Worship Guide
January 9, 2022
Epiphany / Baptism of the Lord Sunday
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “When Hope Came Down” Stefanie
Centering Words:
The Spirit dances in the water, waiting in baptism to join us in the fire of God’s love. Come to the waters. Come to the Spirit. Come to the journey of a lifetime-a journey through death to life everlasting.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Sing praises to the Lord. Sing of God’s glory and strength.
People: God calls us over the waters, and strengthens us for the journey.
Leader: Sing praises to Christ. Sing of Christ’s healing and love.
People: The waters of our baptism cleanse us, renewing our spirits and nursing our wounds.
Leader: Sing praises to the Spirit. Sing of the Spirit’s comfort and hope.
People: The flames of the Spirit are like a refiner’s fire, purifying the soul to the glory of God.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Source of love and mercy, as we enter a new year in the life of this church, may our love for you be made known in our love for one another. Help us leave old grievances and former arguments behind, as we open our hearts to the possibilities that lie before us. Guide our footsteps into the glory of your ways, that we may live as you created us to be— beloved children, crowned with glory and honor. May our worship reflect the greatness of our calling, and the honor of our heritage. Amen.
Hymn: “Adoration”
Worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him,
His glory proclaim.
With gold of obedience
and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him-
the Lord is His name!
Fear not to enter
His presence in poverty,
Bearing no gifts
to present as your own.
Bring truth in its beauty
and live in its purity-
These are the off'rings
to lay at His throne.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Do not worry, sisters and brothers, for God has redeemed you and called you by name.
Do not worry, children of the promise, for God is with us even now, gathering the lost into the light of everlasting love and faithfulness.
Thanks be to God. Amen
*New Testament Reading: Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Leader: This is the Word of God, for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God!
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Clean Slate in Christ”
Hymn: “That Beautiful Name”
I know of a name,
A beautiful name,
That angels bro't down to earth;
They whipered it low,
One night long ago,
To a maiden of lowly birth.
That beautiful name,
That beautiful name
From sin has power to free us!
That beautiful name,
That wonderful name,
That matchless name is Jesus!
I know of a name,
A beautiful name,
That unto a Babe was given;
The stars glittered bright
Thro' out that glad night,
And angels praised God in heav'n.
That beautiful name,
That beautiful name
From sin has power to free us!
That beautiful name,
That wonderful name,
That matchless name is Jesus!
The One of that name
My Savior became,
My Savior of Calvary;
My sins nailed Him there,
My burdens to bear,
He suffered all this for me.
That beautiful name,
That beautiful name
From sin has power to free us!
That beautiful name,
That wonderful name,
That matchless name is Jesus!
I love that blest name,
That wonderful name,
Made higher than all in heaven;
'Twas whispered, I know,
In my heart long ago,
To Jesus my life I've given.
That beautiful name,
That beautiful name
From sin has power to free us!
That beautiful name,
That wonderful name,
That matchless name is Jesus!
Sermon: “Well Pleased” 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 thong 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.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Carol of the Epiphany”
I sought him dressed in finest clothes,
where money talks and status grows;
but power and wealth he never chose:
It seemed he lived in poverty.
I sought him in the safest place,
remote from crime or cheap disgrace;
but safety never knew his face:
It seemed he lived in jeopardy.
I sought him where the spotlights glare,
where crowds collect and critics stare;
but no one knew his presence there:
It seemed he lived in obscurity.
Then, in the streets, we heard the word
that seem, for all the world, absurd:
That those who could no gifts afford
were entertaining Christ the Lord.
And so, distinct from all we'd planned,
among the poorest of the land,
we did what few might understand:
We touched God in a baby's hand.
Psalter: Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
the Lord makes Lebanon to skip life a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness,
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forests bare;
and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as Ruler for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen. Amen
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of light;
Angels lifting praise before You
Sing thro-out this holy night.
In a manger lies a Baby-
Child of Mary, Son of God.
Voices joined in joyful chorus
Praise You for Your gift of love.
All Your works declare Your glory;
All creation joins to sing.
Praise resounds as earth rejoices
In the birth of Christ, the King.
Shepherds kneel before the Infant.
Trumpets sound and anthems raise
As with joy our hearts are lifted,
Joined in wonder, love, and praise.
Benediction
