Gathering

Welcome

Gathering Song                      “God, Whose Almighty Word”                          # 673

1 God, whose almighty word chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight: Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the gospel-day Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!

2 Christ, who once came to bring on your redeeming wing,
healing and sight; health to the troubled mind,
Sight to the inward blind: Now to all humankind
Let there be light!

3 Spirit of truth and love, life giving, holy dove,
Speed forth your flight! Move on the water’s face
Bearing the lamp of grace and, in earth’s darkest place,
Let there be light!

4 Holy and blessed Three, glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might! Boundless as ocean’s tide,
Rolling in fullest pride, through the earth, far and wide,
Let there be light!

Greeting

P:        The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

P:        Let us pray,

Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves over the waters.  Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we may follow Jesus, your beloved child, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.    Amen

Word

First Reading

A:        A reading from Genesis, the 1^st chapter.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Second Reading

A:        A reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the 19^th chapter.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. ²He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ ³Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ ⁴Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ ⁵On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— ⁷altogether there were about twelve of them.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

P:        The holy gospel according to Mark, the 1^st chapter.  Glory to you, O Lord.

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And 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. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He 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. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And 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. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day           “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”               # 310

Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise;
manifested by the star to the sages from afar,
branch of royal David’s stem in thy birth at Bethlehem:
anthems be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan’s stream, prophet, priest, and king supreme;
and at Cana wedding guest in your God-head manifest;
manifest in pow’r divine, changing water into wine;
anthems be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest.

Grant us grace to see thee, Lord, present in thy holy word;
grace to imitate thee now and be pure, as pure art thou;
that we might become like thee at Thy great epiphany,
and may praise thee, ever blest, God in flesh made manifest.

Affirmation of Baptism

P:        Let us pray,

Merciful God, we thank you for everyone you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism.  You call us to yourself, enlighten us with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourish us in the community of faith.  Uphold your servants in the gifts and promises of baptism, and unite the hearts of all you have brought to new birth.  We ask this in the name of Christ.  Amen

P:        We are made God’s people through our baptism into Christ.  Living     together in trust and hope, we confess our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen

P:        You have made confession of your faith.  Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:

• to live among God’s faithful people,
  • to hear the word and share in the Lord’s supper,
  • to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
  • to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
  • and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

C:        I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

P:        Let us pray,

We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life.  Stir up in your people the gift of the Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, now and forever.  Amen

Hymn                             “Baptized and Set Free”                          # 453

We are people created, chosen by God,

Then we’re washed, ever gently, in mercy and love.

Sin has power no more.  Jesus opened the door

to a fountain bringing healing, and wholeness and more.

Now with praise and thanksgiving, we join the song.

All are welcome! We gather to sing loud and strong.

Not enslaved, but set free!  From now on, all will be

one in Jesus, one in water, baptized and set free!

Text: Cathy Skogen-Soldner, b. 1956.  © 1999 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-736296. All rights reserved.

Prayers

            God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sharing of the Peace

Meal

Offertory             “Let the Vineyards be Fruitful”      # 182

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,

and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.

Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,

that we may be fed with the bread of life.

Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;

unite them with the prayers we offer now.

Grace our table with your presence, and give us

a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offertory Prayer

A:     God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever.  You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.  Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.    Amen

The Great Thanksgiving

P:        The Lord be with you.  And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

Blessed are you, O holy God: you are the Life and Light of all.

By your powerful word, you created all things.  Through the prophets, you called your people to be a light to the nations.

Blessed are you for Jesus.

He is your Light shining in your darkness and revealing to us your mercy and grace.

A plate of bread in each home may be lifted up.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it saying: This is my body given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

A cup of wine in each home may be lifted up.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his preaching and healing, his dying and rising, and his promise to come again, we await that day when all the universe will rejoice in your holy and life-giving light.

By your Spirit, bless us and this holy meal, that refreshed with this heavenly food, we may be light for the world revealing the brilliance of Christ;

Through whom all glory and honour are yours with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, now and forever.  Amen

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen

Distribution

If you are in a group, you may serve one another.  If you are alone, you may serve yourself.  All use these or similar words:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing

P:      May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen, keep, and unite us now and forever.  Amen

Post-Communion Canticle    “Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise”

Thankful hearts and voices raise; tell everyone what God has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice  and bear Christ’s holy name.

Send us with your promises and lead your people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia.  Alleluia!

Post-Communion Prayer

A:        We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life.  In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Sending

Announcements may be made.

Benediction

P:        May God the creator strengthen you;

Jesus the beloved fill you;

and Holy Spirit the comforter + keep you in peace.

  Amen                 

Sending Hymn         “Remember and Rejoice”                             # 454            

Remember and rejoice, renewed by floods of grace,

We bear the sign of Jesus Christ, that time cannot erase.

In life, in death, we trust in God’s most holy name,

forever traced by water sign, and sealed by Spirit flame.

We pledge ourselves anew to flee the lures of hell,

to cling to Christ’s community, in justice, peace to dwell.

God, bless us by your grace; remind us of your care.

Renewing Spirit, fill us now, inspire our work, our prayer.

Text: Ruth Duck, b. 1947.  © 1992 GIA Publications.  Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-736296. All rights reserved.

Dismissal

          A:        Go in peace to be light of Christ!

Thanks be to God!