“God is calling us to church and to be Church in the world.”
The Prelude
The Welcome, News and Announcements
The Introit
The Call to Worship
One: God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God,
All: The voice of God spoke over the waters,
One: And the voice of God said, “Let there be…and there was.”
All: The voice of God spoke over the skies,
One: The voice of God said, “Let there be, and there were.”
All: The voice of God spoke under the seas,
One: The voice of God came from heaven,
All: The voice of God spoke over the waters,
One: And the voice of God said, “You are my child, the beloved…with you I am well pleased.”
One: In the washing of the baptismal waters we become light – light to the world, and God saw that the light was good!
All: Let us worship God.
The Prayer of Confession
God, who spoke of love for Jesus at his baptism, and who yet speaks words of love for us at our baptisms, be present with us. Speak to us anew this day that we may speak boldly of you. We need your help to listen to what the Spirit is saying and to follow through in a world that desperately longs to be re-created in your love. Amen.
The Hymn #164, “Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways”
(Please from the safety of your home, sing, recite, hum or all three.)
The Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis 1:1-5
1In the beginning when God created[a] the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
The New Testament Lesson Matthew 2:1-12
4 John the baptizer appeared[a] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[b] water; but he will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[d] with you I am well pleased.”
The Hymn #744, “Arise, Your Light Has Come”
(Please from the safety of your home, sing, recite, hum or all three this Carol.)
Arise, your light has come! The Spirit’s call obey;
show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today.
Arise, your light has come! Fling wide the prison door;
proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.
Arise, your light has come! All you in sorrow born,
bind up the brokenhearted ones and comfort those who mourn.
Arise, your light has come! The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing, God’s power will make us strong.
+We Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer of Illumination
The Sermon “Remembering Our Baptism: Living Wet!” Part One
Music for Meditation
The Service of Baptismal Remembrance
One: On this day of re-creation, we recall Christ’s baptism, and we claim and remember our own.
All: We gather at this font of living water to celebrate the gift of God’s redeeming grace.
One: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, old and young, learned and meek, slaves and free, female and male – and were made to breath of one Spirit, to drink of one Holy Spirit, to watch, wait, wonder, and worship One Holy Spirit.
One: And now my friends in Christ, please let us attend to these questions: Do you believe in God the Trinity?
All: We do. We believe in God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
One: turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in his grace and love?
All: We do.
One: Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love, continuing in the Apostle’s teachings, living in Christ’s community, breaking bread, sharing cup, participating in the prayer energies of the church?
One: Will you work for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being?
All: We will, with God’s help.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISMS BY RECEIVING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
All those who have previously been baptized and would like to receive the sign of the cross in water on your forehead as you remember your baptism may do so at this time. Those who have not been baptized may receive a blessing. If you have not been previously baptized, Please, don’t hesitate to come and be baptized.
THE CLOSING PRAYER
One: Eternal God, you have come to us in Jesus Christ, given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins, you have blessed us with the grace and power we need to fulfill what we have promised.
All: All glory, honor and power to you, eternal God, the one who was and is and shall always be, world without end. Amen.
We Respond to God’s Word
The Offertory
The Offertory Anthem
The Doxology
The Unison Prayer of and Dedication of Pledges
Faithful God, bless us in our baptismal calling to be in ministry of showing hospitality to others. We offer the gifts that we have been given to be used not for conquest and dominance, but for use in liberating the poor and hurting people who pray for our liberation as well as their own. Receive and multiply our gifts for life-giving ministry. Amen.
The Joys and Concerns
The Silent, Intercessory and the Lord’s Prayer
…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
We Go Forth in God’s Name
The Charge and Benediction
The Sending Hymn “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
The Postlude
Attributions
Call to Worship reprinted from Cloth For the Cradle, Wild Goose Pub; Invocation reprinted from Kneeling in Bethlehem, Ann Weems; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Whispers of God by Lavon Bayler. The Service of the Remembrance of Baptism borrowed with permission from the Book of Common Worship, 1993, Westminster Press and from the liturgies by Rev. Cheryl Peebles.
Many thanks to our Liturgists Polly Gutelius.
Kristin Parry, Administrator
Joseph Pepper, Music Director & Keyboardist
Daniel J. Russell, Interim Pastor
69 East Main Street, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Web Address: www.fpcu.info
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