Worship Guide
January 11, 2026
Baptism of the Lord
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greeting:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: Living Waters - Stefanie
Centering Words:
I am your servant, Creator of All. I am your chosen. May you delight in me!
*Call to Worship:
Jim: You who created the heavens and stretched them out above us,
Dorothy: You who spread out the earth beneath our feet and summoned sprouts and shoots,
People: Breathe life into us, God Who Creates!
Jim: You who came to the river,
Dorothy: You who sought the Baptizer and the Jordan waters,
People: Welcome us to the waters of life, Jesus the Christ!
Jim: You who soared through the heavens,
Dorothy: You who hovered and rested upon Jesus,
People: Alight upon us today, Spirit of God, Heaven’s Dove.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: You Who Call Us, we come before you in answer your call in our life. You created the heavens and the earth and placed us here for life and hope. We know your dream for a world that is righteous and just, a world you promise will come to pass. Breathe your Spirit upon us again and again, and bring to life our passion for your bold vision. Make us lights to those who sit in darkness! In the name of Jesus, who descended into the waters of baptism to show us the way to righteousness, and of the Soaring Spirit, who alights upon those who arise from these life-giving waters. Amen.
Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty”
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only Thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons Blessed Trinity.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Isaiah assures us that our weakness and limitation do not stand in the way of God’s plans for the world or God’s pleasure in us.
We are God’s beloved children, God’s partners in the work of world-renewing.
We are God’s chosen in whom the Creator delights.
Amen.
*Old Testament 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.
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: I Can Only Imagine
Hymn: “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Sermon: “Power of Presence” 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.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Come, Thou Almighty King”
Come, thou almighty King, help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise!
Father all glorious, o'er all victorious,
come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!
Come, thou incarnate Word, gird on thy mighty sword,
our prayer attend!
Come, and thy people bless, and give thy Word success,
Spirit of holiness, on us descend!
Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart, and ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power!
To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be, hence, evermore.
thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see,
and to eternity love and adore!
Affirmation of Faith: “The Apostles Creed”
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
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: “The Summons”
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found,
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Benediction
Hymn: “As We Go”
As we go, may your Spirit go before us.
As we go, may we follow where you lead.
May we live what we have learned,
share the message we have heard,
and be a light unto the world
as we go.
