Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

—Isaiah 60:1-3, NIV

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God.

—John 1:9, 12, NIV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him

while we are walking in darkness,

we lie and do not do what is true;

but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

—1 John 1:5-7, NRSV

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness

but will have the light of life.”

—from John 8:12, NIV

God of goodness and grace,

with you is the fountain of life,

and in your light we see light.

Now may we leave this place,

ready to serve the risen Savior. Amen.

As we leave this service of worship,

let us go as the Magi left the infant Jesus,

rejoicing on our way that we have seen the living Lord,

ready to return to our daily life and work,

spreading the good news of Jesus the Christ.

Receive now these words of promise and blessing

from our Lord Jesus Christ:

Remember, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Do not be afraid.

I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness

but will have the light of life.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.

Abide in my love.”

Thanks be to God.

And let all God’s people say:

—from Matthew 28:20; John 14:27; 15:8; 8:12

God of light,

we praise you as the one who shows your glory

to the nations in the coming of Jesus Christ!

We thank you for reflections of your glory

in our world and in our community:

for your work in creation, especially . . .

for your work in the world, especially . . .

for your work in the church and local community . . .

Help us to see these signs of glory as signs of your coming kingdom.

We long for the fullness of that kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus.

In light of your love, we offer our petitions to you now,

coming to you in the name and power of Jesus Christ.

Today, we pray for

the creation and its care, especially . . .

the nations of the world, especially . . .

our nation and its leaders, especially . . .

our community and those who govern, especially . . .

the church universal, its mission, and those who minister, especially . . .

our local congregation and its ministry, especially . . .

people with particular needs, especially . . .

We offer these prayers in the strong name of Jesus Christ,

our light and our salvation. Amen.

Ruth Duck (b. 1947), is a professor of worship emerita at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Her powerful texts have emerged as the major part of the cutting edge of language that speaks of God in universal terms and in poetry that is as poignant as it is stoic. GIA has published fifty-eight of her texts in the collection Dancing in the Universe (G-3833). Seven of them are also set in octavo form. 

Before coming to Garrett in 1989, she served as pastor at United Church of Christ parishes in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Her undergraduate work was done at Southwestern-at-Memphis University, which is now called Rhodes College. 

She holds two masters degrees—one from Chicago Theological Seminary and one from the University of Notre Dame. Her doctorate in theology was earned at Boston University. Her academic credentials are weighty ones and balance beautifully with her pastoral experience dealing with the everyday tasks as the spiritual leader of a parish community.