Sunday, January 12, 2025 – Baptism of Jesus / Communion
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Baptism of Jesus / Communion
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
One: We are not alone
All: We live in God’s world!
One: We are called to be the church,
All: We gather to celebrate God’s presence.
One: God is with us.
All: We are not alone!
Hymn – “In the Darkness Shines the Splendour” (VU #92)
In darkness shines the splendour of the Word who took our flesh,
Welcoming, in love’s surrender, death’s dark shadow at his creche.
Bearing every human story, Word made flesh reveals his glory.
Light of nations, veiled in history, born of woman’s flesh and blood,
Calling to the depths of mystery restless hearts that seek the good.
Healing every human story, Word made flesh reveals his glory.
Broken bread, sustaining us in sorrow, wine poured out to toast our joy;
Exodus and new tomorrow, life’s full promise to enjoy!
Gladdening every human story, Word made flesh reveals his glory.
All God’s people, sing in jubilation of the birth that sets us free,
Telling of the revelation. Jesus, God’s epiphany.
Celebrate the human story! Word made flesh reveals our glory.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Come, Holy Spirit, come to awaken our faith, to inspire our hope, to embolden our love and let Christ live in us. Come, Holy Spirit!
All: Holy God we confess that we have not been awake in our faith. We have failed to see you all around us. We have forgotten how to live your love. Awaken us again. Invite us to your table. Inspire our living and help us to be instruments of your peace. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response – “Gloria” (VU #37)
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!
Glory to God, glory to God, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Epiphany Words
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-2, 5-7
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth—7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Down by the Jordan”
Down by the Jordan, a prophet named John was baptizing,
Preaching a message the people found bold and surprising:
“God will forgive! Show that you’ll change how you live!
Surely god’s new day is rising!”
There by the river, the crowd came with great expectation:
“Are you God’s Chosen One, sent here to rescue our nation?”
“No!” John replied. “He who is mightier that I
Judges and offers salvation.”
Jesus, you went to be baptized along with the others,
Taking your place among sinners, God’s lost sons and daughters.
Then with great love, God’s Spirit came as a dove!
Your work began in those waters.
Here in the Church, we are baptized and filled with God’s Spirit.
Freed and forgiven, we’re welcomed with joy! Can you hear it?
This is God’s sign! This is how God says, “You’re mine!”
Let’s take the good news and share it!
Meditation
We Respond to God’s Word
An Invitation to Share
Offering Sung Response – “Grant Us, God, the Grace” (VU #540)
Grant us, God, the grace of giving;
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.
Offering Prayer
Prayers of the People
Hymn – “Bread of Life, Feed My Soul” (MV #194)
Bread of life, feed my soul, as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.
Bread of life, fill my heart with the grace and mercy you impart.
I have heard your voice calling,
“Come, my friend, and share in the feats
That is laid out for you to show how much I came.”
Bread of life, help me live a life as pure and true a Jesus did.
Bread of life, help me see the boundless love of Christ for you and me.
I have heard your voice calling,
“Come, my friend, and share in the feats
That is laid out for you to show how much I came.”
Bread of life, feed my soul, as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.
Bread of life, fill my heart with the grace and mercy you impart.
Communion
One: We gather joyfully, prayer-fully and hopefully. We gather at the invitation of the resurrected Christ who welcomes all who hunger and thirst for grace and peace and righteousness.
All: We thank you God.
One: God, You created the world. At the heart of all creation is Your heart our Creator. You have birthed stars, planets, galaxies and universes, light and shadow and a wondrous array of life.
All: We thank you God.
One: We are thankful for this amazing, diverse, precious world that is our home. All the time and seasons of life are held in Your grace.
All: We thank you God.
One: You have inspired people, young and old, to be bearers of courageous love. You have called us to acts of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation.
All: We thank you God.
One: As we come to this table, we remember how Jesus embodied Your love. He suffered and died because he refused to participate in the death-dealing violence of the world; but death could not and cannot overcome Your creative love. We are now a people of resurrection faith.
All: We thank you God.
One: Jesus taught those who listened, healed those who trusted and welcomed all who sought him. He enacted peace in the midst of violence, love in the face of hate. He offered new life to all who suffered.
All: We thank you God.
One: We thank you, God, for the incredible gift of Jesus, the Word made flesh. As companions of Jesus, the Christ, we gather at this table. We remember how Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
All: We thank you God.
One: He blessed the bread, broke it and shared it saying, “This is my body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: He blessed the cup and said, “This is my life, poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
One: God, bless this bread and cup, that in the blessing breaking and sharing, Christ might be born again in our lives.
One: Hear this and all our prayers for we unite and offer them together saying,
All: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by 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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking, The Pouring, The Sharing
Prayer after Communion
Thank you, O gracious God, for this feast of life. We are fed by your love, we are strengthened by your life, we are filled with the hope and healing. Enable us to live your love, to feed as we have been fed, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and always, to love as we have been loved. Thanks be to God. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “I Have Called You By Your Name” (MV #161)
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
Sung Response – “O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word” (VU #84, verse 3)
Your glory shone at Jordan’s stream,
The font where we were born anew.
Attune your church to know you near;
Illumine all we say and do.
