They saw A STAR

They Saw a Star

Many people have trouble reconciling scientific knowledge with a life of faith. Many think the Church
and modern scientific truth cannot mix. But in fact, science was born from Christian faith, and both
are stronger when they inform each other.
It was the practice of science with faith that led the ancients to our Savior. Modern stories of the
three kings often obscure the fact that these were men of science. Men of astronomy. Sages who
looked for revelations of meaning in the patterns of the stars. They saw a star. They saw possibility.
And in the context of their faith, they followed it until salvation itself was revealed.
Informed by faith, they followed science and found God in all of Gods glory.
We too are searching for meaning in the hoards of knowledge we have accumulated. We are searching for truth now, in our time.
In the recent film Interstellar, one of characters says, Science is about admitting what we do not
know. For decades, perhaps centuries, the false hope of scientific inquiry was the elimination of
the unknown. But the more we learned, the more complexity we found. The more we knew, the more
we found we might never fully know.
Our culture is now saturated with knowledge and thirsty for meaning. And to begin to quench that
thirst, we must reunite our search for knowledge with our search for truth. As we absorb all that we
have learned, we have the opportunity to let that learning incite not certainty, but wonder . . . and
possibility.
They saw a star. They had an epiphany. And in an instant, all they had ever known before needed
to stretch and evolve that it might by nurtured by a new sense of possibility.
And we are no different today.

Page 1

THE ORDER

OF

SERVICE

The Presider (the priest leading worship) enters and sits.

We observe a few moments of silence.
When the Presider stands, all who are able also stand.

THE OPENING ACCLAMATION

Presider:

People:

HYMN

We gather in the name of the God

who knows the secrets of the universe that lie beyond our human senses,
who is with us as we open each new window on the universe,
always revealing new levels of complexity.
One God, Eternal Majesty, Incarnate Word, Abiding Spirit.

TO THE

Presider:
People:

CREATOR

OF

LIGHT

Glory be to You, O God, Glory be to You;

creator of the visible light
the sun's ray, the flame of fire;
and of the light invisible and intellectual,
and that which is known only by you, O God.
Glory be to You, O God, Glory be to You;
for writings of the law, glory be to You;
for oracles of prophets, glory be to You;
for melody of psalms, glory be to You;
for wisdom of proverbs, glory be to You;
for experience of histories, glory be to You;
for a light of knowing which never sets.
Yours is the Glory, O God,
who has given us this light.

GATHERING PRAYER
See the separate sheet for the Prayer, Reading, Psalm and Gospel.

READING
PSALM
GOSPEL

Page 2

REFLECTION
After the Reflection, there is silence.

THE PRAYERS

OF THE

PEOPLE

During this extended time of prayer you are invited to leave your seat and journey to the prayer stations that are set around the Cathedral.
You may also light a candle near the altar, as a way of offering prayer for specific cares and concerns
for personal prayers, for the needs of the Church, or the world, for those who are suffering from illness, addiction, or any kind of need, or for those who have died.
The Presider then offers a closing prayer, saying:
We declare unto all the ages as the greatest marvel,
before there were hills and trees or the mighty ocean,
before the sunlight shone forth or the moon cast its beams,
when there was nothingness,
from end to end,
there was You, O Boundless God,
from time unknown to time unknown, O God Eternal.
You who made the heavens and the earth,
give to us wisdom, prudence, and strength;
through your holy blessing, give us faith unending,
that your will we may do.
All say:
Amen.

Page 3

REPENTANCE
Presider:
All say:

AND

FORGIVENESS

So great is our hunger for you, O God,

that our constant searching sometimes replaces You
as the object of our love and faithfulness.
We cannot reconcile the infinite and the intimate,
and so we err and sin.
While we grieve our misdoings and waywardness inwardly,
we magnify them outwardly with pride and over-reliance upon ourselves,
refracting our faults through our philosophies and calculations,
trying to tease out the colors that will make them make sense.
Comprehension still eludes us, and we return again to you.
Help us regard your gift, this cosmos, more as cathedral than as void.
As we contemplate the riddles of the unknown;
forgive our distractedness and help us navigate the Way you have shown us.
And with each mystery over the horizon,
renew our trust in You.

Presider:

People:

God joins us in the complications of our earthly lives,

as we work out space and time,
and the complexities of loving others.
Through the boundless love and mercy of the eternal Word made flesh,
all erring in your earthly endeavors is forgiven.
Be encouraged by the promise of things heavenly.
Amen.

THE PEACE
Presider:
People:

Christs peace is as limitless as the night sky.

And it is always with you.
And also with you.

Presider:

Let us offer one another a sign of Gods peace.

All greet their neighbors with a sign of peace.

All then sit while Announcements are made.

Page 4

OFFERTORY HYMN

THE

STARS DECLARE

HIS

GLORY


 


        







  

The stars de - clare his glo - ry;
The dawn re - turns in splen - dor,
So shine the Lord's com mand - ments
So or - der too this life of mine,
4



 

the vault of hea - ven

the hea - vens burn and
to make the sim - ple
di - rect it all my

        
mute wit - ness of the Mas - ter's
the ri - sing sun re - news the
more sweet than ho - ney to
the
the me - di - ta - tions of
my



  





  
in
that
more
be

all
cre - a mea - sures all
rich
than a in - no - cence




ted
our
ny
and




          

12



    

hand
race
taste,
heart

   

things,
days,
prize,
praise,

   

and through the si - len - ces

and writes in fire a - cross
law of love with - in
a
my rock, and my re - deem -

springs,
blaze,
wise;
days;

     
their sound - less mu - sic
God's ma - jes - ty and
a light be - fore our
in all my words and

of space
the skies
our hearts,
ing Lord,

sings.
praise.
eyes.
ways.

Page 5

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

All stand.
Presider:
People:

God is with you.

And also with you.

Presider:
People:

Lift your hearts to heaven.

We lift them to the Source of our being.

Presider:
People:

Offer your thanks to the Creator of all.

Hear our hearts beating to the sound of pure awe.

Presider:

We are truly filled with awe as we behold and consider

the spectral and spectacular of all that surrounds us
O boundless and uncontainable God.
For though we have inherited from our forebears the keen longing for unified, all-embracing knowledge, our finite human understanding yields profoundly unsatisfying
and fragmented visions of reality when we sever our searching from You, the unifier of
all. Unaided by your vision, our learning makes us seem small and insignificant. But
you have taught us differently. And as our deeper, primal knowing confirms what our
senses cannot prove, we join the echo of the heavens and sing of the glory that is only
yours:

SANCTUS All sing

         

     





    

 


  

    






     



   
 

  

   

 







 








  









 







     



  












   












  

Page 6

Presider:

God of wonder and wisdom,

you have reached through time and space to draw us into your being.
As we measure the shadows of your ever expanding universe.
and doubt the importance of our place in the realm of your nebuli,
you show us the depths of your love and care for us,
pulling on time itself through a constant stream of affirmation
and heavenly blessing in your prophets and sages
and in your Word and Sacraments.
For when you meet us in Jesus the Christ,
you remind us that your love
is the one thing we are capable of perceiving
that transcends time and space.
In the unfathomable love made known to us in Christ's living,
you bend our earth-bound point of view.
Drawing us into his circle of love and forgiveness,
Jesus takes bread, blesses, and brakes it,
and shares it with those who follow him, saying,
"Take and eat. This, my body, is given for you.
Do this to re-member with me."
So too does Jesus take and bless a cup of wine,
giving it to those who follow him saying,
"Drink this every one of you.
This, my blood, is given for you.
Do this to be members of me."
God of all times and all places,
enliven this bread and this wine with your transcendent presence;
make them Christ's body and blood.
Enliven us too with your life-giving Spirit,
make us Christ's living presence in this piece of your universe.
In the unfathomable love made known to us in Christ's dying,
bend our earth-bound point of view;
that when we look only down,
thinking our place only here in this dirt,
we may be reminded to stretch our gaze to your heavens,
admit all that we do not know,
and wonder knowingly about our place in your star-filled eternity.

People:

All this we ask through Jesus our Saviour,

by whom and with whom and in whom,
in the mysterious unity of your Spirt,
all honor and glory was and is and always will be yours
Amen.

Page 7

Presider:
All say:

And now we pray as Jesus taught us,

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Presider breaks the bread in silence and then says:

Presider:

People:

Equipped with our five senses,

we explore the space around ourselves and call the adventure science.
Science without faith is lame; faith without science is blind.
Come now into to the unity of all our knowing.
Amen.

THE COMMUNION
The Presider and people receive communion. All are welcome to come forward. You may receive the
bread and wine, or just the bread if that is your custom. Gluten-free bread is available by alerting the
priest. If you wish to receive a blessing, please signify by crossing your hands over your chest.

Page 8

MUSIC

AT

COMMUNION

SKY

FULL OF STARS

Coldplay

Cause you're a sky cause you're a sky full of stars

I'm gonna give you my heart
Cause you're a sky cause you're a sky full of stars
Cause you light up the path
And I don't care go on and tear me apart
And I don't care if you do
Cause in a sky cause in a sky full of stars
I think I saw you
Cause you're a sky cause you're a sky full of stars
I want to die in your arms
Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark
I'm gonna give you my heart
And I don't care go on and tear me apart
And I don't care if you do
Cause in a sky cause in a sky full of stars
I think I see you
I think I see you
Cause in a sky cause in a sky full of stars
I think I see you
I think I see you
Cause you're a sky you're a sky full of stars
Such a heavenly view
You're such a heavenly view

PRAYER

AFTER

COMMUNION

Presider:

Let us pray.

All say:

Light who does our souls enlighten; Sun, who all our life does brighten; Joy, the
sweetest we shall know; Fount, from which all being flows. From this banquet let us
measure, how vast and deep are your treasures. Through the gifts you here have
given, receive us as your guests in heaven. Amen.

Page 9

BLESSING
Presider:
People:

AND

DISMISSAL

God be with you.

And also with you.

The Presider blesses the people, saying:

All say:

God give you a sense of longing to know what is knowable, the courage to follow whatever stars of revelation come into your sight, and the humility to leave room for divine
mystery; and the blessing of God, Eternal Majesty, Incarnate Word, and Abiding Spirit,
be upon you, and remain with you forever.
Amen.

Presider:
People:

Go now gently into this good night, and remember divine love is always with you.
Thanks be to God.

HYMN

THE

PEOPLE WHO IN DARKNESS WALKED




       
The
To
To
His
His
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peo - ple
hail thy
the
us
name shall
power in -

who
ris prom be
creas -









in
ing,
ised
the
ing

dark - ness
Sun of
Child is
Prince of
still shall

walked
life
born,
Peace
spread,

11

who
their
and
the
and

dwelt in
har - vest
all the
might - y
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have
the
to
for
his

them broke
as
ous
shall the
Won - der tice shall

 

glo - rious light;

seen a
ga - thering na - tions come,
is given;
us the Son
a - dored,
ev - er - more
reign no end shall know;

     


on
joy him
the
jus -




      

    

forth
when
tribes
ful,
guard

 
   
the
the
of
the
his

heaven - ly
reap - ers
earth o Coun - sel throne a -

dawn
bear
bey
or,
bove,

death
and night
treas - ures home.
hosts
of heaven.
God
and Lord
bound
be - low

Page 10

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Liturgical Texts:

This liturgy was created for The Wilderness by The Reverend Canon Jadon D. Hartsuff, 2015
The Hymn to the Creator of Light was adapted from original text by Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626).
The prayer that concludes the Prayers of the People was adapted from the text of A Prayer of the Middle Ages, by an unknown author, c. 700 A.D., as presented in composer Howard Hanson' motet of the same title.
The Confession and Forgiveness were inspired by quotes and phrases from the film Interstellar (2014).
The Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer contains a quote from Noble Prize winning physicist Erwin Schrodinger's work What is Life?
(Macmillan: 1946).
The Prayer After Communion was adapted from original text attributed to J. Franck (1618-77).
Music:
Improvised instrumental music is inspired by the soundtrack of the film Interstellar (2014) by Hans Zimmer.
The Offertory and Closing hymns are from the Hymnal 1981, arranged for The Wilderness by Ryan McCarthy and Chad Johnson.
The Song at Communion is Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars," (Released 2014) by Tim Bergling, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland,
Will Champion, and Chris Martin, arranged for The Wilderness by Ryan McCarthy and Chad Johnson.

1350 Washington Street

Denver, CO 80203
( 303-831-7115
www.sjcathedral.org