The Celebration of the Gospel
January 12 , 2020 — Baptism of Jesus
“This is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”.
—Matthew 3.17
_____ We Are Received as Children of God_____
GREETING
PRELUDE – I Surrender All – Winifred S. Weeden, arr: Brian Buda
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Reader: In the beginning when God began to create,
the world was formless and void,
and the Spirit of God brooded over the waters.
All: The voice of the Holy One is over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
The light was the life of all beings.
The Spirit like a dove descends upon us.
O God, we worship you. We serve you. We trust you.
* SONG – Come, Let Us with Our Lord Arise – Black hymnal #2084
_____ We Are Transformed by the Love of Christ____
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG – Days of Elijah – Twila Paris
PRAYER
God of love, as John baptized Jesus in the Jordan, baptize us in your Word. Immerse us in your presence, fill us with your Spirit, wash us with your grace, nourish us with your joy, and empower us to do your will, for the sake of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
HEBREW BIBLE – Isaiah 42.1-9
[One of the “Servant Songs” praising God’s servant, who does God’s will even at great price. God says the servant is “my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (a phrase quoted at Jesus’ baptism). This servant will be nonviolent (“a bruised reed he will not break”) and will establish justice and liberate the oppressed and imprisoned.]
You all are my servants, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit within you;
you are to bring forth justice to the nations.
Do not cry or lift up your voice,
or make it heard in the street.
Gently, so as not to break a bruised reed
or quench a faint candle,
faithfully bring forth true justice.
You will not grow faint or be crushed
until you have established justice in the earth;
and far lands wait for your teaching.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is whom I am;
I yield my glory to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
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GOSPEL – Matthew 3.13 – 4.1
[John baptizes Jesus. The voice from heaven alludes to two Old testament scriptures: “This is my son” sounds like Psalm 2, which people in Jesus’ time considered to be about the Messiah. The phrase “with whom I am well pleased” quotes Isaiah’s song about a suffering servant. The combination of the two allusions suggests that Jesus is the Messiah—though not a conquering warrior, but a suffering reconciler.]
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for in this way we are in harmony with God.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Own, my Beloved, in whom my soul delights.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
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SERMON – Into the water… into the wilderness
_______We Renew Our Baptism in Christ______
SONG – O Blessed Spring – Black hymnal # 2076
Introduction
Pastor: Beloved in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God gives us new birth through water and the Spirit,
brings us into Christ’s holy church,
and makes us part of the salvation of the world.
So we come to the water—
Yes, everyone who thirsts! Come to the waters:
water of new birth, poured out and flowing freely
for all who will receive it;
water of justice rolling down,
water of righteousness like an everflowing stream;
a spring of water in us gushing up to eternal life;
the river of God for the healing of the world.
We come to this water
because our souls thirst for you, O God,
as in a dry and weary land.
All: We come to this water
to renew our love as siblings in Christ,
and to renew our baptism
in the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Baptismal Vows
As we behold the mystery of God’s grace,
I invite you to profess your faith,
and to confirm the baptismal covenant made in your name:
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?
We confess our need for the saving, life-giving grace of God!
Will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?
We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
reject the evil powers of this world,
and repent of our sin!
Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?
We accept the freedom and power God gives us
to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves!
Will you receive God’s grace, give yourselves wholly to God,
and live as disciples of Jesus, Christ’s body on earth?
We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior,
put our whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as our Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races!
According to the grace given you,
will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church
and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
Will you be living witnesses to the gospel,
individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?
We will remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church
and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world.
Will you nurture one another in living the faith through the church?
With God’s help we will embody the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We will surround each other with faith, hope and love
that we all may grow in grace and faith
and learn to trust God and live in loving service in the world.
We will pray for each other and walk with one another
on our journey of discipleship together.
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Spirit of God is among us.
The blessing of the Beloved is upon us!
Loving, life-giving God, we give you thanks,
for in the beginning your Spirit brooded over the waters
and you brought forth Creation.
You brought us to freedom through the waters of the Red Sea.
You gave us new birth through baptism into Christ,
and gave us life that cannot die.
The river of God is full of water,
the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal, flowing from the heart of God.
We who are baptized into Christ Jesus
are baptized into his life,
born in the water of a womb;
we are baptized into his ministry,
giving water to the thirsty,
washing the feet and sharing the tears of all who suffer;
and we are baptized into his death,
so that just as Christ was raised by the glory of God,
we too might walk in newness of life.
Born of water and the Spirit,
may we enter into the Realm of God
as children of God,
born not of human will, but of God.
Pour out your Holy Spirit in this water
and bless us as we receive it,
that claimed by your Word, nourished in your grace,
washed from all sin and borne by your Spirit,
we may live in freedom, trust and courage,
sharing in the eternal life of Christ.
O God, in this water we hear your blessing:
“You are my children, my beloved,
in whom I am pleased.”
All reverence and delight is yours,
infinite and loving God, now and forever. Amen!
Receiving the Water
SONG – Bless the Lord – Black hymnal # 2013
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
____We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit__
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – Shall We Gather At The River – Robert Lowry, arr: Alice Jordan
* OFFERING SONG – [Tune: Sing We Now of Christmas]
God, we rise to serve you, baptized in your love
as your Holy Spirit hovers like a dove.
We, your Beloved, whom you bless with grace,
offer you our gifts with love and joy and peace.
God your Spirit in us, dove with wings unfurled,
gives us pow’r to bring forth justice to the world.
Baptized in Christ, we serve with mercy’s grace,
bringing to the world your love and joy and peace.
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Lead us always into the depths of your love, into the journey of discernment, and into the world to serve, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – When Jesus Was Baptized Steve G-H
When Jesus was baptized, John said to repent,
and follow the Righteous One whom God had sent.
So wash us, dear God, and create us anew,
born fresh from your grace, living wholly in you.
When Jesus was baptized in waters that flow,
he sank in the Source of what makes all things grow.
So, held in Creation, renewed and made one,
we swim in the grace of your life-giving Son.
When Jesus was baptized in light, like a dove
your Spirit came down and you filled him with love.
So give us your Spirit: let all that we do
be you living in us, as we live in you.
When Jesus was baptized you spoke from above,
saying “This is my servant, my child, whom I love.”
So help us to hear you speak love when you call,
and as your Beloved, share freely with all.
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE – Lyric Psalm – George Burke