The Beloved

January 9, 2022
Pastor Stacy Dickson
Worship

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Service of Worship

Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
Arr. George Winston

Opening Prayer

Most wonderful God, foolish and flawed though we are, we too delight in your beloved Son. As in his name we gather in the house of many praises, may the heavens be opened for us, that we may catch a glimpse of that Light and Love that transforms our common days with a beauty not of our making. Through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!

Opening Hymn — #252 When Jesus Came to Jordan (v. 1, 3)

1. When Jesus came to Jordan
to be baptised 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: 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

God who shows no partiality, show your favoritism on all your people. Send forth your justice for all to see. Save us your people. Empower us to preach and testify to your great love and mercy. God who makes and keeps covenant with your people, you called us to be a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to set the prisoners free. Help us to answer your call that these things come to pass.

God of grace and glory, we pray for those who suffer from pains and sorrows. We pray for those whose hearts are broken. We pray for those whose families are fractured. We pray for those whose lives are ravaged by war. We pray for those who struggle with poverty, and starvation. We pray for our brother and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and tortured for their beliefs.

Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for pouring out your Spirit on your son and pouring your spirit out on us too. May we too hear you say to us this day that “This is my son, my daughter, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Amen.

(Rev. Abi)

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

Were You There On That Christmas Night
Natalie Sleeth
© 1976, 2018 Hope Publishing Company
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 new beginnings, as we move into this new year, stir in us the feelings of expectation! Kindle our hearts and minds to see possibilities for our world and for your kingdom. Help us to believe that the world we have can be better: more loving, more just, more compassionate, and looking much more like the world you’ve imagined for us. Lord, help us to give generously this day to empower that to happen. In the name of Christ, Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading — Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (NRSV)

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.”

Sermon — Pastor Stacy Dickson
The Beloved

Communion Bessing follows sermon.

Closing Hymn — #617 I Come with Joy (v. 1, 2, 4, 5)

1. I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me,
his life laid down for me.

2. I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread,
in Christ’s communion bread.

4. And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known;
we see and praise him here,
we see and praise him here.

5. Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways,
and his people in the world,
we’ll live and speak his praise,
we’ll live and speak his praise.

I Come With Joy (Dove Of Peace)
Brian Arthur Wren | Charles H. Webb
© Words: 1968, 1971, 1995 Hope Publishing Company
© Music: 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Benediction

God of grace and glory, you call us with your voice of flame to be your people, faithful and courageous. As your beloved Son embraced his mission in the waters of baptism, inspire us with the fire of your Spirit to join in his transforming work. We ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Postlude – Marshall