January 12, 2025

Jan 9

Written By Heath Nettles

Baptism of the Lord

January 12, 2025 Online Worship Bulletin

Bringing in the Light of Christ
Chiming of the Trinity

Prelude

Psalm 29 Richard Douglas Avakian

Welcome

Rev. Kelly Dotson

Call to Worship

When we pass through the cleansing waters of baptism and the troubled waters of our lives, God declares:
I will be with you.
When we go through the fires that refine us and the fires that threaten our livelihoods, God declares:
I will be with you.
Even when we travel to the far corners of the earth or down into the depths of our souls, God declares:
I will be with you.
So come, let us worship God whose love never fails, whose presence never leaves, whose mercies never end.
Praise be to God who, in the form of Jesus, waded into the waters of baptism to prove God’s solidarity with us!
Amen. +

Hymn

Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters UMH#605

Joys, Concerns and Prayers

Loving God, in whom is heaven, may Your name be honored everywhere. May Your kin-dom come. May the desire of Your heart for the world be done, in us, by us and through us. Give us the bread we need for each day. Forgive us. Enable us to forgive others. Keep us from all anxiety and fear. For You reign in the power that comes from love which is Your glory forever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Old Testament

Isaiah 43: 1-7

Psalm of Response

Psalm 29 UMH#761
Please sing the response

The Reading from the Gospels

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Sermon

Jesus Revealed as God’s Son | Rev. Kelly Dotson

Reaffirmation of Baptism

Sisters and brothers in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God's Spirit has been poured out upon water,
water poured over and immersing us,
water that flows freely for all who will receive it,
water from the streams of God's saving power and justice,
water that brings hope to all who thirst for righteousness,
water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and offers new birth.

Today we come to the waters,
to renew our commitments
in each other's presence
to Christ who has raised us,
the Spirit who has birthed us,
and the Creator who is making all things new.

Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith

And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?

We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
Reject the evil powers of this world,
And repent of our sin!

Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?

We accept the freedom and power God gives us
To resist evil, injustice, and oppression
In whatever forms they present themselves!

Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, his body on earth?

We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior,
put our whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as our Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races!

Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?

We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church
And serve as Christ's representatives in the world.

Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church
as we put our trust
in God, the Father Almighty.
in Jesus Christ, his only Son.
and in the Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever.

Thanksgiving over the Water

Thanksgiving Over the Water
The Spirit of the Lord is with us.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Let us pray.

Almighty God, the life you birthed in us
by baptism into Jesus Christ
will never die.
Your justice never fails.
Your mercy is everlasting.

Your healing river flows.
Your Spirit blows where you will.
We cannot stop you, God!

But sometimes we try.
We try to block the flow,
we redirect the winds of the Spirit,
or we walk so far away from the life-giving Stream
that we do not hear its sound,
and we forget its power.
We parch ourselves.

We are dry and thirsty, O God.
Come, refresh us!

Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!

Come upon these waters.
Come upon these waters.

Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy.
Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.
Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus.
Let these waters make us long for your coming reign.

Most Holy God, Abba, Father!
Glory to you!

Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord!
Glory to you!

Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness!
Glory to you!

Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One!
All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!

Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings

Gloria Patri UMH#70

Hymn

Baptized in Water TFWS#2248

Blessing and sharing the Light of Christ to the World

Postlude

When Jesus Came to Jordan arr. Leonora Handy

Announcements