11C*
A Call to Worship
Epiphany 3C [Ordinary 3C] 2013
Psalm 19

Called and gathered, we respond to the radiant light of our God.
Shine on us, brilliant light of God, so that we may better praise you.

Called and gathered, we come to pray and to sing God’s praises.
Beam on us, comforting light of God, and heal us with your warmth.

Called and gathered, we celebrate the coming of the revealing light
of God, that gives us insights into God’s messages of life and love.
Day and night, your message of light and truth is shining forth, and
may our responses to your glorious light be pleasing to you, O God. Amen.

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Prayers of Praise and Petition
Epiphany 3C [Ordinary 3C] 2013
Psalm 19

Light of all the heavens and the earth, Light of outer space and
the deepest places of the earth, you shine your radiant light and
love upon all your creation bringing new life into being. God of
Light, your majesty and powers are so far beyond us that we
cannot comprehend the mystery of your life-giving light. Each
day at different times, God’s visible light sends us new messages—
messages of brightness, good cheer, hope, and joy-filled gladness;
and God’s light is equally shared with all earth’s inhabitants as the
earth rotates on its axis and orbits around that life-giving brightness.
Our God knows that light is good, and we celebrate God’s radiance.
Hear our prayers and accept our thanks for your generous light.

Light of all the heavens and the earth, you shine your radiant light
and love upon all your creation bringing warmth and healing to the
deeply frozen places of earth, and to our own cold hearts and minds.
Comforting God of warmth and hope, the God whose compassion is
offered for our physical and spiritual well-being and nurture, every
day we receive the warmth of your love with its inspiring messages.
Our God knows that light is good, and we celebrate God’s warmth.
Hear our prayers and accept our thanks for your generous warmth.

Light of all the heavens and the earth, Light of revelation and of
wisdom; Light of discernment and knowledge; and Light of insight
and understanding. Light of experience that teaches us in so many
different ways; which reveals hidden truths and clarifies our deep
uncertainties; and Light that leads us home to our Alpha and Omega.
Our God knows that light is good, and we celebrate God’s revelations.
Hear our prayers and accept our thanks for your constant revelations. Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
Epiphany 3C [Ordinary 3C] 2013
Psalm 19

In this time of Epiphany and its revelations about God and God’s
purposes for all creation, I especially think about the influence the
sun’s light has on my day-to-day activities in different times of the
year. I especially love the early mornings, as they are the time I feel
closest to God, because it is then in the quiet of my garden that I can
meditate on God, and God’s gracious influence and actions in my
life. In the winter mornings, I love the chill of pre-dawn temperatures;
and then in the summer time mornings, the pre-dawn coolness is a
delight, as I work in my garden before the heat of the sun’s rays prove
too hot for comfort. During the changing seasons of the remaining
months, I also meditate on my partnership with God in helping to create
beauty, and share in a sense of peace and grace through God’s creation.
I love the early mornings, as it is there that I meet God in the garden.



During the time of Epiphany, I often think about the special significance of
the sunlight, because of what it can reveal to us all about God’s majesty
and dominion over all creation. After meeting God in the garden, and during
the remainder of the sun-lit hours, I receive many messages about God
from the sun as it makes its way across the sky. The vastness of the sun’s
“home” space speaks to me of the unlimited love and powers of our God.
The heat of the sun reminds me of the passion God has for all creation,
and the way we all find delight and pleasure in God’s creation. The power
of the sun has limitless potential, to help resource the world and its peoples.



When the sun has “turns it light away” towards other people and God’s
creatures of every description, I take my rest and use that time to reflect
on God in different ways. It is only in that temporary night-time darkness
am I able to really appreciate the glories of the night-time skies, and the
majesty of God’s hidden creation. When the sun is “turned away” from me,
that is a special time for me to explore God’s hidden secrets of creation.
The quiet night-watches are my time to pray and to give God my thanks
for life’s many blessings. The Psalmist sang: “The commandments of the
Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight to life...” and so I pray that God will: “Cleanse me from these
hidden faults...” and I ask: “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of
my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer...” Amen.

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Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and
Meditations are from the ‘New Living Translation’, © 1996. Copyright. All rights reserved.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189 USA.

*The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering for the Revised
Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2013 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year C. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: epiphany3[3]c_2013.pdf

© 2013 Joan Stott - " The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C