January 5, 2014 "GIFTS OF EQUAL VALUE"

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR EPIPHANY**
We believe in God, the creator of all things, the giver of life and breath.
We believe in Jesus Christ, born Emmanuel, God with us, baptized and revealed
the most beloved Son of God. He sought to heal humanity by taking our brokenness
upon himself, suffering for us and dying for us; he was raised from the dead for our sake and for the sake of all the world. We believe that he will come again.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, continually poured out refreshing our lives, leading us into a new day, ever-birthing the church, the body of Christ in the world.
This Spirit is our soul companion and counselor of truth reminding us of the gift of faith, the ever presence of God and the promise of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God, we are blessed to gather in this sanctuary to honor you and give thanks for all that you have given to us. We cherish your mercy, love and forgiveness hoping to understand that their value is more precious than gold, silver or precious gems. Let us be awed, today, by the journey of the Wise Men who traveled for weeks in search of the newborn messiah. Let us, like them, kneel before the Christ child with hope in our hearts, not for ourselves alone, but for the whole world. We pray never to take Jesus, for granted as he grows to manhood. Remind us every morning that he is more precious to you than creation itself. We seek to honor you, following after the Christ in all that we say and do, by our service, our gifts, our participation, our prayers and our witness. We realize that the first step is to treasure the gift by keeping Jesus in our hearts and minds forever. Bless us this morning, O Lord, as we, along with those famous visitors from afar, recognize the Christ child and ponder what his life means and will mean for us in the days ahead. We pray in his name. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Today is Epiphany Sunday, formally known as the feast day or celebration of the revealing of the Son of God, the anointed one, God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany celebrates God’s new approach to being relationship with you and me. The “striking appearance” of God is revealed to us in the story of the three kings and the story of Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan River. Today, let us, like the three kings, place our gifts of tribute to the newborn king in the offering plate as it is passed among us.