THE DIVINE SERVICE January 11, 2015 The First Sunday after the Epiphany The Baptism of Our Lord In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, this church opens wide her doors and offers welcome to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are spiritually weak and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all who are strangers and want fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to whosoever will come. Jesus taught us that if our brother has something against us, we ought to go and be reconciled to him before we do anything else in gathered worship. Please do that without delay if necessary. In Preparation PRELUDE Patricia Dolan Alleluia, Song of Gladness John Goss/Anne Krentz Organ Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized CL Psalmes of David/Walter Pelz Christ, when for us you were baptized, God s spirit on you came, As peaceful as a dove and yet as urgent as a flame. Baptize us with your Spirit, Lord, your cross on us be signed, That, likewise in God s service, we may perfect freedom find. Fairest Lord Jesus 17th c./jonathan Crutchfield WORDS OF PREPARATION Mark 1:4-11 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. (ESV) COLLECT OF THE DAY Father in heaven, as at the baptism in the Jordan River you once proclaimed Jesus your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit, grant that all who are baptized in his name may faithfully keep the covenant into which they have been called, boldly confess their Savior, and with him be heirs of life eternal; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. SILENT PRAYER Following the prelude, please observe silence in final preparation for gathered worship.
The Service of Entrance CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN OF INVOCATION In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. PRAYER OF ADORATION world without end. Amen. Congregation stands as able 2
CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN Minister Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching him, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness. Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against thee by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring thy grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Having confessed together our great need for God s mercy, let us now silently and humbly confess to God our personal and particular sins. DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTION Hear the Word of the Gospel: Christ has died for our sins and been raised for our justification. All you who repent of your sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, rejoice and be glad and give glory to the Lord who has taken away all of your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. O Lord, open our lips, and our mouth will declare your praise. GLORIA Congregation stands as able 3
The Service of the Word THE PSALTER Psalm 29 Congregation stands as able 4
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Genesis 1:1-5 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 4:4-11 Leader: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ! OUR RESPONSE Congregation stands as able 5
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS HOLY BAPTISM Peter Christian Flathmann (Please, no flash photography.) Baptism Response WELCOME At this time, please sign and pass the attendance pads down the row. INTERLUDE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION AND THANKSGIVING Ruling Elder Steve Griggs Unison: 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. THE EPISTLE LESSON Romans 6:1-11 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION MORNING SERMON Sin, Death, and Baptism Romans 6:1-11 Rev. Greg Ward Congregation stands as able 6
The Biblical significance of eating in God s presence can be noted from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Garden-City in Revelation. The Lord Jesus instituted the New Covenant at a meal the meal as he broke bread and shared the cup with his disciples. The Church has always repeated this meal as Christ and his Apostles command, the culmination of worship in God s presence and a bold proclamation of Christ s death until he comes. We invite all baptized Christians to come to this table, his table, and to rejoice with us in God s grace given to us in Christ. If you recognize yourself as a repentant and believing sinner, trusting in Christ s shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins, then come. Baptized children are admitted to the Table upon an age-appropriate profession of faith in Christ. Let us draw near, then, with thankful and reverent hearts and receive by faith the body and blood of Christ, a true nourishment for our souls. If you have any question about whether or not you should receive communion, please ask one of our elders. Communicants who for medical reasons must consume gluten free bread can receive this in front during the passing of the peace. Children are served only when accompanied by a parent. The center cup and inner circle contain grape juice and the outer circles contain wine. Our elders strongly encourage everyone to take the wine. The juice is available for those who cannot drink the wine in faith (Romans 14:23). Please hold each element until all have been served so that we may partake together. The Service of the Table CORPORATE CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles Creed Unison: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you! Let us offer one another a sign of peace. Members of the congregation greet one another with a sign of friendship such as the ancient words that the church has used over the centuries, The peace of Christ be with you, and the response, And also with you. Congregation stands as able 7
TITHES AND OFFERINGS The earth is the Lord s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. HYMN OF GRATITUDE TO GOD Congregation stands as able 8
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendor, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. PRAYER OF DEDICATION Our Gracious God and Father, from thy hand we give to thee. You are our only hope in life and in death; all we are and possess is thine. Receive these gifts we present before thy throne of grace that thy House may be built, thy Kingdom come, thy people know thee, and thy glory be revealed to all people in all nations. We ask this through the matchless name of Jesus Christ our Lord who with the Holy Spirit ever lives and reigns with Thee, One God, world without end. Amen. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you! And also with you! Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord! Let us give thanks to our Lord God! It is good and right to do so! It is very good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for in the mystery of the Word made flesh you have given us a new revelation of your glory that, seeing you in the person of your Son, we may be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen. Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we praise and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and singing: Congregation stands as able 9
WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION COMMUNION HYMN (as the bread is served) Congregation stands as able 10
AGNUS DEI COMMUNION HYMN (as the cup is served) Congregation stands as able 11
BENEDICTION DEPARTING HYMN Nunc Dimittis Congregation stands as able 12
LESSONS Psalm 29 1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. (KJV) Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (ESV) Mark 1:4-11 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I 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. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. (ESV) Sermon Lesson: Romans 6:1-11 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (ESV) Congregation stands as able 13