Epiphany Of Our Lord~January 6, 2026

Tonight's Service Leader Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

T's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting One, LSB pages 151ff.

400 Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning

Text: Reginald Heber, 1783–1826, alt.
Tune: James P. Harding, 1850–1911, adapt.
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation LSB 151

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Kneel/Stand

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

Confession of Sins LSB 151

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Stand

Introit Psalm 72:1–2, 10–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Kyrie LSB 152

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 60:1–6

¹Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
²For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
³And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
⁴Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
⁵Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
⁶A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Isaiah 60:6b, 1

Those from She- | ba shall come.*
They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises | of the Lord.
Arise, shine, for your | light has come,*
and the glory of the Lord has risen up- | on you.

Epistle Ephesians 3:1–12

¹For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ²assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse LSB 156

Holy Gospel Matthew 2:1–12

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the second chapter.

¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Sit

395 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

5 O let the harps break forth in sound!
Our joy be all with music crowned,
    Our voices gladly blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way—
Today, tomorrow, ev’ry day!
    His love is never ending!
        Sing out! Ring out!
    Jubilation!
    Exultation!
        Tell the story!
Great is He, the King of Glory!

6 What joy to know, when life is past,
The Lord we love is first and last,
    The end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace,
Transport us to that happy place
    Beyond all tears and sinning!
        Amen! Amen!
    Come, Lord Jesus!
    Crown of gladness!
        We are yearning
For the day of Your returning!

Text: tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978, alt.
Text and tune: Philipp Nicolai, 1556–1608
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

Sermon

Stand

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of His Father before all worlds,

God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God,

begotten, not made,

being of one substance with the Father,

by whom all things were made;

who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered and was buried.

And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

and ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord and giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

and I look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For a right knowledge of Christ, that we would abandon the darkness of this world and embrace the joy of His heavenly light, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all pastors, [especially _____________,] that they would fulfill their calling with boldness and provide us the riches of Christ’s Word and Sacrament, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For families, that our Father in heaven would bless our households with grace and protection; and that we might remember Him in both joy and trouble and worship before Him forever, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the wisdom of God to enlighten the rulers of this world; and for His blessed Gospel to have free course in our land, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who are afflicted and in need of deliverance, [including _____________,] that their prayers would be heard by the almighty God who has made us fellow heirs of the unsearchable riches of Christ; and that they would be preserved in the faith until that day when their eternal healing is fully revealed, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who, like the Magi of old, have come to worship Christ and offer Him gifts, that receiving His body and blood, we may return home according to His holy way, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the Holy Christian Church, that God’s Word would richly abide in her and that many would be led to Christ through her witness, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P All these needs, gracious Father, and whatever else You know that we need, grant for the sake of Him who shattered this world’s darkness with everlasting light, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Sit

Offering

Stand

Offertory LSB 159

Preface LSB 160

Proper Preface (Full)

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for what had been hidden from before the foundation of the world You have made known to the nations in Your Son. In Him, being found in the substance of our mortal nature, You have manifested the fullness of Your glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus LSB 161

Lord’s Prayer LSB 162

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini LSB 163

Agnus Dei LSB 163

Sit

372 O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

5 Remember thou
    What glory now
The Lord prepared thee for all earthly sadness.
    The angel host
    Can never boast
Of greater glory, greater bliss or gladness.

6 The world may hold
    Her wealth and gold;
But thou, my heart, keep Christ as thy true treasure.
    To Him hold fast
    Until at last
A crown be thine and honor in full measure.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
Tune: Kenneth T. Kosche, 1947
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 1996 Kenneth T. Kosche. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

397 As with Gladness Men of Old

Text: William C. Dix, 1837–98, alt.
Tune: Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872
Text and tune: Public domain

Stand

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Benediction LSB 166

832 Jesus Shall Reign

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt.
Tune: attr. John C. Hatton, d. 1793
Text and tune: Public domain

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting One from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.