The Baptism
of the Lord
**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
**This is for personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Holy God, creator
of light and herald of goodness, at the waters of his baptism you proclaimed Jesus
your beloved Son. With the baptized of every time and generation may we say yes
to your call to repentance and be led to the life of abundance we experience in
your kinship and your love. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary Prayers)
Opening Hymn – When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known (BCP #163)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Collect for Purity
The Gloria
Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Eternal God, who
at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the
Holy Spirit, keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to
their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Readings
A reading from
the Book of Genesis 1:1-5
In
the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a
formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God
swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and
there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the
light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called
Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be the God.
Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord
in holy splendor.
The voice of
the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the
Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of
the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a
young wild ox.
The voice of
the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes
the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of
the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits
enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord
give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
A reading from
the Book of Acts 19:1-7
While
Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to
Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the
Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even
heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you
baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with
the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to
come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit
came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied – altogether there
were about twelve of them.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn – On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry (BCP #103)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. 1:4-11
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
John
the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and
all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in
the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s
hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am
not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 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 just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn
apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from
heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Children's Message
Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the
meditations of all our hearts be acceptable and pleasing in your sight O Lord,
for you are our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
John the Baptist preached and baptized people on the Jordan River. His fame spread far and near. His message was, "Turn your life to God. Be baptized. Get ready for the Messiah!" People flocked to see John and to be baptized by him.
John’s baptism had two components – repentance and forgiveness (Mark 1:4). As John explains what took place with Jesus, he adds that the baptism is not only with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Those elements are still true of baptism today. The baptismal liturgy marks the end of the old life (“Do you renounce … ”) and the beginning of a life lived in God’s grace and forgiveness. Then John adds a new component with the gift of the Holy Spirit, also part of our baptism service (“ … you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit … ”).
Later on, toward the close of his ministry, Jesus himself makes clear that baptism leads to a new way of life. When the brothers James and John ask to be seated next to Jesus in the life to come, Jesus points out that “the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized” (Mark 10:39). To be baptized in Jesus is to follow him.
It is in the waters of baptism that the heavens are torn apart and a voice from heaven claims Jesus as God’s son. Although we rarely think of it as having such a dramatic flourish, baptism today still serves as a time when we recognize our being claimed as children of God.
Even without the help of a dramatic voice from heaven, we trust that God has claimed us in our midst, and we work to fulfill the baptismal vows that we trust the church has made.
When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit rested in him. And God the Father called him "the Son that I love." Then, God said, "I really like what he is doing."
When we are baptized and confirmed, we receive the Holy Spirit. And God calls us his children. Then we are to go and do as Jesus did. Pray and worship God. Serve others. And spread the Good News.
When Mark records John the Baptist as saying, “I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit,” it causes me to wonder what the people actually heard? “The Holy Wind?” “The Holy Breath?”
People gathered with John at that time would not have necessarily understood “Holy Spirit”.
Perhaps they would have taken it to mean a breath of fresh air. Considering what was going on in the world around them, it would not be surprising that they would be looking for a breath of fresh air.
Maybe that’s what we need as we come off a particularly challenging year – a breath of fresh air – an encouraging word of blessing and promise. For the voice that spoke these words to Jesus Messiah in his baptism is the voice that speaks to us in our baptism, and beyond.
And they are encouraging. We belong. We are claimed. We are not alone.
Just as John the Baptist prepares for Christ’s coming in his ministry at the river Jordan, so too do believers as they live out the promises of baptism.
Baptism is meant to be remembered and celebrated, and practiced in our everyday lives.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, and focus on that event for our salvation, we need to reflect on our own baptisms.
Ask yourself the questions that would have been asked of you during the Baptismal Covenant.
Do you believe in God, the Almighty?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier?
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ, of God among us?
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Take a moment now to think hard about these questions.
Are your answers still the same as they were 10, 15, 20 years ago?
Have your answers deepened over time? Lessened?
Do you live your life by this covenant?
I realize I might be starting to sound like a broken record, but I can not reiterate enough how hard 2020 has been on us as individuals, communities, and as a society.
And 2021 did not get off to a great start, either.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, we need to remember what it means to have been baptized into God’s family.
We have a responsibility to each other as fellow Children of God.
Go back and review your Baptismal Covenant. Read each promise slowly and carefully.
There are deep-seeded problems in our society that need to come to an end.
And as the Children of God, it is up to us to initiate change that brings true equality to the world.
Affirmation of Faith
The Prayers of the People
(From Intercessions for the Christian
People)
In the waters of
baptism, we were called to be God’s children and to minister to on another. Let
us therefore pray for ourselves, for one another, and for all those in need of
our prayers, saying: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the church, that it may stand fast in the one faith to which is has been called.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the world, that our conflicts may cease and that peace may reign in this new year.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all Christians who have been baptized into the one family of faith, that our lives reflect the forgiveness and love which was first shown us.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all who are blind to the injustices of our world, that their eyes may be opened and that they may work for an end to oppression and injustice.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the sick, that their sickness may be turned to health and that they may once again join us in our work and worship.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Please take time to offer your own intercessions or to pray in silence.
Let us pray for the faithful who have gone before us, that we may follow the example of their lives and be reunited with them in the joy of everlasting life.
Lord, in your
mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Omniscient God, you know our thoughts and needs better than we ourselves. Accept the prayers which we now offer, and strengthen us to do your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends
in Christ,
God is
steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them
to the table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
(Silence)
Song of Confession - words and music by Gord Johnson, used with permission from st benedict's table
Almighty God, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Offertory Hymn – In the Bleak Midwinter (BCP #122)
Prayer over the Gifts
**Although not physically at our church buildings to share
our offering together I would encourage you to set your offering of money aside
so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services resume, to
mail your offering to the church, or to make donations online. Please remember
ministry is still taking place.
Let us pray.
God of life
and freedom, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus as the Christ who makes all
creation new. Accept all we offer you this day and make us new in him, who is
Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold 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.
Save us from the time of trial,
And deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Doxology
Glory to God,
Whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we
can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church
and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
The blessing
of almighty God, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you now and always. Amen.
Closing Hymn – Come and Journey with a Saviour (BCP #482)
Dismissal
Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the
power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
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