1/10/2021
Prelude Miriam Enman
Call to Worship: Psalm 29
A Psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirionlike a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. | |
| “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!” Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me! | |
| Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. | |
| Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! | |
Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
God of heaven and earth, we gather in the name of Jesus to hear your hold Word and to be immersed in your Spirit. Speak to us with grace and truth and pour out your love upon us so that this temple may resound with joyful shots of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Offering
Special Music Tenasia Longacker
Prayer for Offering
We give you thanks, O God, for every blessing and spiritual gift you have poured out upon us. Let the gifts of our lives be a source of blessing in your world, all to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Give strength, O Lord… and bless us with peace.
Sprit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me:
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all;
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
Gospel Text: Mark 1: 4-11
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”
Questions to Ponder:
- What does baptism mean to you?
- What is the difference between baptism with water alone (John’s baptism) and baptism with the Holy Spirit (baptism into Jesus)?
- Why is it still important to use water in baptism?
- What does water mean in your daily life?
- What difference does the Holy Spirit make in baptism
- What difference does the Holy Spirit make in your daily life?
- This is one place in Scripture where we have the Triune God together (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). How are they Three and yet One?
- When we are baptized, we make promises to God, to self and to our fellow believers, which promises do you remember?
- In the Book of Common Prayer’s Baptismal Covenant, the celebrant asks the whole membership (body of Christ) a series of theological questions to affirm and remember in their baptized lives. The last question is appropriate for these stormy days: “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”
May we respond as the people are asked:
“I will, with God’s help.”
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
I’m born of his Spirit and washed in his blood
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy and whispers of love
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blessed
You know I’m watching and waiting, I’m looking above
Filled with His goodness and I’m lost in his love
Blessing
Postlude
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