ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY JANUARY 8TH 2017-BAPTISM OF JESUS SUNDAY

The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s

United Church of Canada

Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS

Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarksuc@gmail.com

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca

Ministers: The Whole People of God    Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

January 8th, 2017-Baptism of Jesus

A thought around which to gather as we worship— At Baptism we enter on our journey as God’s servants. We set out on a path that may lead us to the courage of Peter or the vision of Isaiah. The God we follow is more powerful than the strongest thunderstorm, and more gentle than the softest dove. We are called to serve God by bringing justice to the earth and compassion to all people. 

Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing January 8, 2017, The Whole People of God™,  Biblical Background, p. 1

 Announcements The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit

*Introit  Responsive reading from A Song of Faith

Sung Response: Out of Deep...         VU 453 Refrain only
                        There is water in the river
                        bringing life to tree and plant.
                        Let creation praise its giver:
                        there is water in the font.   

Water is poured into font

To point to the presence of the holy in the world,
the church receives, consecrates, and shares
visible signs of the grace of God.
In company with the churches
of the Reformed and Methodist traditions,
we celebrate two sacraments as gifts of Christ:
baptism and holy communion.
In these sacraments the ordinary things of life
—water, bread, wine—
point beyond themselves to God and God’s love,
teaching us to be alert
to the sacred in the midst of life.
Before conscious thought or action on our part,
we are born into the brokenness of this world.
Before conscious thought or action on our part,
we are surrounded by God’s redeeming love.
Baptism by water in the name of the Holy Trinity
is the means by which we are received, at any age,
into the covenanted community of the church.
It is the ritual that signifies our rebirth in faith
and cleansing by the power of God.
Baptism signifies the nurturing, sustaining,
and transforming power of God’s love
and our grateful response to that grace.

Responsive Reading excerpted from A Song of Faith:

       A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada

Sung Response: There is water in the river
                        bringing life to tree and plant.
                        Let creation praise its giver:
                        there is water in the font.

Call to Worship 

One: When we are reluctant to dip our toes into faith’s river, 
All: Jesus comes, to teach us how to swim. 
One: When we are hesitant to cup our hands to drink from the fountain of grace, 
All: Jesus comes, to reach in and splash our faces with God’s joy. 
One: When we are unwilling to be the pipeline of hope, 
All: Jesus comes, to turn on the faucets God has installed in our hearts. 
One: Come, let us worship. 

Opening Prayer            Based on Psalm 29

One: And we cry,   Response: All: And we cry, “Glory!” 

*Hymn Jesus Shall Reign            VU 330

Prayer of Confession

You would have all people hear of your grace, servant God, but we hinder your efforts by hoarding the word for ourselves. 
You would have hope flow through our neighbourhoods, but we thwart your plans by damming up hope in our hearts. 
You would have us skip into your realm, but we frustrate your future by clinging so tightly to those grudges we have carried for so long. 
Have mercy on us, Shaker of our wildernesses, and unlock the shuttered doors of our hearts. 
Remind us that at our baptism you touch us with the waters of life. You promise to be with us always, and call us your beloved, even as you sang your joy to Jesus the Christ, at the waters of the Jordan.   
 Silence is kept. 

Words of Assurance

One: You know the good news God has proclaimed to you: we are called to let go of the past, and to walk, hand in hand with the Spirit, into the reign of God. 
All: God forgives us, accepts us, and sends us forth to do good, and to testify about the One who baptizes us in the water and the Spirit. Thanks be to God. Amen. 

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Isaiah 42:1–9 God’s servant brings justice.One: Herein is Wisdom.  All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 29         Ascribe to God all glory and strength    VU 756

* Hymn Let Us Build a House      MV 1 

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 3:13–17 Jesus is baptized.One: Herein is Good News.  All: Praise be to God. 

Opening the Word 2

 Thoughts on Baptism & Meditation on Water

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

*Affirmation of Faith      A New Creed                           VU 918

* Hymn     Let There Be Light VU 679

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

* Offering PrayerBy your grace, God of the waters, we can open our eyes to see those in need around us. By your abundance in our lives, what we offer can bring hope and healing to more people than we can ever imagine. By your blessing, others are in­vited to the waters of life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession      Based on Psalm 29

One: Your voice thunders in the night, and sings love songs in the morning. 
All: Your voice tumbles raging rapids, and ripples pools of peace. 
One: Your voice snaps trees in two, and can mend broken hearts with a sigh. 
All: We give glory to your name, God of our lives. 
One: Guided by grace, you became the champion of justice. 
All: Beloved of the sightless, you release those we would shackle. 
One: Broken for our sake, you shape our souls into silhou­ettes hanging in the hall of servants. 
All: We give glory to your grace, child of the waters. 
One: You cup your hands around our flickering faith, breathing us to new life. 
All: You call us to work for justice, teaching us inten­tional acts of service. 
One: You immerse us in courage, daring us to speak words of hope. 
All: We give glory to your love, Spirit of wonder. 
One: We give you the glory now and always. Amen. 

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn             We Are Marching VU 646

* Commissioning and Benediction   

One: Baptized to begin lives of faith, 
All: we would witness to all you do in our communities, in our midst, in our world. 
One: Baptized to serve, 
All: we would speak up for the voiceless, we would bring justice to those who have none. 
One: Baptized to speak, 
All: we would heal, and not hurt; we would bless, and not curse.    
One: Baptized and named as beloved,   
All: we go out from this place to love and serve.

* Choral Amen