The Bulletin is at: 01-13-2019 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 01-13-2019 – Service
or the service is as follows:
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
January 13, 2019
THEME: Have you ever thought about how powerful fear and worry are in our lives? Fear takes hold. It ties us in knots and refuses to let us go. On our own, we’re powerless to undo these “fear knots.” Only Jesus has the power to release us from their captivity. “Fear not,” He says to His redeemed people! “You are Mine,” He refreshingly reminds us. Fear may take its hold for a moment, but Jesus’ hold is eternal. “Fear knots” may have their day. “Fear not” are saving words forever.
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we prepare our hearts and minds in silence for today’s worship.
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
P: Almighty God, who revealed Your glory when the Son became man,
C: Turned away from You by my sinful nature, I try to do Your job—I play God. I think I know what is best for me and for other people. I try to control things over which I have no power, and I too quickly give up on things I need to change. I’ve hurt You, myself, and the people around me. I need help. Only You can hear me, forgive me, and return me to peace with Yourself, with myself, and with the people around me.
P: The God whose glory is revealed in the human life of Jesus hears your confession, and for Jesus’ sake freely forgives you. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CHORAL ANTHEM: “Oh, What a Wonderful Name”
By: Jay Althouse
Jesus, who died for me, Jesus, who set me free;
Jesus, for eternity, and I praise His holy name.
Jesus is glory and might, Jesus, God’s heavenly light;
Jesus is my delight and I praise His holy name.
Oh, what a wonderful name. Oh, what a beautiful name.
Oh, what a heavenly name: Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Jesus, to Him I pray, Jesus, each and ev’ryday.
Jesus will show me the way, and I praise His holy name.
Oh, what a wonderful name. Oh, what a beautiful name.
Oh, what a heavenly name: Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Jesus, hear the angels sing. Jesus, hear our voices ring.
Jesus is my Lord and King, and I praise His holy name.
Oh, what a wonderful name. Oh, what a beautiful name.
Oh, what a heavenly name: Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Jesus, on heavens shore, Jesus, whom I adore,
Jesus for evermore, and I praise His holy name.
Oh, what a wonderful name. Oh, what a beautiful name.
Oh, what a heavenly name: Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Oh, what a wonderful name. Oh, what a beautiful name.
Oh, what a name, Oh what a heavenly name:
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Oh, what a beautiful name.
P: We pray. Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, Your voice proclaimed Him to be Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Set free from fear all who are baptized in His name that they may fearlessly make known Your words of life; through the same Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen!
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Epistle Romans 6:1-11
Buried and raised with Christ, we walk in newness of life.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Holy Gospel Luke 3:15-22
Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River.
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
SERMON HYMN: “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” TOSB 33
Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory fills my heart with joy and love,
Teach me ever to adore Thee, may I still thy goodness prove.
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 wandering 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.
SERMON “Fear knots vs. Fear not!”
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the virgin Mary.
He 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,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He 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.
OFFERINGS GATHERED
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
P: Sovereign God, when people anywhere are in conflict, are driven by hate, or are living in countries with cruel taskmasters or brutal regimes, surround them with Your love. Use us to bring word of Your compassionate embrace so that they may endure until relief is realized. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord Jesus, we pray for all who face this day in sadness or grief, are facing sudden crisis or long-term ill, or are mourning the loss of a loved one. {We remember especially…} Restore joy to them through those who care about them—professionals, family, and friends—all who know the joy of Your gracious presence. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: O Holy Spirit, open doors of opportunity for people of peace so that nations will not raise up sword against one another, societies may be ordered for the good of all, and Your kingdom of grace may be extended without persecution. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Loving Lord, help us to act in gentleness toward the forgotten in society, the invisible poor, the forgotten in prison, those about to be born, and those nearing their end of days. Open our eyes to opportunities to serve their needs in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Your Son, Jesus, our Lord.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING SONG: “They’ll Know We are Christians”
We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father, from Whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
EXTENDING PEACE Compassion Ministries by Mike Rinkin
DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!