The Baptism of Our Lord January 13, 2019 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN 55118 Church Office: (651) 457-9232 Fax: (651) 457-1893 www.saintjameslutheran.com stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com facebook.com/stjwsp @stjwsp Pastor Michael Albrecht 651-457-6796 malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley 651-689-3253 dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Tom Rowland Organist & Choir Director 612-861-4503 trowland5726@comcast.net Pastor Tom Volker 612-860-2648 tvolker@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director 651-336-2117 tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse 651-210-3380 pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com
WELCOME TO WORSHIP! The Baptism of Our Lord January 13, 2019 Luther encouraged us to remember our baptism. Not as an event in our lives but what it means for our lives. Today we recall the story of Jesus baptism for the same reason, what does this mean for me? Cover Artist: Jonah Volker GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Read Psalm 29. The voice of God is described in terms of Nature s Power. Does a thunderstorm ever make you think of God? Does the voice of God give you peace, or turn your life upside down? LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in the narthex. 2
THE ORDER OF SERVICE PRELUDE: Aria Handel, Manz, Burkhardt GATHERING HYMN: Christian Worship #89 To Jordan s River Came Our Lord for last stanza PASTORAL GREETING: Pastor Volker INVOCATION CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION C: O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being. P: Do you believe that the forgiveness I speak is not my forgiveness but God s? C: Yes. P: Let it be done for you as you believe. In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Go in peace. C: Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 43:1-7 But now, this is what the Lord says- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For 3
God gives words of assurance to His people, Israel, in preparation for their future. They would cease to be an independent nation. They would go through the awful experience of exile. God was promising them that they would not be alone. He would be with them. I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! Paul reminds us of the mystery of our baptism. That through that sacred act we are united to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. THE EPISTLE: Romans 6:1-11 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! VERSE RESPONSE: Christian Worship, page 40 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 3:15-22 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I 4
am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." The people who gathered to hear John the Baptizer preach are fired up for the Messiah s coming. Then He comes, in their midst, and is baptized, like everyone else. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! HYMN OF THE DAY: LSB 591 This Is the Spirit s Entry Now (Sung to Christian Worship #491 O Master of the Loving Heart ) 1 This is the Spirit s entry now: The water and the Word, The cross of Jesus on your brow, The seal both felt and heard. Children are invited to come forward 2 This miracle of life reborn Comes from the Lord of breath; The perfect Man from life was torn; Our life comes through Christ s death. 3 Let water be the sacred sign That we must die each day To rise again by His design As foll wers of His way. 4 Renewing Spirit, hear our praise For Your baptismal pow r That washes us through all our days; Lord, cleanse again this hour. Text: Thomas E. Herbranson. Used by permission: OneLicense.net no. A-724499 SERMON: Text: Isaiah 43:1-7 Theme: The Catch RESPONSE TO THE SERMON: Christian Worship, page 20 5
APOSTLES CREED: Christian Worship, page 41 Give online at give.4gvn.us OFFERING: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your income. Proverbs 3:9 OFFERTORY: Shepherds Came, Their Praises Bringing Walcha HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #233, stanzas 1 & 3 All People that on Earth Do Dwell PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION SENDING HYMN: Christian Worship #449 Children of the Heavenly Father POSTLUDE: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star Bender 6
SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Tom Volker (preaching) Pastor Dale Critchley Organist: Tom Rowland Ushers: (8:00) Len Bohrer and Team #3 (10:30) Dave Miller and Team #4 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Becky Martinez, Lorna Redding, and Leif Thune Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Dennis Grover, Lee Hubler, LaJene Ihfe SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN 55118 the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for The Lutheran Heritage Foundation, as they translate Lutheran theological works into 88 different languages, publishing and introducing them into 70 countries around the world. FLOWERS The flowers in the chancel vases are in loving memory of Irene Brunner, who entered her eternal home January 15 th, 2002, and Herman Brunner, who entered his eternal home January 16 th, 1997, provided by their daughter Roxanne Baumann. If you would like to order FLOWERS please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at 651-450-6452 or stadlerek@comcast.net. Stewardship Thought You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late. (Contributed by a Saint James member) Living as a Local Missionary Volunteer at a neonatal ICU. They often need people to hold the babies when parents can t be there because of work, other kids, etc. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by Permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. 7