Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Peace to My Soul
William Barnett
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
The heavens open. The Spirit descends.
Jesus emerges from the water.
And a voice echoes through the blue expanse.
“This is my child, the Beloved, with whom I am well-pleased.”
Jesus is named. Claimed.
We come to the water. We remember we are named. Claimed.
Can it be so? What a thing to be named. Claimed.
Let us worship the one who names and claims us still. Amen.
Scripture Reading — Acts 19:1-7 (NRSV)
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He 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.” 3 Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul 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.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— 7 altogether there were about twelve of them.
Opening Hymn — #252 When Jesus Came to Jordan
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 every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction,
the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection
that leads to Pentecost.
When Jesus Came To Jordan (Complainer)
Carlton Raymond Young | Fred Pratt Green | William W. Walker
© Words: 1980 Hope Publishing Company
© Music: The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Announcements, Joys and Concerns, and Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Following the moment of silence…
Almighty God,
Your Spirit swept over the waters of creation;
You are sweeping over us now, creating something new.
Call us away from the distractions of the world
to experience what You are doing now, in us,
and through us,
and in our world.
Open us to a new awakening, a new beginning,
where we look through the lens of the goodness of Your creation, experiencing all possibilities in You.
Turn us away from the negative lens,
and lead us to the light.
In the name of Jesus, who leads us into life, we pray. Amen.
— written by Rev. Mindi
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory — Marshall and Richard
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Chris Tomlin | John Newton | Louie Giglio
© 2006 sixsteps Music | Vamos Publishing | http://worshiptogether.com songs
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
God of redemption and new life, we focus once more this day on the greatest gift ever given – Jesus, our Savior. As he was baptized by John in the Jordan, we were able to share in his baptism and receive the promise of sharing in Jesus’ resurrection. As we leave a painful year behind and look with hope to the new year ahead, help us to live and give of ourselves as those who know every day what a great gift we have been given. May it move us to give our whole selves more freely! In the name of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray! Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Baptism of the Lord
Closing Hymn — #2107 Wade in the Water
Refrain
Wade in the water,
wade in the water, children,
wade in the water,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
1. See that host all dressed in white,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
The leader looks like the Israelite,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
2. See that band all dressed in red,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Looks like the band that Moses led,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
3. Look over yonder, what do I see?
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
The Holy Ghost a-coming on me,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
4. If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Just follow me down to Jordan’s stream,
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.
Refrain
Wade in the Water
African American Spiritual (John 5:2-9)
Public Domain | Arr. Carl Haywood
Used by Permission. Faith We Sing 2107
Benediction
May the path
that Christ walks
to bring justice
upon the earth,
to bring light
to those who sit
in darkness,
to bring out those
who live in bondage,
to bring new things
to all creation:
may this path
run through our life.
May we be
the road Christ takes. Amen.
Postlude – Hani
With Wings Like Eagles
David Paxton