Worship Guide
January 12, 2025
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Baptism of the Lord
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: Stefanie
Centering Words:
The waters of God’s blessing flow through our lives, quenching our thirst, bringing forth new hope.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Come to the waters.
People: We gather at the river.
Leader: Come to the waters.
People: The waters of grace flow over us.
Leader: Come to the waters.
People: We are washed in God’s love.
Leader: Come to the waters.
People: We are God’s beloved children.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: God of strength, God of love, surround us with your love. Gather us in as your beloved children. Open our ears to hear your voice. Open our hearts to the power of your transforming love. May your waters of grace pour over us, renewing us for your work in the world. Bless us in this holy time. 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
God says, “Don’t be afraid.”
God calls and names us as God’s own.
Praises be to God. Amen.
*Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
6 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—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
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: “Don’t Be a Husk”
Hymn: “When Jesus Came to Jordan”
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.
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.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make;
this very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.
Sermon: “I Will Be With You” Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 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. 17 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.”
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 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.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Two Fishermen”
Two fishermen, who lived along the Sea of Galilee,
stood by the shore to cast their nets into an ageless sea.
Now Jesus watched them from afar,
then called them each by name.
It changed their lives, these simple men;
they'd never be the same.
"Leave all things you have and come and follow me."
And as he walked along the shore
'twas James and John he'd find,
and these two sons of Zebedee
would leave their boats behind.
Their work and all they held so dear they left beside their nets.
Their names they'd heard as Jesus called;
they came without regret.
"Leave all things you have and come and follow me."
O Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John beloved one,
you heard Christ's call to speak good news
revealed to God's own Son.
Susanna, Mary, Magdalene who traveled with your Lord,
you ministered to him with joy for he is God adored.
"Leave all things you have and come and follow me."
And you, good Christians, one and all who'd follow Jesus' way,
come leave behind what keeps you bound
to trappings of our day, and listen as he calls
your name to come and follow near,
for still he speaks in varied ways to those his call will hear.
"Leave all things you have and come and follow me."
Psalter: The Nicene Creed
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.
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: “Here I Am, Lord”
Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I will hold Your people in my heart
Benediction
Hymn: “Until Jesus Comes”
Until Jesus comes,
Until Jesus comes,
I’ll be watching and waiting
Until Jesus comes.
Until Jesus comes,
Until Jesus comes,
I’ll be watching and waiting
Until Jesus comes.
