Resources For The Other Sundays In The Season After Epiphany

The following are supplemental liturgical resources for the season after Epiphany. Adapt to local need and custom, taking these examples as models.

Traditional Opening Prayers Adapt these opening prayers to local style. These prayers contain the general themes of Epiphany and of the services in the season after Epiphany. First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord (Sunday between Jan. 7–13) Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan. 14–20) Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen. Third Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan. 21–27) Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the good news of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan. 28–Feb. 3) Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplication of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Feb. 4–10, if not the last) Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Feb. 11–17, if not the last) O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (Feb. 18–24, if not the last) O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany (Feb. 25–Mar. 3, if not the last) Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us; preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Last Sunday after the Epiphany (The transfiguration of our Lord) (This Proper is always used on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.) O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer A Biblical Creed for Sundays after Epiphany The creed below, adapted from Mark 8:38, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Romans 10:9, and Acts 2:36, may be used in any of the Sundays of Epiphany. Leader: Who do you say that Jesus is? People: He is the Christ. Leader: I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. People: We confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord and we believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead. Leader: Let the whole world know that God has made him both Lord and Christ! People: Amen! A Benediction for the Sundays after Epiphany The benediction below may be used in any or all of the Sundays of Epiphany. O Jesus Christ, who is the Light of lights and whose manifestation as the light of the world we celebrate on this day. Bless us with the Light of your life in the week that lies ahead and cause us to be witnesses of your light in our lives, in our relationships, in our homes, and in our places of work and play. In the name and by the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.