Bulletin – Sunday, January 15, 2023 – Baptism of Christ

Sunday, January 15, 2023
Baptism of Christ

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Gracious and all loving God, as we light this candle today we hear you call to us across deep waters and dark places. Yours is the light which guides us and the voice which we follow. We pray that you would reveal yourself to us as we worship you. May those without hope be encouraged, those who are sad, cheered; those who are seeking, find you; and may all things be according to your will. As we light this candle we come together in the name of your beloved son, the bringer of light to the world, to worship you.

Call to Worship

One:   Today we celebrate a special baptism, the baptism of Jesus of Nazareth. God says: Look! See my chosen servant, the One in whom I utterly delight;
All:      I have placed my Spirit on him, he will bring true justice to the nations.

One:   When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened up, and Spirit came down like a dove; and there was a voice from heaven saying:
All:      “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am delighted.”

One:   Today as we come to worship, we too come to that river
All:      hoping to catch sight of the Spirit descending.

One:   May all that we do here be filled with the Spirit of God,
All:      as we worship together today.

Hymn – “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart:
Wean it from earth, thro’ all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, strength to me impart,
And make me love you as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies,
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Have you not bid me love you, God and King;
All, all your own, soul, heart, and strength and mind?
I see your cross: there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek you and O let me find!

Teach me to love you as your angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame,
The baptism of the heaven-descended dove,
My heart an altar and your love the flame.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Most wonderful God, foolish and flawed though we are, we too delight in your beloved Son. As in his name we gather in the house of many praises, may the heavens be opened for us, that we may catch a glimpse of that Light and Love that transforms our common days with a beauty not of our making.

Yet, we are incredibly stubborn, O God. We have entered the season in which your Light has been given to the world, your blessings have been poured out on the world, and yet all we can think about is our own problems, our own needs, our own desires. Help us to desire you, Gracious God. Help us to yearn for your presence.

Pour your baptismal waters over us again, cleansing us from our self-pity and arrogance. Nourish and heal us so that we may joyfully serve you. Wash away our jealousy, greed, and all negative thoughts and behaviours that stand in the way of our truly being the people you have called us to be. Again let us receive the blessings offered in creation, in the birth and baptism of Jesus, and in the ministry of the saints of light. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “River”

River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
River, from a mountain high.
River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.

Spirit, come-a-down to the riverside,
Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
Spirit, pray that I be taught!

Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r.
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour,
Water, help my body live.

River, flow-a-down where you ran before,
River, source of clearer view.
River, as I walk your rocky shore,
River, see my journey through.
See my journey through.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Isaiah 42:1-9

¹ Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. ² He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; ³ a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. ⁴ He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. ⁵ 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: ⁶ 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, ⁷ to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. ⁸ I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. ⁹ See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 3:13-17

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “To Be Worthy”

Anthem – “The Power of Your Love”

Offering / Response

Your work, O God, needs many hands to help your everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   God who shows no partiality, show your favouritism on all your people. Send forth your justice for all to see. Save us your people. Empower us to preach and testify to your great love and mercy.

One:   God who makes and keeps covenant with your people, You called us to be a light to the nations, to open eyes that are blind, to set the prisoners free, help us to answer your call that these things come to pass.

One:   God of grace and glory, we pray for those who suffer from pains and sorrows. We pray for those whose hearts are broken. We pray for those whose families are fractured. We pray for those whom we lift up to you this day…We pray for those whose lives are ravaged by war. We pray for those who struggle with poverty, and starvation. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and tortured for their beliefs.

One:   Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for pouring out your Spirit on your son and pouring your spirit out on us too. May we too hear you say to us this day that “This is my son, my daughter, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Amen.

Hymn – “I have Called You by Your Name”

I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.

I will help you learn my name as you go;
Read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim,
Offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

I know you will need my touch as you go;
Feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt,
Hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.

Benediction

Go in peace; love and care for one another in the name of Christ, and may the Spirit of God which filled John and Jesus, fill your hearts, souls and minds; may the power of God which upheld them, strengthen you for each day, and may the love of God which directed their every action be your guiding light and your shining star, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Response

Your glory shone a Jordan’s stream,
The font where we were born anew.
Attune your church to know you near;
Illumine all we say and do.