Baptism of Our Lord

The Baptism of Our Lord

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Here's a service that includes renewal of baptismal vows as an appropriate for this day and for the beginning of the new year. Be sure to light the Paschal Candle for this occasion.

Prelude & Announcements

Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness:

P. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C. Amen

P. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C. Amen

P. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

P. Most merciful God,
C. We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen

P. Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C. Amen

LITURGY OF PRAISE

Entrance Hymn #36 "On Jordan's Banks"

Apostolic Greeting:

P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C. And also with you.

Kyrie: (Spoken)

A. In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C. Lord, have mercy.

A. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C. Lord, have mercy.

A. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C. Lord, have mercy.

A. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C. Lord, have mercy.

A. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C. Amen

Hymn of Praise:

A. (sing) Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
C. (sing) Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

Prayer of the Day

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Lesson

Response after the reading:
A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Second Lesson

Response after the reading:
A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Hymn #90 "Songs of Thankfulness and Praise"

Gospel Lesson:

Before the reading sing: C. Glory to you, O Lord.
After the reading sing: C. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day #486 "Spirit of God, Descend"

Renewal of Baptismal Vows:

P. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is appropriate on this day of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ that we remember and renew the vows once spoken at our baptisms -- that time when we were washed of our sins and received the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Let us boldly make our confession of faith before God, renouncing the sinful life of godless men and women and embracing the godly life of the Spirit-filled Christian.

In Holy Baptism our Lord Jesus Christ received you and made you members of his Church. In the community of God's people, you have learned from his Word God's loving purpose for you and all creation. You have been nourished at his holy table and called to be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, therefore, I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in which we baptize.

Do you renounce all the forces of evil, the devil, and all his empty promises?
C. I do.

P. Do you believe in God the Father?
C. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

P. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C. 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 into hell. 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.

P. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C. 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

P. You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in Holy Baptism: to live among God's faithful people, to hear his Word and share in his supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
C. I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

P. Let us pray. Gracious Lord, through water and the Spirit you have made these men and women your own. You forgave them all their sins and brought them to newness of life. Continue to strengthen them with the Holy Spirit, and daily increase in them your gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
C. Amen

P. May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by means of water and the Holy Spirit and forgiven all our sins, keep us by his grace in the same Jesus Christ our Lord, so that we may have life everlasting.
C. Amen

Prayer of the Church

Peace

LITURGY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Offering

Offertory Hymn:

C. (sing) What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Offertory Prayer:

A. Let us pray. Merciful Father,
C. we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us -- ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Great Thanksgiving: (spoken)

P. The Lord be with you.
C. And also with you.

P. Lift up your hearts.
C. We lift them to the Lord.

P. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

P. It is right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C. (sing) Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow'r and might: Heav'n 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.

P. We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
C. We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

P. And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and brings us to that heavenly country where, with [______________ and] all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of our sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
C. Amen

P. Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
C. 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 and ever. Amen

Distribution

C. (sing) Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace, grant us peace.

After Communion:

P. The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace.
C. Amen

Post Communion Canticle "Lord, now you let..." or Hymn #339, a beautiful hymn version of this song of Simeon

A. Let us pray. Almighty God, as Christ was made manifest in the streams of the Jordan, so he is made manifest for us again in the bread and the wine, and for this we thank you. Use us to make him known to all people. We ask it in Jesus' name.
C. Amen

P. (sing) The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C. (sing) Amen

A. Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Closing Hymn

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Acknowledgments: The Eucharistic Prayer is from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer 1979. The Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the Post Communion Prayer are by the Rev. T. L. Weitzel.

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