NOTES: This week we reflect on the baptism of Jesus Christ as told in the gospel of Matthew. Today's Old Testament reading describes God anointing a servant, a leader, a savior to work God's will for God's people. As he often does, the prophet Isaiah closes this thought with "God is doing a new thing." As followers of Christ, one of the first intentional steps we take along the path he led is "Into the Water" as we step into the waters of baptism. In that moment, and in many to follow, we realize that God is doing a "new thing," that growth and change are ongoing realities of the life of faith. That first step into the water is just the beginning. However we may feel in moments of growth and change, we are reassured by God's response to Jesus' first step...."This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9 & Matthew 3:13-17
Isaiah 42:1-9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn#494 "They'll Know We Are Christians" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Call to Worship
Leader: We come to prepare the way;
People: The way for Christ –
Leader: the hope of Christ, the peace of Christ –
People: to enter our world,
to enter our hearts.
Leader: We cry out together in the wilderness:
People: The kingdom of heaven has come near.
Leader: We come to be part of the light–
People: the light that shines in the darkness.
~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/
Invocation
Holy God,
We long for your peace, and trust in your promise;
we hear your call to turn toward you,
to change our lives and welcome you in.
Meet us here and fill
our minds with your wisdom
and our hearts with your peace,
that our worship together
may open us to the challenge
of your dream of wholeness for all.
In the Name of the One who is coming, we pray. Amen!
~ written by Rev. Susan A. Blain, in To Dream God’s Dream: Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-a/ace/advent-service-prayers.html
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#249 "Spirit Song" (refrain only)
Praying Together
Gracious Father, you are Lord of our beginnings and our endings and all that lies between. We praise you: for how you have poured out upon us blessing after blessing; for how you have reached out to us; for how you have come to us; for how you have spoken to us. Help us to live the faith you have given us... Lord, hear our prayer...
Loving God - we thank you for how Christ Jesus came among us and identified himself completely with us - going so far as to take upon himself our sin, our suffering, and finally our death. Help us Lord to not hold back ourselves from identifying with him and with the church that he established. May we indeed be united with him in his death so that we might also share in his resurrection. Help us to commit ourselves to him and to the family he has called us to be a part of - to be members of his visible body here in this place - to be his disciples and his apostles - his evangelists and his teachers - his feet and his hands - his eyes and his ears - his light and his salt - day by day.... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint all the people of your church, O God, that your will may be done and your name be glorified. Make us one as you are one... both those who are near and those who are far off... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint the grieving with your comfort, so that they may know your light even in the time of their deepest darkness... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint the broken in body and spirit with your healing, so that they may know you are Lord of all their days and so that they may praise you each day no matter what it may bring... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint, O God, all those for whom we now ask in the silence of our hearts. We especially remember before you today, O Lord (Bidding Prayer) .... Lord, hear our prayer....
O God of infinite mercy, pour your love out upon us each day. We pray through Jesus, your Anointed One, he who first taught us to pray to you saying... Our Father….
— written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild (altered slightly). Posted on his Kir-shalom website.
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#403 In Remembrance of Me" (all)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#75 "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" (verses 1, 3, & 4)
Blessing
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Leader: We come to prepare the way;
People: The way for Christ –
Leader: the hope of Christ, the peace of Christ –
People: to enter our world,
to enter our hearts.
Leader: We cry out together in the wilderness:
People: The kingdom of heaven has come near.
Leader: We come to be part of the light–
People: the light that shines in the darkness.
~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/
Praise Hymn#494 "They'll Know We Are Christians" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Lighting of the Candles
Invocation
Holy God,
We long for your peace, and trust in your promise;
we hear your call to turn toward you,
to change our lives and welcome you in.
Meet us here and fill
our minds with your wisdom
and our hearts with your peace,
that our worship together
may open us to the challenge
of your dream of wholeness for all.
In the Name of the One who is coming, we pray. Amen!
~ written by Rev. Susan A. Blain, in To Dream God’s Dream: Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-a/ace/advent-service-prayers.html
Passing of the Peace
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Children's Sermon
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#249 "Spirit Song" (refrain only)
Praying Together
Gracious Father, you are Lord of our beginnings and our endings and all that lies between. We praise you: for how you have poured out upon us blessing after blessing; for how you have reached out to us; for how you have come to us; for how you have spoken to us. Help us to live the faith you have given us... Lord, hear our prayer...
Loving God - we thank you for how Christ Jesus came among us and identified himself completely with us - going so far as to take upon himself our sin, our suffering, and finally our death. Help us Lord to not hold back ourselves from identifying with him and with the church that he established. May we indeed be united with him in his death so that we might also share in his resurrection. Help us to commit ourselves to him and to the family he has called us to be a part of - to be members of his visible body here in this place - to be his disciples and his apostles - his evangelists and his teachers - his feet and his hands - his eyes and his ears - his light and his salt - day by day.... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint all the people of your church, O God, that your will may be done and your name be glorified. Make us one as you are one... both those who are near and those who are far off... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint the grieving with your comfort, so that they may know your light even in the time of their deepest darkness... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint the broken in body and spirit with your healing, so that they may know you are Lord of all their days and so that they may praise you each day no matter what it may bring... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint, O God, all those for whom we now ask in the silence of our hearts. We especially remember before you today, O Lord (Bidding Prayer) .... Lord, hear our prayer....
O God of infinite mercy, pour your love out upon us each day. We pray through Jesus, your Anointed One, he who first taught us to pray to you saying... Our Father….
— written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild (altered slightly). Posted on his Kir-shalom website.
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#403 In Remembrance of Me" (all)
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#75 "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" (verses 1, 3, & 4)
Blessing
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