SUNDAY ORDER OF WORSHIP
Baptism of the Lord
1-10-2021
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (The Work of Christmas by Howard Thurman)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
OPENING HYMN: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love!
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, in baptism you called us to turn from sin and to turn to Jesus Christ; but we stray from his ways and do not heed your call. In baptism you joined us to Christ that we might be raised with Christ in new life; but we cherish old ways and fail to embrace the risen life. In baptism you united us with all the baptized who confess your name; but we refuse to live as one people. In baptism you gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us but we rely on ourselves and refuse to trust your direction. Lord, have mercy on us. As you promised at our baptism, forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness. Raise us to new life in Jesus Christ, that we may be your faithful servants, to the glory of your holy name. (silent confession) Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
GLORIA PATRI (please stand)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 1:1-5
1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the 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. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Acts 19:1-7
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He 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.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul 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.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — 7altogether there were about twelve of them.
Gospel Mark 1:4-11
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He 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. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And 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. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
REFLECTION: "What Does Baptism Mean to You?" Donna Flint
REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM FOR THE CONGREGATION
Hear these words from Holy Scripture: Just as the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and we were all made to drink of one Spirit
Sisters and brothers in Christ, our baptism is the sign and seal of our cleansing from sin, and of our being grafted into Christ. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the power of sin was broken and God’s kingdom entered our world.
Through our baptism we were made citizens of God’s kingdom, and freed from the bondage of sin. Let us celebrate that freedom and redemption through the renewal of the promises made at our baptism.
I ask you, therefore, once again to reject sin, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we were baptized.
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
I do
Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love?
I will, with God's help.
Affirmation of your faith, what do you believe when you confess your faith in “God the Father Almighty”?
That God is a God of love, and that God’s love is powerful beyond measure.
What do you affirm when you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as “our Lord”?
That having been raised from the dead
he reigns with compassion and justice
over all things in heaven and on earth,
especially over those who confess him by faith;
and that by loving and serving him above all else,
we give glory and honor to God.
What do you believe when you confess your faith in the Holy Spirit?
That apart from the Holy Spirit,
our Lord can neither be loved, nor known, nor served.
The Holy Spirit is the personal bond
by which Jesus Christ unites us to himself,
the teacher who opens our hearts to Christ,
and the comforter who leads us to repentance,
empowering us to live in Christ’s service.
What do you affirm when you speak of “the life everlasting”?
That communion with Jesus Christ is eternal life itself.
In him we were chosen before the foundation of the world.
By him the eternal covenant with Israel was taken up, embodied, and fulfilled.
To him we are joined by the Holy Spirit through faith, and adopted as children,
the sons and daughters of God. Through him we are raised from death to new life.
For him we shall live to all eternity.
Hear the good news! In baptism you were buried with Christ. In baptism also you were raised to life with him, through faith in the power of God who raised Christ from the dead. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun.
Remember your baptism and be thankful. Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
INVITATION TO OFFERING As you enjoy the special music, please reflect on how you may offer your time, talents, intellect and resources, to further God’s work in our church and our world. Please prayerfully consider sending your tithes/offerings to the church by mail or bank transfer.
SPECIAL MUSIC – “What I Believe” Donna Flint
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OUR TIME TO PRAY:
Those with health concerns:
-Rev. Norlita
-Dave (Rev. Norlita’s spouse)
-David P
-Gene G
-Bob & Jan J
-Sharon W
-LaVonne B
-Jan B
-Bev (Teri B’s mother)
-Anthony (Teri B’s son)
-Harry (Bonnie S.’s father)
-Jeanne L’s pregnant relative
-Rocky (Judy & Mike’s nephew)
-Jack (Lee’s father)
-Sue (Bonnie F.’s mother)
-Kara (Richard & Dolores’ daughter)
-Ann (wife of Rev. Terry D)
-Sue (friend of Ella)
-Elizabeth (Kennedy’s mom in Cameroon)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Stanley & Julie S and sons Dylan & Stanley; Judy S, Richard and Judy S.
Our homebound or in care members: Barb B, Delores K, Nona M, Rose P, Cliff R, Stephen & Carrie V B, Dee W. (Please reach out and call)
Those who mourn:
We continue to pray for the Watson, Boy, Peterson, and Larson families
Prayers for our sister churches First Presbyterian in Madison, SD, Pastor Mark Werner and Clerk of Session Trudi Nelson; First Presbyterian in Flandreau, Pastor Ann Spitzenberger; our Presbytery of South Dakota; the PCUSA (leaders and staff); and our own Session, Deacons, members and friends, and Brookings United Church of Christ staff, church council, and members.
Victims and families affected by the Coronavirus. God grant them all comfort and healing. Prayers for all hospital workers, especially doctors and nurses, and first responders across the world and their families.
Prayers for our nation as it moves forward during these months of transition.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
CLOSING HYMN In Christ There is no East or West
In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whate’er your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are joined as one
throughout the whole wide earth.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES: Worship services will be online via Zoom only during the months of January and February. There will be no in-sanctuary worship during those months per Session decision on December 30th.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL will resume when worship services begin again in the sanctuary.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN OF SOUTH DAKOTA (PW) will hold a mini-retreat via Zoom on January 16, 2021, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Please check the January Blade for instructions how to receive the Zoom invitation.
TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP will not be meeting in the month of January.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for January!
Marlys M, Lisa B, Neal F, Joel F, Daniel M, Vivian L, Katy Y, Julie S, Malia G, Brock P, Art V
Lord, for these joys, we give thee thanks.
BENEDICTION
May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent, one from the other. Amen
(Thanks to everyone who helped out with our worship this morning. It takes a village to raise a child the saying says. It takes a village to do worship virtually, our new saying during these days of pandemic. Stay safe and well. Pray often. Love always! Blessings for your week! )
The Worship bulletin, music, and video sermon are available on our church’s website www.brookingspresbyterian.org for use at home during this time of COVID-19.
An e-mail copy of the message is available by request from the church office.
Baptism of the Lord
1-10-2021
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (The Work of Christmas by Howard Thurman)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
OPENING HYMN: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love!
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, in baptism you called us to turn from sin and to turn to Jesus Christ; but we stray from his ways and do not heed your call. In baptism you joined us to Christ that we might be raised with Christ in new life; but we cherish old ways and fail to embrace the risen life. In baptism you united us with all the baptized who confess your name; but we refuse to live as one people. In baptism you gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us but we rely on ourselves and refuse to trust your direction. Lord, have mercy on us. As you promised at our baptism, forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness. Raise us to new life in Jesus Christ, that we may be your faithful servants, to the glory of your holy name. (silent confession) Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
GLORIA PATRI (please stand)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 1:1-5
1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the 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. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Acts 19:1-7
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He 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.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul 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.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — 7altogether there were about twelve of them.
Gospel Mark 1:4-11
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He 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. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And 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. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
REFLECTION: "What Does Baptism Mean to You?" Donna Flint
REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM FOR THE CONGREGATION
Hear these words from Holy Scripture: Just as the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and we were all made to drink of one Spirit
Sisters and brothers in Christ, our baptism is the sign and seal of our cleansing from sin, and of our being grafted into Christ. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the power of sin was broken and God’s kingdom entered our world.
Through our baptism we were made citizens of God’s kingdom, and freed from the bondage of sin. Let us celebrate that freedom and redemption through the renewal of the promises made at our baptism.
I ask you, therefore, once again to reject sin, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we were baptized.
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
I do
Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior
Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love?
I will, with God's help.
Affirmation of your faith, what do you believe when you confess your faith in “God the Father Almighty”?
That God is a God of love, and that God’s love is powerful beyond measure.
What do you affirm when you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as “our Lord”?
That having been raised from the dead
he reigns with compassion and justice
over all things in heaven and on earth,
especially over those who confess him by faith;
and that by loving and serving him above all else,
we give glory and honor to God.
What do you believe when you confess your faith in the Holy Spirit?
That apart from the Holy Spirit,
our Lord can neither be loved, nor known, nor served.
The Holy Spirit is the personal bond
by which Jesus Christ unites us to himself,
the teacher who opens our hearts to Christ,
and the comforter who leads us to repentance,
empowering us to live in Christ’s service.
What do you affirm when you speak of “the life everlasting”?
That communion with Jesus Christ is eternal life itself.
In him we were chosen before the foundation of the world.
By him the eternal covenant with Israel was taken up, embodied, and fulfilled.
To him we are joined by the Holy Spirit through faith, and adopted as children,
the sons and daughters of God. Through him we are raised from death to new life.
For him we shall live to all eternity.
Hear the good news! In baptism you were buried with Christ. In baptism also you were raised to life with him, through faith in the power of God who raised Christ from the dead. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun.
Remember your baptism and be thankful. Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
INVITATION TO OFFERING As you enjoy the special music, please reflect on how you may offer your time, talents, intellect and resources, to further God’s work in our church and our world. Please prayerfully consider sending your tithes/offerings to the church by mail or bank transfer.
SPECIAL MUSIC – “What I Believe” Donna Flint
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OUR TIME TO PRAY:
Those with health concerns:
-Rev. Norlita
-Dave (Rev. Norlita’s spouse)
-David P
-Gene G
-Bob & Jan J
-Sharon W
-LaVonne B
-Jan B
-Bev (Teri B’s mother)
-Anthony (Teri B’s son)
-Harry (Bonnie S.’s father)
-Jeanne L’s pregnant relative
-Rocky (Judy & Mike’s nephew)
-Jack (Lee’s father)
-Sue (Bonnie F.’s mother)
-Kara (Richard & Dolores’ daughter)
-Ann (wife of Rev. Terry D)
-Sue (friend of Ella)
-Elizabeth (Kennedy’s mom in Cameroon)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Stanley & Julie S and sons Dylan & Stanley; Judy S, Richard and Judy S.
Our homebound or in care members: Barb B, Delores K, Nona M, Rose P, Cliff R, Stephen & Carrie V B, Dee W. (Please reach out and call)
Those who mourn:
We continue to pray for the Watson, Boy, Peterson, and Larson families
Prayers for our sister churches First Presbyterian in Madison, SD, Pastor Mark Werner and Clerk of Session Trudi Nelson; First Presbyterian in Flandreau, Pastor Ann Spitzenberger; our Presbytery of South Dakota; the PCUSA (leaders and staff); and our own Session, Deacons, members and friends, and Brookings United Church of Christ staff, church council, and members.
Victims and families affected by the Coronavirus. God grant them all comfort and healing. Prayers for all hospital workers, especially doctors and nurses, and first responders across the world and their families.
Prayers for our nation as it moves forward during these months of transition.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
CLOSING HYMN In Christ There is no East or West
In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whate’er your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are joined as one
throughout the whole wide earth.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES: Worship services will be online via Zoom only during the months of January and February. There will be no in-sanctuary worship during those months per Session decision on December 30th.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL will resume when worship services begin again in the sanctuary.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN OF SOUTH DAKOTA (PW) will hold a mini-retreat via Zoom on January 16, 2021, 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Please check the January Blade for instructions how to receive the Zoom invitation.
TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP will not be meeting in the month of January.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for January!
Marlys M, Lisa B, Neal F, Joel F, Daniel M, Vivian L, Katy Y, Julie S, Malia G, Brock P, Art V
Lord, for these joys, we give thee thanks.
BENEDICTION
May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent, one from the other. Amen
(Thanks to everyone who helped out with our worship this morning. It takes a village to raise a child the saying says. It takes a village to do worship virtually, our new saying during these days of pandemic. Stay safe and well. Pray often. Love always! Blessings for your week! )
The Worship bulletin, music, and video sermon are available on our church’s website www.brookingspresbyterian.org for use at home during this time of COVID-19.
An e-mail copy of the message is available by request from the church office.