January 8th 2023 Bulletin

 

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN:  I Am So Glad……………………………………………Red 271

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS, GREETING

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!

KYRIE: Red 138 Sung , HYMN: Bright and Glorious…………...Red 301

Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are    baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with him of everlasting life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 42:1-9 The Lord's transformation of something old (something expected) into something new is a major theme of Isaiah 40--55. Today's reading begins with the familiar language of the Lord bringing justice (or "the true way") through a chosen one. What is new is how the Lord brings that about: the servant is not a triumphant warrior, but is one who works quietly and patiently. Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare, before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Acts 10:34-43 Peter's sermon to the Roman centurion Cornelius tells how the message of God's inclusive salvation came to expression in the ministry of Jesus following John's baptism. Peter began to speak to Cornelius and his household: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ-he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives          forgiveness of sins through his name." 

HYMN: Baptized in Water……………………………………...Red 456

Matthew 3:13-17 Before Jesus begins his ministry, he is baptized by John, touched by the Spirit, and identified publicly as God's child. Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have          prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been       baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

CHILDREN COME FORWARD, SERMON

HYMN: We are baptized………………………………………..Red 451

OFFERING, APOSTLES’ CREED

PRAYERS: God of glory, with great joy we worship you and lay before you these gifts, which you have first given us. Let our lives serve you only, and lead us always to our dearest treasure, Jesus Christ, the bright and morning star…. LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN: Arise, Your Light Has Come………………………….Red 314

O God, Be the light for our path, that we may do justice, love kindness,

and walk humbly with you, now and forever. Amen God's blessing be with you, Christ's peace be with you, the Spirit's presence be with you,

now and always. Amen

Go in peace. Be light for the world.  Thanks be to God.