Collects, the brief prayers usually heard at the beginning of a service are short statements packed with a lot of meaning and purpose for God's people.

"READING"

Collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany                                                                                                Book of Common Prayer

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

MUSIC

Slane (Instrumental), Bobby Horton

Collect, Tudor Consort

Come My Way, My Truth, My Life, Blackfriar Music

We look at the 29th psalm and the role of suffering in our lives

READING

Psalm 29

Ascribe to God, you heavenly beings, ascribe to God glory and strength.

Ascribe due honor to God’s holy Name; worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of God is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; God is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of God is a powerful voice; the voice of God is a voice of splendor.

The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

God makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of God splits the flames of fire; the voice of God shakes the wilderness; God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Holy One, all are crying, “Glory!”

God sits enthroned above the flood, enthroned as Sovereign for evermore.

God shall give strength to the people; God shall give the people the blessing of peace.

from the St Helena Psalter

MUSIC

Frustration with Skype, Jon White

Star in the East, Rose Ensemble

How Great Thou Art, Lauren Daigle

Wade in the Water, Roger McGuinn

The Epiphany is bold reminder about what's important and meaningful to God.

READING

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

MUSIC

We Three King, RTists for Christmas

Watchmen Tell us of the Night, Aaron & Ben DeVries

The King of Love My Shepherd Is, IKON

Through Jesus, in faith, we are called to relationship, community, and unity

READING

Galatians 3:23 - 4:7

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

MUSIC

Go Tell It On The Mountain, Roger McGuinn

I Saw Three Ships, Ben DeVries

All Who Love and Serve Your City, Erik & Elisa Dunkin

It's our Christmas episode! Join us as we celebrate the coming of God in vulnerability and love.

READING

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness--on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

MUSIC

Ho Ho So Merrily, Some Serious Folk and the Pernicious Pennywhistle

What Child Is This? Allison Crowe

Go Tell It On The Mountain, Roger McGuin

Christ's invitation is to change ourselves so that together, we might change the world.

READING

Micah 5:2-5a

You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return

to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace

MUSIC

Hyfrodol

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Donald McCullough & Master Chorale of Washington

In the Bleak Midwinter, Lily & Madeleine

In this season of Advent we're invited to stop and really think about how our faith is translated into our everyday lives.

READING

 Luke 3:7-18

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

MUSIC

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy, Reawaken Music (Nathan Drake)

Sinners Like Me, Brother Timothy Clark

Gabriel’s Message, Good Shepherd Band

The new life we're called to isn't in heaven, it's today, tomorrow and the day after that too.

READING

Baruch 5:1-9

 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.

Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;

for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory."

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.

For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne.

For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.

The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command.

For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.

MUSIC

We’re Marching to Zion, Gary Chapman

Fix Me Jesus, Fools For Christ

Over in the Glory Land, Westwood Bluegrass Band

Troubles are going to come; Jesus calls on us to hold fast to faith as they do and to live in the kingdom anyway.

Reading

Luke 21:25-36

Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Music

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Reawaken Music

What Wondrous Love is This? Hillbilly Thomists

Come Ye Sinners, Norton Hall Band

We're marking Christ the King Sunday and asking; what does it mean that Christ is our Lord?

READING

John 18:33-37

Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

MUSIC

The King of Love My shepherd Is, IKON

Wade in the Water, Ike Ndolo

Kumbaya, Mil Marie Mougeno