Epiphany Season | 1st Sunday 09 Jan 2022 | The Baptism of the Lord
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be
your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove:
Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may
be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
One day when the crowds were being baptized,
Jesus himself was baptized.
As he was praying,
the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form,
descended on him like a dove.
And a voice from heaven said,
“You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
(Luke 3:21-22)
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“God Came Down To Us” | Jonathan and Emily Martin
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OT Reading: Isa 42:1-9 (NLT)
The Lord’s Chosen Servant
42:1 “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.
He is my chosen one, who pleases me.
I have put my Spirit upon him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
He will not falter or lose heart
until justice prevails throughout the earth.
Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”
God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.
He created the earth and everything in it.
He gives breath to everyone,
life to everyone who walks the earth.
And it is he who says,
“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.
I will take you by the hand and guard you,
and I will give you to my people, Israel,
as a symbol of my covenant with them.
And you will be a light to guide the nations.
You will open the eyes of the blind.
You will free the captives from prison,
releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
“I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to anyone else,
nor share my praise with carved idols.
Everything I prophesied has come true,
and now I will prophesy again.
I will tell you the future before it happens.”
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Psalms: Ps 89 – Via Christus Choir
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NT Reading: Acts 10:34-38 (NLT)
The Gentiles Hear the Good News
10:34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
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I Speak Jesus | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Shalom Music
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Gospel Reading: Luke 3:15-22 (NLT)
3:15 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.
John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done. 20 So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.
The Baptism of Jesus
3:21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
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Baptized – Zach Williams
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Renewal o f B a p t i s m a l V o w s (adapted)
In the presence of God and His people, I renew the solemn promises and vows I made at my Baptism and commit to keep them.
+ I renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God!
+ I renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God!
+ I renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw me from the love of God!
+ I turn again to Jesus Christ and confess him as my Lord and Savior!
+ I joyfully receive the Christian Faith, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments!
With God’s help I will obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments and walk in them all the days of my life!
And now may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in us, direct and empower us by his grace, that we may continue in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ all the days of our life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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