Baptism of Our Lord

CALL TO WORSHIP

We are marked as God's beloved ones.

What have we done to deserve God's love?

God's love is God's free gift to us, always and forever.

Even when we are difficult and turn away from God,

God's love never vanishes from us.

Thanks be to God who is ever faithful to us, AMEN.

OPENING PRAYER

Lord of Hope and Light, in the midst of Darkness you offered light to people who lived in fear. Today that light comes to us as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Open our hearts this day and remind us that you have marked us as people of hope and light. Prepare us to serve you by serving your world. Amen.

GATHERING SONGS “You Are Mine” #581

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

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

Amen.

As God's beloved children, let us call to mind our sin

and our need for reconciliation with God and one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Strong and faithful God,

we confess that we have not lived as your holy people in the world.

We have closed our hearts to your love.

We have resisted your light.

We have failed to proclaim your mercy.

Forgive what we have done and what we have left undone,

heal us with your abundant grace,

and help us walk as children of the light.

Amen.

Rejoice in this good news: In ☩ Christ Jesus, your sins are forgiven.

You are descendants of the Most High, adopted into the household of Christ,

and inheritors of eternal life. Live as freed and forgiven children of God.

Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 43:1–7

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. 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.

For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 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–everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

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 voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

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.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Almighty God, you anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and revealed him as your beloved Son. Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit faithful in your service, that we may rejoice to be called children of God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 3:15–17, 21–22

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

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 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. 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."

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 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."

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

SERMON - Rev. Dr. Bob Miller

HYMN OF THE DAY “We Are Baptized in Christ Jesus” #451

SERVICE OF AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

PRESENTATION

Dear friends, we give thanks for the gift of baptism and for these people, one with us in the body of Christ, who are making public affirmation of their baptism.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?

Response: I renounce them.

Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?

Response: I renounce them.

Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?

Response: I renounce them.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

Affirmation by the Assembly

You have made public profession of your faith.

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:

to live among God’s faithful people,

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,

to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,

and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

People of God, do you promise to support and pray for one another in your life in Christ?

We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

Let us pray.

We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence both now and forever.

Amen.

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

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

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 “Thy Holy Wings” #613

SENDING

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

POSTLUDE

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.