Baptism of the Lord | Sunday 07 Jan 2024
+ 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.
A voice from heaven said,
“You are my Son, whom I love.
I am pleased with you.”
(Mark 1:11)
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I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Grace Community Church)
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From the Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-5 (GW)
The Creation
1:1 In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.
Then God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light. God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light day, and the darkness he named night. There was evening, then morning—the first day.
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From the Psalms: Psalm 29 – (The Voice of the Lord) [feat. Nick Poppens] by The Psalms Project
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From the Book of Acts: Acts 19:1-7 (GW)
Paul in Ephesus
19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces to get to the city of Ephesus. He met some disciples in Ephesus and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They answered him, “No, we’ve never even heard of the Holy Spirit.”
Paul asked them, “What kind of baptism did you have?”
They answered, “John’s baptism.”
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. John told people to believe in Jesus, who was coming later.”
After they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed. About twelve men were in the group.
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Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart – The Joslin Grove Choral Society | Presbyterian Church of Marion, PA
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Gospel Reading: Mark 1:4-11 (GW)
1:4 John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John was dressed in clothes made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
He announced, “The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John Baptizes Jesus
1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”
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Only Just Begun – Aaron Keyes [Trinity Fellowship]
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+ O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, especially in the Middle East; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically and especially, to those who will restore Israel spiritually through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 