Confession and Absolution of Sins for the Epiphanies

Confession And Absolution of Sins for the Epiphanies of Our Lord

by Michael Zarling

Guitar chords to “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” by Steve Brown

In studying the history of the Epiphany Festival, one can see that the Western Church, when it does focus on the Epiphany, focuses mainly on the visit of the Magi. However, the ancient Festival of the Epiphany and its celebration in the Eastern Church focuses more on the Epiphany of the Lord with the visit of the Magi, Christ’s baptism and his first miracle at Cana.

The following text is an opening liturgy that addresses all three epiphany lessons (the Magi, the Baptism of our Lord, and the wedding at Cana) and uses two well known Epiphany hymns from the Christian Worship Lutheran Hymnal:

CW 91 – “The Star Proclaims the King is Here” by Coelius Sedulous

CW 82 – “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” by Christopher Wordsworth

Sing: The star proclaims the King is here; But, Herod, why this senseless fear?

For he who came from heaven’s throne Does not desire an earthly crown. (CW: 91 v1)

Minister: In the name of God the Father,

Congregation: who placed a star in the sky to announce His Son’s birth.

M: In the name of God the Son,

C: who received a sinner’s baptism and revealed himself in his miracle at Cana.

M In the name of God the Holy Spirit,

C: who has brought us to believe in the great epiphanies of our Lord. Amen.

M: Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, praised by the angels, adored by the shepherds and worshiped by the Magi,

C: have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sing: The wiser Magi saw from far And followed on his guiding star,

And, led by light, to Light they pressed And by their gifts their God confessed. (CW: 91 v2)

M: Lord Jesus Christ, held by St. Simeon, praised by St. Anna, and baptized by St. John,

C: have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sing: Within the Jordan River stood The pure and holy Lamb of God;

The Father’s voice, the Spirit-dove, Confirmed the Savior from above. (CW: 91 v3)

M: Lord Jesus Christ, changing water into wine, defeating the devil in the wilderness, driving out demons, cleansing the lepers, giving sight to the blind, granting hearing to the deaf, and bringing life from the dead,

C: have mercy on me, a sinner.

Sing: At Cana — miracle divine — When water reddened into wine,

The faithful saw his glory shown And put their trust in him alone. (CW: 91 v4)

M: In his great mercy, God called us out of the nations to his salvation, cleansed us in the waters of his baptism and revealed the power of his Son in Christ’s miracles. It is with this power and mercy, I, a called and ordained servant of Christ announce to all of you: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Sign of the cross)

C: Amen.

M: Praise be to our Triune God for the epiphanies of our Savior.

Sing: All glory unto Jesus be And praise for his epiphany,

Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Spirit evermore. (CW: 91 v5)

Hymn of the Day: #82 – “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

This hymn also mentions the epiphanies of our Lord – manifested by the star, manifested at Jordan’s stream, and manifested at Cana.

Here are the guitar chords to CW82:

F C (F) Dm (C) F

Songs of thank-ful-ness and praise, 

F C F Dm A

Je – sus, Lord, to you we raise,

Dm Gm C F (G7) C (F6) C (G) C

Man-i-fest-ed by the star to the Ma – gi from a – far,

G (Em) F/A F

Branch of royal David’s stem,

(Am) Bb (Cm) Bb

In your birth at Beth – le – hem,

D Gm C F

Anthems be to you ad-dressed,

Bb F (Dm) F C7 F

God in man made man – i – fest.

Note – Chords shown in parenthesis are optional.