Sunday, January 10, 2021

Order of Worship - The Sunday of the Baptism of our Lord (January 10, 10:30 am)

The livestream may be found here.

January 10, 2021, 10:30 am

The Baptism of our Lord


OPENING MUSIC                                        Songs of Thankfulness and Praise 

                                                                                                                        J. Pachelbel

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is  played:

 

1              Songs of thankfulness and praise,

                Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise;

                manifested by the star

                to the sages from afar,

                branch of royal David’s stem

                in thy birth at Bethlehem:

                anthems be to thee addressed,

                God in flesh made manifest.

 

2              Manifest at Jordan’s stream,

                Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;

                and at Cana wedding guest

                in thy Godhead manifest;

                manifest in pow’r divine,

                changing water into wine;

                anthems be to thee addressed,

                God in flesh made manifest.

 

3              Manifest in making whole

                palsied limbs and fainting soul;

                manifest in valiant fight,

                quelling all the devil’s might;

                manifest in gracious will,

                ever bringing good from ill:

                anthems be to thee addressed,

                God in flesh made manifest.

 

4             Grant us grace to see thee, Lord,

                present in thy holy word;

                grace to imitate thee now

                and be pure, as pure art thou;

                that we might become like thee

                at thy great epiphany,

                and may praise thee, ever blest,

                God in flesh made manifest.

 

Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885

 

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Stand

APOSTOLIC GREETING

 

Blessed are you, O God, king of the universe.

  From the rising of the sun to its setting

  your name is proclaimed in all the world.                                  Psalm 113:2-3

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.      2 Corinthians 13:13

  And also with you.

 

KYRIE ELEISON

 

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.                                 Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,

and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.       Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,

for the well-being of the Church of God,

and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.    Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house,

and for all who offer here their worship and praise,

let us pray to the Lord.                                                   Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.              Amen

 

HYMN OF PRAISE Gloria in excelsis Deo

 

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.         

 Luke 2:14

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:

                We worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

                Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God:

                You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

                You are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer.

                For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

                you alone are the Most High,

                Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen

 

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.

  And also with you.

 

Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with him of everlasting life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

  Amen

 

CALL TO THE WORD

The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;

the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.                                        Psalm 29:4

  Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

 

Sit

First Reading                                                                     Genesis 1:1-5

 

1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

 

The Word of the Lord.

  Thanks be to God.

 

PSALM 29

The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.

 

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.                                                    (vs. 3a)

 

1 Ascribe to the | Lord, you gods,*

                ascribe to the Lord glo- | ry and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory | due his name;*

                worship the Lord in the beau- | ty of holiness.

 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of  | glory thunders;*

                the Lord is upon the | mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a pow- | erful voice;*

                the voice of the Lord is a | voice of splendor.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the | cedar trees;*

                the Lord breaks the ce- | dars of Lebanon;

6 he makes Lebanon skip | like a calf,*

                and Mount Hermon like a | young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;

the voice of the Lord | shakes the wilderness;*

                the Lord shakes the wilder- | ness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the | oak trees writhe*

                and strips the | forests bare.

9 And in the temple | of the Lord*

                all are | crying, "Glory!"

10 The Lord sits enthroned a- | bove the flood;*

                the Lord sits enthroned as | king forevermore.

11 The Lord shall give strength | to his people;*

                the Lord shall give his people the bless- | ing of peace.

 

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.                                               (vs. 3a)

 

Second Reading                                                                           Acts 19:1-7

 

1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—7altogether there were about twelve of them.

 

The Word of the Lord.

  Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

VERSE

Alleluia.  You are my beloved Son:

  I am well-pleased with you.  Alleluia.                                             Mark 1:11

 

Gospel                                                                                            Mark 1:4-11

 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

  Glory to you, O Lord.

 

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And 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.

 

Sit

SERMON

 

HYMN OF THE DAY                                  To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

 

 

1      To Jordan came the Christ, Our Lord,

        to do his Father’s pleasure;

        baptized by John, the Father’s Word was given us to treasure.

        This heav’nly washing now shall be a cleansing from transgression

        and, by his blood and agony, release from death’s oppression.

        A new life now awaits us.

 

3      These truths on Jordan’s banks were shown

        by mighty word and wonder.

        The Father’s voice from heav’n came down,

which we do well to ponder:

       “This man is my beloved Son, in whom my heart has pleasure.

         Him you must hear, and him alone, and trust in fullest measure

         the word that he has spoken.”

 

4     There stood the Son of God in love,

        his grace to us extending:

        The Holy Spirit like a dove upon the scene descending:

        the triune God assuring us, with promises compelling,

        that in our baptism he will thus among us find a dwelling

       to comfort and sustain us.

 

5      To the disciples spoke the Lord,

        “Go out to ev’ry nation

         and bring to them the living Word

        and this is my invitation:

        Let ev’ryone abandon sin and come in true contrition

        to be baptized, and thereby win full pardon and remission,

        and heav’nly bliss inherit.”

 

7      All that the mortal eye beholds

        is water as we pour it.

        Before the eye of faith unfolds the pow’r of Jesus’ merit.

        For here it sees the crimson flood

        to all our ills bring healing; the wonders of his precious blood

        the love of God revealing, assuring his own pardon.

 

Text: Martin Luther, 1483-1546

 


Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.

 

X At the words ‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’ a solemn bow is appropriate to praise the incarnation of our Lord.

 

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.

                X For us and for our salvation

                                he came down from heaven;

                                by the power of the Holy Spirit

                                he became incarnate from the virgin Mary,  and was made man. X

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.

                With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

                He 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

 

 

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

 

A brief silence

 

God our Father, renew us and all the baptized in the life of the Spirit.  Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Fill all bishops and pastors with the Spirit, that they may preach your saving Word to those who long for it.  Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

By the power of the Spirit, restore to faith all who have fallen away from the covenant of their baptism.  Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Inspire all who make, administer, and judge our laws to love justice and peace.  Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Comfort all who mourn; uphold those who live in poverty and fear; guard and protect those who are threatened by violence and terror; heal those who suffer illness of body, mind or spirit, and be with all in any need, especially these whom we name before you:

 

The People may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.

  

Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Keep us in communion with all the baptized in heaven and earth. We remember especially before you today your servant Marge Reinhart. Receive those who have died into eternal peace. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Hear our prayers, Father, for the sake of him who was baptized for us, your beloved Son, with whom you are well pleased: Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always. 

  And also with you. 

 

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

 

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

 

Stand

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Open the heavens, Lord our God,

and send your transforming Spirit

on us and on these gifts.

May we who are baptized into Christ

be ready to share his cup of suffering

and strengthened to serve him forever.

  Amen

 

GREAT THANKSGIVING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The Lord be with you.                                   

  And also with you.                     

Lift up your hearts.                                         

  We lift them to the Lord.                        

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.                                  

  It is right to give him thanks and praise.

 

  It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times

and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and ever-living God.

  You celebrated your new gift of baptism in signs and wonders at the Jordan. Your voice was heard from heaven to awaken faith in the presence among us of your Word made flesh. Your Spirit was seen as a dove, revealing Jesus as your servant, and anointing him with the oil of gladness to preach the good news to the poor.

  And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

Heaven and earth are full of your glory;

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!                                                       Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9


The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:

 

                Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father:

                Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign.

 

You have filled all creation with light and life;

                heaven and earth are full of your glory.

 

Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations.

                You rescued Israel, your chosen people.

Through the prophets you renewed your promise;

                and, at this end of all the ages, you sent your Son,

                who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom

                and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.

 

In the night in which he was betrayed,

                our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

                broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

                Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

 

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

                and gave it for all to drink, saying:

                This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

 

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup

                we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

                Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

 

Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup

                we remember the life our Lord offered for us.

And, believing the witness of his resurrection,

we await his coming in power

                to share with us the great and promised feast.

                Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,

                the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection,

                that we who receive the Lord's body and blood

                may live to the praise of your glory

                and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.

                Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Join our prayers with those of your servants

of every time and every place,

and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all.

 

Through him, with him, in him,

                in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

                all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,

                now and forever. Amen

 

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

 

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

 

 

In this bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ,

the LORD gives strength to all the baptized,

and blesses his people with peace.

  Thanks be to God.

 

 

We adore Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;           

   have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

  have mercy on us.        

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

  Grant us peace.                                                    John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13

 

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

 

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

 

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.

 

 When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine.  Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated. Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

 

Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior

 

1              Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, thee,

                who in thy sacrament art pleased to be;

                both flesh and spirit in thy presence fail,

                yet here thy presence we devoutly hail.

 

2              O blest memorial of our dying Lord,

                who living bread to us shall here afford:

                oh, may our souls forever feed on thee,

                and thou, O Christ, forever precious be.

 

3              Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God:

                cleanse us, unclean, with thy most cleansing blood;

                increase our faith and love, that we may know

                the hope and peace which from thy presence flow.

 

4             O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see:

                may what we thirst for soon our portion be,

                to gaze on thee unveiled, and see thy face,

                the vision of thy glory, and thy grace. Amen

 

Text: Thomas Aquinas, 1227-1274; tr. James R. Woodford, 1820-1885

When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

 

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

  Amen

 

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen                                       Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

                                               

 

Lord of all time and eternity,

you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father

in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:

by the power of your Spirit

complete the heavenly work of our rebirth

through the waters of the new creation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

SENDING

 

Acclamation

The Father’s voice bears witness to the Son.

  God has revealed himself to us.

The Son bows his head beneath the waters of baptism.

  God has revealed himself to us.

The Spirit as a dove descends from heaven.

  God has revealed himself to us.

Submitting to John’s baptism, Christ delivers us from bondage.

  God has revealed himself to us.

 

The Sending Gospel (John 1:32-34)

The Holy Gospel according to St. John.

  Glory to you, O Lord.

 

John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

  Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Benediction and Dismissal

May God, who in Christ gives us a spring of water

welling up to eternal life,

perfect in you the image of his glory.

  Amen

 

Almighty God, Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever.

  Amen

 

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.          

Thanks be to God!

 

CLOSING MUSIC                                         O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

 

Please maintain social distance and remain masked while exiting the building. Please sanitize your hands before leaving the building.