Epiphany, Jan 4, 2026 Hybrid Service

Minister: Rev. Suzanna Bates

Music: Peggy Twyman & Pat Armstrong

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

Gathering

Acknowledgement of the Land

Lighting of Candle

We are here. God is here.

This space is holy ground.

Call to Worship

God of Mystery, your light has led us to you.

All through our days your Word has shone;

your star has lit the way.

You have accompanied us, guided us, and guarded us.

We have come through miles and years to this place,

this moment.

We have come to praise you, to honor you, to worship you.

We thank you for your grace. We wonder at your presence.

And we are still learning to seek your presence and to follow your light.

We are still asking, “Where is the child?”
Help us to search and help us to find.

God, we praise you for the One who shepherds your people.

We worship you with thanksgiving and praise.
Open our eyes and hearts to see, and to wonder. Alleluia!

Hymn: A Light is Gleaming (vs 1,2,4)                                         VU #82

Lighting the Epiphany Candles

To embody Isaiah’ vision of abundance and gathering through four movements of divine desire—Justice, Joy, Compassion, Peace.

Beloved of God, Epiphany is the season of revealing - the holy moment when what is hidden becomes known. We light these candles to proclaim the truth we know—to make visible the God’s presence already among us.

Candle 1 – Justice

I bring gold, the finest of what I have, the gift God asks of us:

to do justice. (light candle)

Justice is crowned in light!

Look! God’s dwelling is now among us.

Candle 2 – Joy

I bring frankincense, the fragrance of prayer and praise,

the gift God asks of us: to delight in what is good. (light candle)

Joy arises from light!

Look! God’s dwelling is now among us.

Candle 3 – Compassion

I bring myrrh, balm for the broken and mercy for the world,

the gift God asks of us: to love compassion. (light candle)

Compassion is birthed in light!

Look! God’s dwelling is now among us.

Candle 4 – Peace

I bring light for the journey and bread for the road,
the gift God asks of us: to walk humbly and live in peace. (light candle)

Peace grows in light!

Look! God’s dwelling is now among us.

The gifts are given, the desires of God made visible - Justice, Joy, Compassion, and Peace now shine among us. God’s dwelling is among us.

Hymn: Now the star of Christmas     (Words: S. Murray, Tune: Noel Nouvelet)

Now the star of Christmas shines into our day,

points a new direction: change is on the way –

there’s another landscape to be travelled through,

there’s a new-born spirit broadening our view.

When the Christ of Christmas

speaks to hearts and minds,

clears the clouded vision hurting humankind,

kindred spirits gather, drawn towards the light,

sharing revelation, joyful at the sight.

If we choose to follow, we may yet be wise.

Where the star enlightens, light is shared around.

God has drawn no borders,

faith sees common ground:

Peace the hopeful journey, justice without bar,

God’s illumination from the Christmas star.

Prayers for Renewal

Ever-loving God, we long for Christmas to usher in a season of peace and joy. However, we know that is not how the world works.

Even just days after Christmas, we find ourselves face to face with fear once again. So today we pray –

Forgive us when we allow fear to stop us in our tracks.

Forgive us when our own fear prevents us from following

your call.

Forgive us when fear is louder than love.

Show us how to turn our fear into action.

Show us how to live like the Magi who searched for you

in a fearful world.

With hope we pray, Amen.

People of Faith, whether you are brave and courageous or fearful and timid, God’s love for you knows no end. So, join me in these words of forgiveness: Whether fear inspires us to action, or stops us dead in our tracks, God’s love for us is boundless.

We are seen.

We are surrounded with grace.

We are sent to serve.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

We Affirm Our Faith: A New Creed

We are not alone, we live in God’s world.

We believe in God: who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture

God of the Stars, like the Magi, we come to this place searching for you.

So today, just like every day, we ask that you would remove any barriers that keep us from your Spirit. Clear out the distractions. Wipe away the doubt.

Open up our hearts and speak to us through these ancient words.

And as you do, we will keep walking.

As you do, we will move toward you.

With hope we pray, amen.

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1–6 (RSV Updated Edition)               Reader: Susan Brockley

Arise, shine, for your light has come.

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 God’s glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midianand Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

This is the Word of God

We give thanks for this word today.

Gospel Reading                                                        Reader: Susan Brockley

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Matthew 2:1–12, 16-18 (The Message)

The visit of the Magi.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.” Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So, they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

This is the Gospel of Christ.

We give thanks for Good News today!

Word:  Fear Doesn’t Stop Us

Hymn of Response: As With Gladness Men of Old                  VU #81

Life and Work of the Church

The Christ Church Gabriola Covenant 

Gracious and Loving God, we, Christ Church Gabriola,

followers of Jesus Christ in a shared Anglican and United Church ministry, covenant as a community with you:

To WORSHIP you:

with openness to the movement of your Spirit,

by using inclusive language, musical diversity, 

creativity, and the grounding we have in our traditions;

To CONNECT with each other and our neighbours

by welcoming and integrating into our community

all persons as your children;

by lovingly supporting each other as we grow in Christ,

creating opportunities to connect with each other in fellowship; 

by finding ways to become more multi-generational;

by sharing the good news of your love with everyone;

To LEARN AND GROW together:

by developing our faith through scripture studies,

prayer and other spiritual practices;

by exploring the Christian tradition and a range of

theological studies

by informing ourselves about issues of social

and ecological justice

by using respectful communication;

by examining issues from multiple perspectives;

by offering to the wider community opportunities to safely engage in conversations about matters important to life,

faith and the world;

And to SERVE our community and the world:

by living in love and justice, and by working for the well-being

of the earth and its inhabitants;

by serving the island community through offering our own resources, collaborating with other agencies,

and drawing on our connections with the wider community;

by listening and responding to a changing world,

recognizing its needs so we know how to serve.

We covenant as a community in Christ’s name. Amen.

Star Words

Offering

Prayer of Dedication

God of love, we offer you our gold:

all that we value, all we possess or cling to: may it be yours.

We offer you our frankincense:

our prayers now and in every moment of our lives, that we may live in grateful trust, in reverent joy, and in faithful love.

We offer you our myrrh:
knowing we are mortal, we give you these short lives to spend as you would have us spend them.
We offer to you our dying, that our living may be holy and beautiful.

All these things we offer in the light of your grace
and the delight of your loving Christ. Amen.

The Prayers of the People                                                    Betty Schultze

Loving God,

            Hear our prayers.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

 

Closing Words

 

Hymn: One More Step Along the World I Go                           VU #639

 

Blessing & Sending

Blessed is the One whose dreams awaken us

to wonder, love, compassion and joy.

Blessed is the One who walks on life’s paths with us.

Blessed is the One God, Creator, Christ and Breath of Life,

who sustains us as we go from this place to do the holy work of

making God’s peace a reality in our lives and in our world. Amen.

 

Peace and joy be with you.

And also with you.

 

Postlude

 

______________________