Lectionary Readings
Genesis 1:1–5
Over the deep and formless waters, God speaks: Let there be light.
Psalm 29
Give glory to God; the voice of the Lord is over the waters.
Acts 19:1–7
Paul baptizes new believers in Jesus’ name; they receive the Spirit.
Mark 1:4–11
Jesus is baptized; the Spirit descends; a voice says: You are my Son.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
God’s speech
is God’s action.
When God creates,
the creation is good.
God our maker has done it again.
God has brought us to a new dawn.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Gracious God,
we give thanks that in baptism
you give us new birth,
for baptismal water marks the beginning of life
for those who follow Jesus Christ.
Inspire us to hear the good news
declared at Jesus’ baptism,
to heed your voice from heaven proclaiming
that Jesus is your beloved,
and to believe that with Christ you are pleased.
Teach us to remember our baptism
and receive the Holy Spirit again and again.
Though we cannot earn your pleasure,
we desire your grace.
Speak to us words of mercy
and guide us with your love,
that our lives might declare your glory
in action, word, and deed.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. 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:
Nothing can be hidden from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth,
whose wisdom is endless,
whose mercy is great.
Isaiah 40:27–28
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
God whose spirit moved over the waters,
you have washed us in your mercy,
claimed us as your own,
bound us in community,
and called us to lives of baptismal grace.
Forgive us, O God, for we have not lived
as if we were your baptized people.
We stumble over opportunities for forgiveness.
We prioritize our own selfish interests.
We are slow to disrupt the status quo,
even when it means ignoring our neighbors’ suffering.
Forgive us, O God, and by your forgiveness,
lead us back to your waters of transformation.
Lifting water from the font:
Those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will rise up to fly like eagles,
they will run and not be weary,
they will walk and not grow faint.
Isaiah 40:31
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— 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,
and 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
Time after Epiphany
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 the People
Mindful of the many needs around us,
we turn to God for help and healing, saying:
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for the church . . .
Remember the people you have claimed
by water and the Holy Spirit.
Make us a sign of your life-giving grace.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for the world . . .
Rule with compassion over our chaos.
Strengthen leaders to do what is right
and bless all people with peace.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for this community . . .
Send your Holy Spirit among us
to speak the truth in troubled times
and break through the walls that divide us.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for loved ones . . .
Speak your saving, healing word,
bringing light into our darkness
and comfort to all those who suffer.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Gracious God, turn our mourning into dancing
and change our sorrow into joy,
so that we may give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
— 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:
We praise and thank you, Lord God,
for the majesty of your work,
the wisdom of your word,
and the generosity of your grace.
Let the gifts of our lives bear witness
to your goodness and mercy,
your faithfulness and justice,
and your steadfast love for all. 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:
When earth was dark and a formless void
you spoke and there was light to shine upon the earth.
Your voice is over the waters and you bless us with peace.
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:
When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan, your Spirit descended
and your voice came from heaven, proclaiming him your beloved child.
Through him we are born of water and the Spirit and called your own.
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.
Your Spirit empowers us to be bold disciples,
giving us courage to proclaim your love and grace to all people
and making us one with all who share this feast.
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
At the communion table:
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
Baptism of Jesus
Lorenzo Scott, 1987
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Crashing Waters at Creation (OG) CRASHING WATERS GTG 476
- Here in This Place (Gather Us In) (E) GATHER US IN GTG 401
- Morning Has Broken (O) BUNESSAN GTG 664
- Sing of God Made Manifest (G) SALZBURG GTG 156
WORD
- Baptized in Water (E) BUNESSAN GTG 482
- Breathe on Me, Breath of God (EG) TRENTHAM GTG 286
- Joyful Is the Dark (O) LINDNER GTG 230
- When Jesus Came to Jordan (EG) KING’S LYNN ELW 305, DE EERSTEN ZIJN DE LAATSTEN PH 72, MERLE’S TUNE SSS 113
EUCHARIST
- Come to the Table (EG) COME TO THE TABLE GTG 508
- Holy Spirit, Come to Us (EG) TUI AMORIS IGNEM GTG 284
- In a Deep, Unbounded Darkness (O) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM GTG 850
- Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song (EG) BRIDEGROOM GTG 285
SENDING
- God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me (G) GREEN TYLER GTG 543
- Go, My Children, with My Blessing (EG) AR HYD Y NOS GTG 547
- Now There Is No Male or Female (G) OMNI DIE (Trier) GTG 493
- Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice (G) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 163
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- The God of Heaven [GLORY]; GTG 259, PH 180
- All Who Throng the Halls of Heaven [EBENEZER]; KU 12
- Ascribe to God Both Strength and Power [CMD]; SGP 45
Responsorial
- Hijos de Dios / Angels on High; PAS 29B
- Your Voice, O Lord; PAS 29D
- The Lord Will Bless His People; OLOF 673
- The Voice of God Is upon the Waters [DEUS TUORUM MILITUM]; HTP1 105
Organ Music
- “Trio on ‘Morning Has Broken,’” Praise to the Lord, Joyce Jones, MSM (ME)
- “Let the Whole Creation Cry,” Nine Hymn Improvisations, Paul Manz, MSM (M)
- “Prelude on ‘TRENTHAM,’” Wonder and Praise, David Lasky, LOR (E)
- “Toccata on ‘ABERYSTWYTH,’” Again, I Say, Rejoice! Brenda Portman, LOR (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “In the Beginning,” Kyle Pederson, WAL, SATB div, ob (A)
- “Creating God, Your Fingers Trace,” John Ferguson, AF, SATB, org (E)
- “My Son, the Beloved,” Daniel Blackwell, MSM, SATB, kybd (M)
- “O Love How Deep,” Richard Williamson, AF, 2 pt mx, org (E)
- “This Is My Son,” Fred Gramann, ECS, SATB, acap (A)
- “This Is My Beloved Son,” Knut Nystedt, CON, SAB, solo, org (E)
Handbell Music
- “Change Ring Prelude on ‘Divinum Mysterium,’” Fred Gramann, 3‑6 oct, LOR, 20/1239L, Level 3+
- “Go, My Children, with My Blessing,” Jeffrey Honore, 3 or 5 oct, opt hc, CON, 977344, Level 2
- “Anthem on ABERYSTWYTH,” Robert Lamb, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, BP, HB642, Level 3
Art
- Baptism of Christ, Joachim Patinir (VDL)
- Baptism of Jesus, Lorenzo Scott (VDL)
- Bayou Baptism, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
- River, John August Swanson (VDL)
