Prayers for Worship
Epiphany
by Ron Gordon

Matthew 2: 1-12

Collect: 

God and Father of Jesus, we hail you as the God of open arms: 
open to strangers from afar, from other nations, other cultures. 
You are not the God made captive by our private dreams, 
nor racial qualifications nor denominational brandings. 
Your arms are open to all, as the arms of Jesus opened on the cross to gather us all in. 
Holy and Blessed are you in your free and glorious generosity: 
Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer:

God and Father of Jesus, our God and Father, we adore you 
for the wonders of your work in creation; for the mystery of your entry 
into your world as Immanuel; for the privilege of knowing you near us in the Spirit.

Lord, Jesus, we confess that we have made the festival of your birth a feast for ourselves. 
We have gathered our presents, our foodstuffs and our people 
and are quite happy with ourselves. We miss the finer details of the story. 
You were born in a shed, amongst the poor, the hungry and the excluded ones.  
Your nativity was hailed by strange foreigners who travelled from afar 
with treasure as presents. Maybe we have missed the meaning of Christmas. Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, help us see that we must celebrate you as the gift of God to all human kind 
which means inclusiveness: all people, everywhere. You are the centre of the great ingathering 
where none is excluded by birth, nation, prejudice, politics or economy. 
You were born, lived and died for us all. Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you give us the example of open gracefulness which accepts others freely, 
shares their stories, acknowledges their need and aids them. 
We pray for the width of generosity which can know and love others 
even as we are known and loved. Lord, have mercy.

May the generosity of your grace, glorious God, forgive us and free us as your children, 
and to you be worship forever and ever. Amen.

another road
by Jenn Gordon
 
Matthew 2: 1-12

not even the skies could keep hushed
you whispered
and one new natal star appeared,
a sign for those who watched
in far off darkness
that heaven had breached her bounds
and pushed light into the world

and who could resist the journey
from far to near

            as clouds of fear
            gathered thick around the crowned

to bend before this long awaited,
most unlikely child-born-to-be-king

you sent your signs to shepherds
and to seekers on the road
shaking down the walls of power
lifting up the lost and low

so that those who are willing
to watch, to journey,
to be led by dreams and guided by stars
will always find a welcome
and another road home

© Jennie Gordon 2009

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)