Pageant, and who provided the costumes.
Copyright © 1998- Trinity Episcopal Church
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