Epiphany of the Lord

2 January 2011

Entrance	Gaudete
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 71	O Lord, all the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Epiphany antiphons (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion	He became poor (John Bell)
Final	What child is this?

It felt early to be celebrating the Epiphany - as though it marked the end of Christmas already. Indeed it seemed to have caught our Magi unawares as they had a last minute dash top make it to the nativity scene.

I do not get that excited by most Epiphany carols/hymnody, not many sound like a joyful solemnity to me. We began with Gaudete so that there was some bounce at the beginning and the verses by Bob Hurd brought in the Magi.

The piece at the Preparation of Gifts was a setting based on the texts of the Magnificat and Benedictus antiphons which hark back to the ancient tradition of what is being celebrated:

Three wonders mark this day we celebrate:

today a star led the Magi to the manger;

today water was changed into wine at the marriage feast;

today Christ desired to be baptised by John in the river Jordan to bring salvation,

alleluia. 


Today the Church has been joined to her heavenly bridegroom,

since Christ has purified her of her sins in the river Jordan:

the Magi hasten to the royal wedding and offer gifts:

the wedding guests rejoice since Christ has changed water into wine,

alleluia.

He became poor was a satisfying choice for communion and the verses we sing from the Philippians canticle brought in the Paschal Mystery which was picked up in the last hymn.