He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smoldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
VIDEO: Brightest and Best (#118, Star in the East, from The Southern Harmony; Reginald Heber, alt.) – University of Southern California Chamber Singers, Clara Kim, violin, Aram Arakelyan, piano, Teddy Gabrielides, double bass, 2014
From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name, and a pure offering; for my Name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:11
INVITATORY AND PSALTER
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
If possible, light a candle here.
VIDEO: O serene light (Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vespers, Op. 37) – uncredited choir, 2011
Hymn: O Gracious Light
Phos hilaron
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
VIDEO: Psalm 96:7-13 (Alan Gray) – Choir of Westminster Abbey, 2013
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
2 Sing to the LORD and bless the LORD’s Name; *
proclaim the good news of salvation from day to day.
3 Declare the glory of the LORD among the nations *
and the wonders of the LORD among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of the presence of the LORD! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of the sanctuary of our God!
7 Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the divine Name; *
come to the holy courts with your offerings.
9 Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble in awe.
10 Tell it out among the nations: “The LORD is Sovereign! *
the LORD has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved
and will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD who is coming, *
who is coming to judge the earth.
13 The LORD will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with truth.
VIDEO: Psalm 100 (René Clausen) – Doane College Women’s Chorale, First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1914
Psalm 100
1 Be joyful in the LORD, all you lands; *
serve the LORD with gladness
and come before God’s presence with a song.
2 Know this: The LORD alone is God; *
we belong to the LORD, who made us;
we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
3 Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving;
go into the holy courts with praise; *
give thanks and call upon the Name of the LORD.
4 For good is the LORD,
whose mercy is everlasting; *
and whose faithfulness endures from age to age.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
We’re always ready to hear about the wise men this time of year, but what did the women of Epiphany bring? Things Mary and Joseph could actually use, like food, blankets and fire. (Found on Facebook)
THE LESSON
Matthew 12:14-21 (NRSV)
But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Jesus, how to destroy him.
When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smoldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
VIDEO: Nunc dimittis (A. Kopylov) – Blagaya Vest, 2013
Canticle: The Song of Simeon
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
VIDEO: Apostles’ Creed – Servants of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, 2015
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
VIDEO: We three kings of Orient are (#128, Three Kings of Orient, John Henry Hopkins, Jr.) – Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, 2009
THE PRAYERS
VIDEO: Baba Yetu (Christopher Tin) – Alex Boyé, BYU Men’s Chorus and Philharmonic Orchestra, 2016
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.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit
in the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
Pieter Aertsen, 1600: Epiphany. The magi, wise men or astronomers were foreigners and Gentiles, whom the Jews despised and wouldn’t associate with, and as an adult Jesus made clear that his first priority was his own people. Yet here he is, days after birth, receiving them as important guests. This showing or manifestation signifies the extension of God’s offer of salvation beyond the People of the Covenant to the entire rest of the world, as the prophets had foretold. (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)
Collect of the Day: The Epiphany
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Fridays
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Your local diocese or judicatory on this feast day
Friday Evening Prayer List: For the Church
For Our Postulants for Ordination to the Diaconate
Hilary Greene, Diocese of Massachusetts
For our Seminarians
Shanna, Church Divinity School of the Pacific
For Christians in the Middle East
Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine
For the Anglican Communion
For Church Unity
For Ecumenical Partners
Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome
Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America
Robert T. Fuentes, Moderator, The Old Catholic Church USA
The Moravian Church
Please add your own prayers and supplications here.
Prayer for Mission
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13++
VIDEO: Here We Come A-Wassailing (English traditional carol) – Órla Fallon, David Archuleta, Méav, Mark Wills, 2012
Daily Office Asia-Pacific 