+   GATHERING   +

THE CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 29):           

L   Hey, human beings, don’t hold back! Let us give credit to whom credit is due –

There is no god like the God who has given us first life and new life!

Break it out! Give God the glory! HALLELUJAH NOW AND ALWAYS!

C God is fully alive and deserves our praise and our gratitude!

Even the ends of the earth are talkin’ and tweetin’ about it!

LORD, YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT AND MIGHTY!

L   God’s beauty is manifest in the skies and the forests.

God’s power is represented in the sweep of the ocean.

     God’s majesty is portrayed in the gigantic bodies suspended in our universe.

DON’T HOLD BACK! GIVE GOD THE PRAISE!

C The wind and the rain,

     the lightning and the thunder,

          the creatures that inhabit our land,

               the flowers that brighten our lives –

      ALL THIS AND SO MUCH MORE COMES FROM GOD’S VOICE, FROM GOD’S HAND!

L   The glory is not ours, but God’s.

Even the achievements of human hand, mind, and machine come by way of the God’s wisdom and power.

Let us give credit to whom credit is due –

GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO GOD! DANCE TO THE RHYTHM OF JOY!

C We give up our “HALLELUJAH!” and can’t hold back on “GLORY!” 

We praise God with our humble “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!”

And we step into “AMAZING GRACE!” to live faithfully and love fervently! 

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD! HEY!

OPENING SONG:    “JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”       Brown #59 

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):

Father in heaven, at our best we know that Jesus Christ is our light, our joy, our answer, our way.

Send your Spirit upon your church today as we remember and renew our baptism.

Turn us upside down and inside out, fire us up, and shake us into ministry and mission as we

recognize and embrace the amazing power of Christ’s love alive in our hearts and lives.  Amen.

 

+   THE HOLY WORD   +

FIRST READING:       Isaiah 43:1-7
[Let trust in God’s promise cast fear aside! You are precious to God and loved.]   

43:1 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.

43:2 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.

43:3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

43:4 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.

43:5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;

43:6 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–

43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

SECOND READING: Acts 8:14-17
[Scattered Christians preach wherever, and the Holy Spirit quenches what water can’t.]

8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

8:15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit

8:16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).

8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

GOSPEL VERSE:   

“Always remember Jesus, Jesus.

Always remember Jesus, Jesus.

Always keep Him on your mind.”

THE GOSPEL:     Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
[There is nobody like Jesus! Jesus is God’s beloved Son.]

3:15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

3:16 John answered 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 strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3:17 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.”

3:21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

3:22 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.”

SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR  

THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen

 

+   THE HOLY WATERS   +

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISM PROMISES:

L   My brothers and sisters in Christ, for the last few weeks we have been celebrating the birth of Emmanuel, God-with-us. With the shepherds we have heard the Good News of a new age dawning with peace for all people on earth. With the magi we have journeyed by the light of faith to Bethlehem and found there our Savior and King. Now we celebrate the fulfillment of this mystery, for today – as he is baptized in the muddy waters of the River Jordan – Jesus will be revealed as the beloved Son of God, anointed by the Spirit, and commissioned to be the Messiah, the suffering servant of God’s love for the sake of the world

In our baptism, we too have been washed in waters, claimed as God’s beloved sons and daughters, anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and called and sent to be bearers of God’s light, servants of God’s love, seekers of God’s justice, and sharers of God’s mercy for all the world. Today we come to the life-giving waters to renew our commitments, in each other’s presence, to the Christ who has raised us, the Spirit who has birthed us, and the Creator who is making all things new. And therefore I ask you to respond to these questions…

L  Do you renounce the devil and all the forces of evil that defy God?

C I renounce them.

L   Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?

C I renounce them.

L   Do you renounce and repent the ways of sin that draw you away from God?

C I renounce them.

L   Do you believe in God, who formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed life into us, and

who has called us to a new life in the waters of baptism and by the fire of the Spirit?

C Yes, I do believe!

  L   Do you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Word, who was born of the virgin Mary, and at the

Jordan River was anointed by the Holy Spirit as Messiah… who taught and demonstrated God’s love

and the way of true life… who willingly died and by his death and rising has brought us over into

God’s Kingdom… and who will come again in final, lasting glory?

C Yes, I do believe!

L   Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, who has gathered us together and anointed us in baptism to be

God’s holy people, sent to proclaim the Kingdom of justice and love, of freedom and peace, today

and until the end of time?

C Yes, I do believe!

L   And do you believe in yourselves and in one another, the Church, living Christ’s life in the world

today as his very own Body, one with the saints of ages past and yet to come, and heirs to the

promise of eternal life with God and with all his faithful forever and ever?

C Yes, I do believe!

L   Today you have once again turned away from the powers of sin and death, once again proclaimed your faith, once again chosen God’s will over your own priorities. Now I ask you…

L   Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism –

to be diligent in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers…

to persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, to repent and return to the Lord

to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ Jesus, wherever you are and in

all that you do…

and to strive for peace and justice in all the earth?

C Yes, I put my whole trust in Jesus Christ and in his saving grace!

I promise to serve him as my Lord, and I pray to God to help and guide me.

Amen and Hallelujah!

L   [sprinkles water upon and addresses the Congregation. If you are not in the sanctuary this morning, you may 

      sprinkle water on yourself or trace the sign of the cross upon your forehead during each response.]

Today let us thank and praise God for the gift of water that springs forth and sustains life.

Let us thank and praise God for the voice of mercy to our parched and weary spirits.

Let us ask God to bubble up in our dry and arid places and refresh us.

C O Holy Spirit, come upon these waters, come upon us, and stir us with your power!

   L   May the Holy Spirit strengthen each of you in your baptism, strengthen you in your faith.

May these waters be drops of God’s mercy, wash away your sins and death’s power.

May you be reborn again and again with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

  C O Holy Spirit, come upon these waters, come upon us, and stir us with your power!

L   May the grace-gifts of the Spirit be showered upon you today and every day.

May you be daily refreshed and revived and renewed in your service to Christ.

May you get soaking wet in God’s will and passionately wild with God’s love.

  C O Holy Spirit, come upon these waters, come upon us, and stir us with your power!

L   Sisters and brothers in Christ, the baptism of Jesus inaugurated his public ministry.

Let your baptism stir your ministry out there in the world in public and on purpose.

May you always remember your identity as God’s baptized child,

may you never forget your mission as God’s anointed servant,

may you never stop trusting in God’s power to enable you in difficult times.  Amen.

C   [singing] I’ll say “YES, LORD, YES!”  to your will and to your way.

I’ll say “YES, LORD, YES!”, I will trust you and obey.

When the Spirit speaks with me, with my whole heart I’ll agree,       

And the answer will be “YES, LORD, YES!”

 

+   THE HOLY MEAL   +

TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS…  We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!

Some people – including leaders in government, business, society, and even religion – worship money and power, and they use people to get both. But there are some people who worship God through Christ Jesus, and they use money to express their gratitude and to extend God’s grace.   We are in a brand new year of grateful and faithful giving! Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those that are farther away might: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing! In the month of January you might consider an additional offering in support of the Lutheran Charity Appeal, support of these three Philadelphia area social ministries: KenCrest Services; Lutheran Settlement House;  and Gemma Services. In 2024 we received about $1200 to be divided among them.

       

SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR

THE OFFERTORY SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”                    

• This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…  (3X)

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

• Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine…  (3X)

Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine…  (3X)

OFFERING PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.

     O Lord our God, You have anointed us to bring good news and to proclaim liberty, to bind up the

     brokenhearted and to liberate the oppressed. Help us to shine forth always and in all ways with the

     bright glory of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

THE PREFACE:

L   The Lord be with you.    C   AND ALSO WITH YOU!

L   Lift up your hearts! C   WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!

L   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! C   IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE!

THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.

THE LORD’S PRAYER  (spoken)

COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING, BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE! 

COMMUNION SONGS: “TAKE ME TO THE WATER” Brown #117  

“BLESSED ASSURANCE” Brown #118  

THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.

+   SENDING   +

BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!

CLOSING SONG: “GO, MY CHILDREN, WITH MY BLESSING”                                              Brown #161

+

The story of the BAPTISM OF JESUS – when Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God – is also a story about us. We come to the waters of the font, our Jordan River. We are washed by the Word, anointed by the Spirit, named and claimed as God’s beloved children, marked by love and set apart for service. With Christ we are chosen to proclaim God’s mercy in a suffering world, to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to those who are captive. With Christ we are made public witnesses to God’s will and justice. With Christ we are called to do good, to relieve the suffering of those who are oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted. With Christ we are sent forth into the world as light and real love, as forgiveness for sin and as invitation to life with – not against – God. Sisters and brothers in Christ, trust what you see, believe the vision, lay bare your hearts to God’s own Word, do not refuse the Savior’s mission, get soaking wet in God’s will and passionately wild with God’s love… grow, live, reach out, serve, and incite miracles. JESUS’ BAPTISM INAUGURATED HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY; LET YOUR OWN BAPTISM STIR YOUR PERSONAL AND OUR SHARED MINISTRY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD IN PUBLIC AND ON PURPOSE!

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Art Attribution: Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baptism-of-Christ.jpg.