An Order of the Eucharist for the Baptism of Christ (11 January 2015)

The Baptism of Christ

11 January 2015

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘God, Whose Almighty Word’  Common Praise #560

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, Son of David;

born to rule,

you received gifts from the magi.

Blessed are you, Son of Man;

baptized by John,

you saved us from ourselves.

Blessed are you, heavenly Sovereign;

teaching and preaching, healing and comforting,

you proclaimed God’s gracious reign.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the voices of heaven

we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the creatures on earth

we sing and dance at Christ’s birth.

Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in excelsis [i]

Collect

Let us pray.

God of the heavens,
whose holiness is unveiled
by one who is submerged
in all the pain and sin of the earth:
give us faith to follow him
who goes to the heart of darkness
bearing only the Spirit of gentle, insistent peace;

through Jesus Christ, the promised one. Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A reading from Genesis (1.1-5).

                 ¹ In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ² 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.  ³ Then 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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  Worship the Creator in the beauty of holiness.

¹ Ascribe to the God, you heavenly beings, *

            ascribe to God glory and strength.

² Ascribe due honour to God’s holy name; *

            worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

³ The voice of God is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders; *

            God is upon the mighty waters.

⁴ The voice of God is a powerful voice; *

            the voice of God is a voice of splendour.

Refrain:  Worship the Creator in the beauty of holiness.

⁵ The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; *

            God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

⁶ God makes Lebanon skip like a calf *

            and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of God splits the flames of fire;

the voice of God shakes the wilderness; *

            God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁸ The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe *

            and strips the forests bare.

⁹ And in the temple of the Holy One, *

            all are crying, “Glory!”

Refrain:  Worship the Creator in the beauty of holiness.

¹⁰ God sits enthroned above the flood, *

            enthroned as sovereign for evermore.

¹¹ God shall give strength to the people *

            and shall give the people the blessing of peace.

Refrain:  Worship the Creator in the beauty of holiness.

Second Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (19.1-7).

            ¹ While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.  ² 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.”  ³ Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?”  They answered, “Into John’s baptism.”  ⁴ 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.”  ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  ⁶ When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — ⁷ altogether there were about twelve of them.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘Spirit of the Living God’  Common Praise #647

The Gospel

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.

⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵ 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.  ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  ⁷ 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.  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 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.  ¹¹ 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.

The Sermon

The Baptismal Covenant

The Presider and the Deacon share in asking the questions of the Covenant.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

I believe in Jesus Christ,

God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

I believe in God the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

I will, with God’s help.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Spirit of Gentleness’  Songs for a Gospel People #108

Prayer over the Gifts

Good and loving God,

we rejoice in the birth of Jesus,

who came among the poor

to bring the riches of your grace.

As you have blessed us with your gifts,

let them be a blessing for others.

With the trees of the field,

with all earth and heaven,

we shout for joy at the coming of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [iii]

Thanksgiving at the Table

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.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth;

by water and the Holy Spirit

you have made us a holy people

in Jesus Christ our Lord;

you renew that mystery in bread and wine and nourish us

to show forth your glory in all the world.

Therefore with angels and archangels,

and will all the holy people

who have served you in every age,

we raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name. [iv]

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. [v]

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:

Blessed are you for the birth of creation.

Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.

Blessed are you for your promise to your people.

Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.

Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

[Therefore let] us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember

your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.

Come among us.  Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.

Bring the gift of peace on earth.

Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,

Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen. [vii]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘You Are God’s Work of Art’  Common Praise #39

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Radiant God,

with our eyes we have seen your salvation,

and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.

May your Word take flesh in us,

so that we may be your holy people,

revealing your glory made known to us

in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [viii]

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.

Closing Hymn

‘Crashing Waters at Creation’  Common Praise ##42 (sung to #88)

Dismissal

The Deacon will send the people forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

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[i] Lang Carol Mass.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Advent 1 to the Baptism of Christ’ (2014), 6.

[iii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Advent 1 to the Baptism of Christ’ 2014), 7.

[iv] Third Preface of the Lord’s Day, The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 218.

[v] Lang Carol Mass.

[vi] Thanksgiving at the Table III from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 110.

[vii] Common Worship #744.

[viii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Advent 1 to the Baptism of Christ’ 2014), 7.