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PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
STEWARDSHIP TEMPLE TALK Judy Hillegeist
Please rise as you are able
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation.
Amen.
Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.
Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spir-it, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the uni-ty of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen
GATHERING HYMN Hymn #459
“Wade in the Water”
GREETING
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
Let us pray. Almighty God, you anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and revealed him as your beloved Son. Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit faithful in your service, that we may rejoice to be called children of God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:1-7
Near the end of Israel’s exile in Babylon, God promises to bring the people home. They need no longer be afraid, because the one who formed, creat-ed, and called them by name now redeems them from all their enemies. God declares them precious and honored, and God loves them.
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who
formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through
the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire
you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the
east, and from the west I will gather you;
6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not
withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the
end of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: Psalm 29
Refrain
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, ascribe to the Lord glory and
strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name; worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders;
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; the voice of the Lord is a
voice of splendor.
Refrain
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; the Lord breaks the
cedars of Lebanon;
6 the Lord makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a
young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord bursts forth in lightning flashes.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the
wilderness of Kadesh.
Refrain
9 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the
forests bare. And in the temple of the Lord all are crying, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as
king forevermore.
11 O Lord, give strength to your people; give them, O Lord, the
blessings of peace.
Refrain
SECOND READING: Acts 8:14-17
Peter and John are sent to support the new Christians in Samaria, a group that was recently baptized after hearing the good news of Christ through the preaching of Philip. Here the Samaritans receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the laying on of hands.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
Please rise as you are able.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL READING Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
The reading opens with questions about the identity of the Messiah. John the Baptist insists that he is not the Messiah; instead he points ahead to one who is coming. And whether the voice of God was heard by all or only by Jesus, God settles the matter: Jesus is God’s beloved Son.
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John an-swered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And 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.
Please be seated.
SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY Hymn #304
“Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized”
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, 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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
Please rise as you are able.
THE PRAYERS
. . .God of grace, Receive our prayer.
THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC CHOIR
The offering is collected as the hymn is sung. Please rise as you are able on the last verse as the offering is brought forward.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God of grace, your love reaches to the heavens, and your abundance to the depths of the seas. Bless what we offer to your service: our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts. Let us overflow with gratitude and generosity, now and always Amen.
MEAL
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
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.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their un-ending hymn.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
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.
Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Come, eat this meal of gladness!
Communion Distribution---All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #423 “Shall We Gather at the River”
Hymn #453 “Baptized and Set Free”
BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. Nourishing God, at this table you have refreshed us with holy gifts of food and drink. Strengthen us for service, and send us out to embody your good news of liberation and healing for the sake of the world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
BENEDICTION
The Spirit of the triune God bless you with joy, anoint you with compas-sion, and send you in love.
SENDING HYMN #543 “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Live in hope.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE.