Virtual Worship for January 9, 2022
Baptism of Our Lord
Worship at 9:00 a.m.
The congregation reads the boldface responses.
Once the prelude has begun, please cease all conversation
as we prepare our hearts and minds for worship.
PRELUDE
Down to the River to Pray – African American Spiritual
INTRODUCTION
Today’s festival rejoices in God’s blessings. We recall and celebrate our adoption as God’s children, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promised company of almighty God when we “pass through the waters . . . the rivers . . . fire.” On this day the heavens open again for this assembly, and we receive the gift of God’s Beloved, Jesus, in bread and wine.
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please stand as you are able.
GATHERING HYMN
Christ When for Us You Were Baptized (ELW 304)
1. Christ, when for us you were baptized,
God's Spirit on you came,
as peaceful as a dove, and yet
as urgent as a flame,
as urgent as a flame.
2. God called you, "My beloved Son";
you are God's servant true,
sent to proclaim the reign of heav'n,
God's holy will to do,
God's holy will to do.
3. Straightway and steadfast until death
you then obeyed the call
to serve with free and willing heart,
to give your life for all,
to give your life for all.
4. Baptize us with your Spirit, Lord;
your cross on us be signed,
that likewise in God's service we
may perfect freedom find,
may perfect freedom find.
Text: F. Bland Tucker, 1895-1984, alt.
Text © 1985 Church Pension Fund, admin. Church Publishing Incorporated. All rights reserved.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who creates us,
redeems us,
and calls us by name.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
and your beloved children.
We have turned our faces away from your glory
when it did not appear as we expected.
We have rejected your word
when it made us confront ourselves.
We have failed to show hospitality
to those you called us to welcome.
Accept our repentance for the things we have done
and the things we have left undone.
For the sake of Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us and lead us, that we may bathe
in the glory of your Son born among us,
and reflect your love for all creation.
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.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
A PRAYER FOR THE CALL COMMITTEE
Dear God, we thank you for your continued guidance as we look for the next pastor to lead, inspire, and help our church grow. We ask that you bless our call committee. Keep their hearts open and their eyes looking to you, so that you may direct all that they do towards the vision and plan you have for us. Again, we thank you Lord for all your blessings of wisdom, knowledge, and strength during this time of transition and your plentiful blessings unbeknown to us in the future. We pray this in your name. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING
Isaiah 43:1-7
Near the end of Israel’s exile in Babylon, God promises to bring the people home. They need no longer be afraid, because the one who formed, created, and called them by name now redeems them from all their enemies. God declares them precious and honored, and God loves them.
1But 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.
2When 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.
3For 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.
4Because 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.
5Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
6I 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—
7everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALMODY
Psalm 29
(Read responsively.)
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.
SECOND READING
Acts 8:14-17
Peter and John are sent to support the new Christians in Samaria, a group that was recently baptized after hearing the good news of Christ through the preaching of Philip. Here the Samaritans receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the laying on of hands.
14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The 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). 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL
Luke 3:15-17,21-22
The Holy Gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John 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. 17His 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.”
21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and 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.
Please be seated.
SERMON
Do Not Fear – We Are Beloved
Pastor Brown
Please stand as you are able
HYMN OF THE DAY
Shall we Gather at the River (WOV 690)
1. Shall we gather at the river,
where bright angel feet have trod,
with its crystal tide forever
flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.
2. On the margin of the river,
washing up its silver spray,
we will walk and worship ever,
all the happy golden day. Refrain
3. Ere we reach the shining river,
lay we ev'ry burden down;
grace our spirits will deliver,
and provide a robe and crown. Refrain
4. Soon we'll reach the shining river,
soon our pilgrimage will cease;
soon our happy hearts will quiver
with the melody of peace. Refrain
Text: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
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.
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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
The Spirit of the Lord is poured out upon us in abundance; so we are bold to pray for the church, the world, and all that God has made.
The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is “hear our prayer.”
The prayers conclude:
Since we have such great hope in your promises, O God, we lift these and all of our prayers to you in confidence and faith; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Please be seated.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
What a Beautiful Name
Ben Fielding | Brooke Ligertwood
Please stand as you are able.
OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God,
Sovereign of the universe.
You offer us new beginnings
and guide us on our journey.
Lead us to your table,
nourish us with this heavenly food,
and prepare us to carry your love
to a hungry world,
in the name of Christ our light.
Amen.
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.
SENDING
BLESSING
God, who leads you in pathways of righteousness,
who rejoices over you,
and who calls you by name,
☩ bless your going out and your coming in,
today and forever.
Amen.
SENDING HYMN
When Jesus Came to Jordan (WOV 647)
1. When Jesus came to Jordan
to be baptized by John,
he did not come for pardon
but as the Sinless One.
He came to share repentance
with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence
with which good news begins.
2. He came to share temptation,
our utmost woe and loss,
for us and our salvation
to die upon the cross.
So when the dove descended
on him, the Son of Man,
the hidden years had ended,
the age of grace began.
3. Come, Holy Spirit, aid us
to keep the vows we make;
this very day invade us,
and ev'ry bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction,
the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection
that leads to Pentecost.
Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000
Text © 1980 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.
DISMISSAL
Go with Christ into a weary world.
Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
God With Us (Song of the Month)
Jayme Thompson – Sarah Hart
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB125183.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-738200. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with licenses #2332347and #20946066 . All rights reserved.”