The Baptism of Jesus
January 9, 2022
Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
– Galatians 3:27-28
“They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Welcome: Water is one of the most ancient symbols of our faith.
It was water that the Israelites came through into freedom.
It was water that Jesus was baptized in.
It was water by which he called the disciples.
It was water that he used to teach his disciples
how to be servants to all.
Today we take a Journey of our own Discipleship
through water and the Spirit.
We let go of all things we do not need.
We remember our belovedness.
We recommit to serve others with joy.
So let us now go down to the river to pray…
Gathering Music: Down to the River (Traditional) -Michelle Currie
Call To Worship:
Voice 1: In the beginning water cradled us in the womb
Holding us in suspension until we burst forth in the waters of birth
People: God’s love flows through the water
Voice 1: In the desert a small drop of water causes life to bloom
A tiny drop of water can quench our burning thirst for justice
People: God’s love flows through the water
Voice 1: In the roots of our being water provides sustenance
Without water our lives would shrivel and wither
People: God’s love flows through the water
Voice 1: In the times when we feel sullied and broken
We long to be reawakened by soaking in forgiving, transforming love
People: God’s love flows through the water
Voice 1: All water is holy. A sign that we have passed through troubles,
that we have been refreshed by a gift of life sustained by a love poured over us.
People: God’s love flows through the water
Voice 1: In the aftermath of water …
All: Voices randomly as a cacophany: flowing, pouring, falling, dropping, gushing, spilling, surging, tumbling, showering…
Voice 1: … is the rainbow sign of God’s continuing love at work within us
and through us.
People: God’s love flows through the water
Opening Hymn: Gather Us In *See lyric insert
Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, we thank you that in every age you have made water a sign of your presence. In the beginning your Spirit brooded over the waters and they became the source of all creation. You led your people Israel through the waters of the Red Sea to their new land of freedom and hope. In the waters of the Jordan, your Son was baptized by John and anointed with your Spirit for his ministry. May this same Spirit bless the water we use today, that it may be a fountain of a new creation. This is the water through which we experience the healing and wholeness, promising us that a time will come when all is good. Come, Spirit, come and be a new reality. Renew us as we acknowledge you are the victory, you are the grace, And you are the reason this gathering is a holy place. Come, Spirit, renew the hearts of all gathered for praise and prayer, renew in us the desire for justice and peace, liberation and life now and every day. Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Living Waters (by Kristyn Getty/Ed Walsh) -Michelle Currie
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -Anne Murray
Sermon: Called By Name -Rev. Paula Norbert
Sermon Response: Come to the Water (by John Foley) -Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The spirit brings release, so wait upon the lord.
Prayers of the People:
Closing Music: The Servant Song *See lyric insert
Benediction:
People of hope and peace, go into the world. Bring God’s healing love to all whom you meet. May you find ways to help with ministries, which promote justice and compassion. And may you always know how precious you are as one called by name. In Jesus’ Name, go in peace. AMEN.
Postlude: Go In Peace
Gather Us In (lyrics)
Here in this place our fears and our dream-ings brought here to you in the light of this day
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in the blind and the lame
Call to us now and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung through-out all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong
Give us a heart, so meek and so low-ly, give us the courage to enter the song.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven light years away
Here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, and now is the day,
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own
Gather us in, all people together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
The Servant Song (lyrics)
1,5. Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
2. We are pilgrims on a journey, we’re together on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
3. I will hold the Christ- light for you, in the night-time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
4. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
Our Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 43:1-7
43:1 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.
43:2 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.
43:3 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.
43:4 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.
43:5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;
43:6 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–
43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
3:16 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.
3:17 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.”
3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
3:22 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.”