Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Hymn of Praise – Holy, Holy, Holy, v1,2,4 (UMH #64)
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning
our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim
falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name,
in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Call to Worship:
Pastor: A prophet appears in the wilderness proclaiming repentance.
People: Repentance and baptism prepare the way for the Lord.
Pastor: Emerging from the waters of baptism, Christ Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit.
People: The heavens are torn as the Spirit descends on Jesus.
Pastor: By water and the Spirit, we too are anointed by God:
People: Let us glorify and worship the Lord, who marks us as His own and calls us beloved.
Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed UMH 881
Message in Music - "Come Be Baptized" - Quartet
Prayer of Intercession
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, through the waters of baptism you have transformed us: marking us as your children and recreating us through the work of your Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are ever thankful for the work of your grace in our lives. Yet we confess that sin remains a struggle for us. We often fail to love you with our all and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Forgive us, Lord. Free us for joyful obedience, such that we are strengthened to serve Jesus faithfully in our daily lives. We pray this in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Experiencing and Extending the Peace of Christ (Note: we will extend the Peace of Christ without physical contact.)
Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn – Spirit Song (UMH #347)
O let the Son of God enfold you
with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
O let him have the things that hold you,
and his Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life
and make you whole.
Jesus, O Jesus,
come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus,
come and fill your lambs.
O come and sing this song with gladness
as your hearts are filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.
O give him all your tears and sadness;
give him all your years of pain,
and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, O Jesus,
come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus,
come and fill your lambs.
Sermon – Beloved and Affirmed
Commissioning of Church Leaders and Servants for 2021
Those who serve as staff members, in leadership positions, as members of ministry teams, and as teachers and Bible study leaders are invited to hold out their opened hands as they are commissioned for service through the following prayer.
Pastor: Lord Jesus, as we recall God’s affirmation at your baptism in the Jordan, we want to give thanks for your calling in the lives of these faithful servants in your church. Thank you for the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and for their willingness to serve in your name. God, we ask that you pour out many blessings on these servants, equipping them to love and serve you by faithfully serving others. Guide and strengthen them for the challenges that face your church. Uplift them when the task at hand feels overwhelming. And draw us all together in your love, such that Christ’s kingdom is extended in our community and world through their service.
Today we bless and consecrate to Christ’s service all those who will serve at St. John’s in the coming year. Amen.
All: We commend our faithful servants to Christ’s work, and we pledge to you our prayers, encouragement, and support. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen you, that in all things you may do God’s will in the service of Jesus Christ.
Hymn – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling v1,2,4 (UMH #384)
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Benediction
Postlude/Dismissal
Accompanist: Brian Barber
Quartet - Tammy and Jack Coapman, Alissa Nelson and Roy Nelson
