Order of Worship – January 7, 2024

Let’s Worship
Sunday, January 7, 2023
This is the 7th Day of 2024.
There are 359 days remaining in 2024.

Filled with the Holy Spirit,
we are a people of prayer
committed to love one another
and equipped to share Christ’s love throughout the world.

Baptism of the Lord Day

Theme: God claims the waters of chaos and speaks light and order, ultimately in the waters of baptism.

Prelude: 

Welcome & Announcements:
This month our mission focus is the Leland Food Pantry
Bible Study Tuesdays & Thursdays at afaithtalk.com

Call to Worship: Are You Washed in the Blood

Responsive Reading – Psalm 29

¹Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

²Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;
worship the LORD in holy splendor.

³The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over mighty waters.

⁴The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

⁶He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

⁸The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl
and strips the forest bare,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

¹⁰The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

¹¹May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Opening Hymn: Shall We Gather at the River…No. 723

Verse 1

Shall we gather at the river?
Where bright angel feet have trod
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God

Yes, we’ll gather at the river
The beautiful, the beautiful river
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God

Verse 2

On the margin of the river,
washing up its silver spray,
we will walk and worship ever,
all the happy golden day.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river
The beautiful, the beautiful river
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God

Verse 3

Ere we reach the shining river,
lay we every burden down;
grace our spirits will deliver,
and provide a robe and crown.
Yes, we’ll gather at the river
The beautiful, the beautiful river
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God

Verse 4

Soon we’ll reach the shining river
Soon our pilgrimage will cease
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace

Yes, we’ll gather at the river
The beautiful, the beautiful river
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version..No. 882

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in 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.

Gloria Patri…Page 70

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.

Praise Song: God of Wonders 

Verse 1

Lord of all creation
Of water earth and sky
The heavens are your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

Chorus 

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Verse 2

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call your name by night

Chorus 

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Bridge

Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth

Chorus 

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares your majesty
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Chorus 

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Pastoral Prayer
Contact us here to add your concern to our prayer list.

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.

Anthem: Wash O God Our Sons and Daughters

Offertory

Doxology:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

Children’s Moment & Song (Go Tell It On The Mountains)

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Verse 1

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a Holy Light.

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Verse 2

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! Above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Verse 3

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born
And brought us God’s salvation that blessed Christmas morn!

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Prayer for Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

New Testament Reading: Mark 1:4-11
⁴so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And the whole Judean region 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 strap 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 upon him. ¹¹And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Leader: The Word of God, for the people of God!
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-5

¹When God began to create the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was complete chaos, 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.

Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon:From Chaos to Order

Closing Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God No. 420 (1&4)

Verse 1

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

Verse 4

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.

Benediction

Postlude

Filled Up and Poured Out

If you liked this, want more, or would like to request something additional, you’re welcome to comment here.