Lectionary - Epiphany 1: The Baptism of Jesus - Year A

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Isaiah 42:1-9 Here is my servant
Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord, ...glory and strength
Acts 10:34-43 Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness
Matthew 3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
 

lesson	Hymns for Epiphany +1, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
E	A man there lived in Galilee	235	176
O	All hail the power of Jesus' name	224	159
O	Almighty God lift up our eyes		549
E	Awake, awake, fling off the night		412
O	Be thou my vision	547	455
G	Christ when for us you were baptized	250		20
G	Crown him with many crowns	228	163
O/G	Fairest lord Jesus	203	131
E	Fold to your heart your sister and your brother	587	[503]
E/hc	I come with joy to meet my Lord	533	452
O	I sing the almighty power of God	119	40
Ps	I'll praise my Maker while I've breath	80	44
O	Jesus shall reign where'er the sun	207	136
G	Like the murmur of the dove's song	419
O	My heart and voice I raise	225	160
G	Never in all human story	320
lit	Now is eternal life	385	305
E/hc	Now let us from this table rise	530	450
G	O let the Son of God enfold you	655
G	O Lord Jesus, Marrkapmirr	253		70
G	O love how deep, how broad, how high	194	6
G	On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry	270	199
E	The church's one foundation	457	385
Ps	The Lord will bless his people with peace	17
O	The people that in darkness walked	274	202
E	The voice of God goes out to all the world	282		86
G	To the name of our salvation		127
E	We have a gospel to proclaim	245	189
O	With joy we meditate the grace	206	134
Ps	Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness	454	382
Ps	You are holy, you are whole	753

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)
SA 28 Do not be afraid, I am with you
111 Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness
203 Hail to the Lord's anointed [Ps 72]
221 The first nowell
239 As with gladness men of old
391 In Christ there is no east or west
435 Be known to us in breaking bread

Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)

To share the cleansing fire

What can be the relevance of the Baptism of Jesus for our lives today? What happened to Jesus at the River Jordan is directly linked with social justice.

The link with the past
When Jesus was baptised in the river by John the Spirit of God came upon him [Matthew 3:16] as the Spirit had been expected to come upon the Messiah [Isaiah 11:2] and the gift of the spirit brought a very strong concern with social justice: I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. [Isaiah 42:1] In gentleness and quiet strength he would be a light to the nations. [Isaiah 42:3-7]

The inclusion of foreigners
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit barriers between people of different nations were broken down. [Acts 2 and 10; Ephesians 3:5-6.] It was on all mankind that the Spirit would be poured out [Joel 2:28-29]. There is nothing more relevant to a shrinking world than membership in the one human family.

[The representative of sinful humanity
By taking a sign of repentance when he had no personal sin of which to repent Jesus was identifying himself with humanity in general. It was sign of how he would die. [2 Corinthians 5:21]]

[Fire and water: cleansing agents
When new converts were baptised with water they were washed clean. Christian baptism is a means of sharing the fire which transforms human lives. [See Acts 18:24 - 19:7 for the importance of the Spirit, the fire with which John said Jesus would baptize; Matthew 3:11.]]

[The renewal of life
His Baptism was for Jesus a moment of enlightenment, a surge of certainty and self understanding as one anointed by the Spirit of God [Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 4:16-20.] which like a cleaning fire, would burn up the rubbish of human life and transform it with the fruit of the Spirit. [Galatians 5:19-23]. ]

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Order of Service - Epiphany 1: the Baptism of Jesus - Year A

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
When Jesus had been baptized, ... 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."
-- Matthew 3:16-17
Lord God let your Holy Spirit come on us who worship you in his name.

HYMN 239 As with gladness men of old

PRAYER OF ADORATION

CONFESSION [In three parts, concluding ...]
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Gloria in Excelsis [Back of Hymn Book]

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: God has no favourites
A word to the children.

FIRST READING Isaiah 42:1-9 Here is my servant
[PSALM 29 Ascribe to the Lord, ...glory and strength]
EPISTLE Acts 10:34-43 Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness
GOSPEL Matthew 3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus

HYMN SA 20 Christ, when for us you were baptised

SERMON

NICENE CREED [Back of Hymn Book]
OFFERING
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Father, we pray for the holy catholic Church;
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the church
may truly and humbly serve you;
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all ministers of the gospel;
that they may faithfully proclaim your Word
and administer your holy sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority
in the nations of the world;
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
that our works may find favour in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer
from any grief or trouble;
that they may be delivered from their distress
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our community
for the life and worship of this congregation
and for those whose needs are known to us.....
Let us pray for ourselves.....

THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
When Jesus was baptised, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove; and there was a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son. -- Matthew 3:16, 17

Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE
HYMN 435 Be known to us in breaking bread
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We thank you ....
[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]
THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]
BREAKING THE BREAD
LAMB OF GOD
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN 160 My heart and voice I raise
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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