1 Epiphany January 7

GATHERING SONG “Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters” #445

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness.

Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters

and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.

Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.

At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons,

making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life,

and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.

Shower us with your Spirit,

and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness,

your voice moves over the waters.

Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit,

that we may follow after your Son,

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 29

Ascribe to the LORD, you gods,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due God's name;

worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;

the LORD is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

the LORD makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD bursts forth in lightning flashes.

The LORD shakes the wilderness.

The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the LORD all are crying, "Glory!"

The LORD sits enthroned above the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king forevermore.

O LORD, give strength to your people;

give them, O LORD, the blessings of peace.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Mark 1:4-11

The holy gospel according to Saint Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON “The Beginning” Pastor Phil Wold

Below is the image I shared from the Saint Johns Bible

The Saint Johns Bible. Liturgical Press, St. Johns Abbey, Collegeville, MN. The Order of Saint Benedict. 2005

HYMN OF THE DAY “Jesus Shall Reign” #434

NICENE CREED

In infinite mercy God watched over the people of Israel. In unending love God sent his Son to be our Savior.

God delivered us from sin through the waters of Baptism.

With joy we proclaim in words and action the faith which makes us God’s own people. . .

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. God of time and eternity, you have given your only Son, born of Mary,

to save and redeem us. Bless us with all good things, that the works of our hands

through all the years of our lives may proclaim the news of your redeeming

love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

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 and ever. Amen.

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “Let All Things Now Living” #881

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.