Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 42:1–9
The Lord says: Here is my servant, my chosen, in whom I delight.
Psalm 29
Give glory to God; the voice of the Lord is over the waters.
Acts 10:34–43
Peter preaches: God shows no partiality; Jesus is Lord of all.
Matthew 3:13–17
Jesus is baptized; the Spirit descends; a voice says: This is my Son.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
In the waters of baptism,
God marks us as kindred in his name.
In the waters of baptism,
the heavens open up
and the Spirit pours out love.
In the waters of baptism,
God names us Beloved.
In the waters of baptism,
God claims us as her own.
Prayer of the Day
Jesus, Beloved Son of God,
all that you ask of us, you first did yourself.
Help us to follow the way you first traveled:
to serve others and to let ourselves be served;
to love stranger and neighbor, enemy and friend.
When we struggle, remind us of our baptism,
the waters that slake the soul’s deepest thirst,
and unite our hearts as one,
so that we can carry out your work. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the faith, hope, and love you give to us
through the blessing of our baptism—
claiming us as your beloved children,
calling us to the path of discipleship,
revealing to us the light of your glory.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
help us to follow you with faith,
to trust in you with hope,
and to serve you with love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
God has made a covenant with us
and with our ancestors:
to be a light to the nations,
to bring freedom to captives,
and to declare new and glorious things!
In faith, let us confess our sin.
Gracious God,
you claim us and call us,
you support us and uphold us,
you save us and free us from our sin.
Yet we slip into old habits,
worshiping idols that have claimed our hearts,
disregarding our impact on the earth and our neighbors.
Forgive us.
Meet us at the water again,
that we might know we belong to you.
Lifting water from the font:
The good news has been passed down
by prophets and priests:
everyone who believes in Christ
receives forgiveness in his name.
We believe; help our unbelief.
Wherever you are on your journey,
you are redeemed, forgiven, and loved.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Saving God, source of our calling,
your Word is full of power and glory.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
so that we may receive your grace
and live as your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Speak to us, Lord, for your servants are listening.
1 Samuel 3:9–10
After the readings:
A new teaching, with authority!
Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:27
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord who speaks to us, strengthens us,
and blesses us with peace,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Psalm 29:1, 11
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
God’s sovereign love is a mystery
beyond the reach of the human mind.
Human thought ascribes to God
superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness.
But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ
by showing power in the form of a servant,
wisdom in the folly of the cross,
and goodness in receiving
sinful men and women.
The power of God’s love in Christ
to transform the world
discloses that the Redeemer
is the Lord and Creator
who made all things
to serve the purpose of God’s love.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.15
Prayers of Intercession
We approach God in prayer not as strangers,
but as beloved children, baptized in Christ Jesus,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the church . . .
Empower your church to preach Christ’s gospel
to all people, without prejudice or partiality,
so that all may believe and receive your grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the earth . . .
With your powerful voice, speak peace—
peace to the waters, peace to the wilderness
peace to the forests, peace to the flood.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for all nations . . .
Give justice to all who are oppressed;
help those who are weary and crushed by pain,
for we long to see the new thing you are doing.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for this community . . .
Let the message of your saving love in Christ
spread out from this place, in words of testimony
and in acts of mercy, kindness, and healing.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for loved ones . . .
By your Spirit, embrace those who are suffering,
especially to those who feel no love this day;
let them know that they, too, are your beloved children.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy One, as you are well pleased with Christ,
help us to live in a way that will be pleasing to you.
As you have called us to listen to Christ,
help us to always heed his word and seek his will.
These things we pray in the name of Jesus,
your beloved Child, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Matthew 3:17, 17:5
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
There is only one Lord and God,
from whom all things come
and for whom we live.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of glory,
as people brought gifts to the infant Jesus,
we bring our gifts to you.
May these gifts be used
to lift up those who are oppressed,
to bring deliverance to those who are in need,
to support those who are poor,
and to help those who are in trouble. 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 our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
All glory, majesty, and might are yours, for you are the maker of heaven and earth.
Your voice resounds over the water; it shakes the wilderness and fills the temple,
declaring that the former things have passed; now a new thing is springing forth!
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
At his baptism by John in the Jordan, you opened the gates of heaven.
You sent down your Holy Spirit, like a dove, saying:
This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Send us out, by the power of your Spirit, to proclaim the peace of Jesus Christ,
inviting all people to believe in him and be baptized in his name,
and to gather at the feast he prepares, eating and drinking with our living Lord.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks and praise, O God,
that you have fed us with your mercy
and poured out your Spirit in this place.
Continue to nourish and fill us each day,
that we may live as your beloved people;
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
Beloved children of God,
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
the grace of Jesus Christ,
and the blessing of the Lord forever. Alleluia!
Mark 1:11, 9:7
As Jesus called the first disciples,
so he calls to us this day:
Follow me. Amen.
Mark 1:17, John 1:43
“Bayou Baptism”
Lauren Wright Pittman, 2016
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice (G) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 163
-
God Reigns! Let Earth Rejoice! (O) MARION GTG 365
-
God Welcomes All (E) THEMBA AMEN GTG 399
-
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (O) AZMON GTG 610
WORD
-
When God Restored Our Common Life (O) RESIGNATION GTG 74
-
Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways (G) WEST MAIN GTG 164
-
Breathe on Me, Breath of God (O) TRENTHAM GTG 286
-
Take Me to the Water (G) TAKE ME TO THE WATER GTG 480
-
Christ Has Broken Down the Wall (E) BROKEN WALLS VT 174
EUCHARIST
-
Open the Eyes of My Heart (O) OPEN THE EYES GTG 452
-
We Shall Walk through the Valley in Peace (OE) PEACEFUL VALLEY AAHH 497
SENDING
-
Sing of God Made Manifest (G) SALZBURG GTG 156
-
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun (OE) DUKE STREET GTG 265
-
For the Healing of the Nations (O) ST. THOMAS (Wade) GTG 346
-
In Christ There Is No East or West (E) MC KEE GTG 317
-
Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering RENDEZ À DIEU LUYH 113
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 29
Metrical
- Sing Glory to the Name of God [LASST UNS ERFREUEN]; GTG 10
- All on Earth and All in Heaven [EBENEZER]; PAS 29A
Responsorial
- Your Voice, O Lord; PAS 29D
- With Joy the Lord of Hosts Proclaim; UMH 761
Organ Music
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“Bright and Glorious Is the Sky,” Epiphany Mosaics, Jacob B. Weber, CON (ME)
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“Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, BuxWV 180,” Dietrich Buxtehude, various publishers; IMSLP.org (MA)
-
“Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, BWV 684,” J. S. Bach, various publishers; IMSLP.org (A)
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“By All Your Saints in Warfare / When Jesus Came to Jordan,” Evening and Morning, David Cherwien, AF (M)
Piano Music
-
“Nocturne,” Dobrinka Tabakova, Schott (M)
-
“Deep River,” Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Volume 3: Early Advanced, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, OUP (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“The Baptism of Our Lord,” Charles Callahan, MSM, uni, opt desc, org (E)
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“Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” Bradley Ellingboe, KJO, SATB, cl, hb, opt wind chimes (ME)
-
“Down to the River to Pray,” Sheldon Curry, SATB, opt solo, pno, opt stngs (ME)
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“Behold My Servant,” Bruce Begston, AF, SATB, org, opt cong (ME)
-
“For the Gift of Water,” Daniel Pinkham, ECS, SATB, org (M)
-
“Take Me to the Water,” Rollo Dilworth, HAL, SATB div, pno (MA)
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“Down to the River to Pray,” Jennaya Robinson, Pavane Publishing, SATB div, djembe (MA)
Art
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Baptism of Christ, Dave Zalenka, 2005 (VDL)
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Bayou Baptism, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
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Baptism of Christ, Xač’atur, 1455 (VDL)
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Baptism of Jesus, Liz Valente, 2021 (VDL)
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The Sacrament, Solomon Raj, 2016 (EYE)
