The beginning of Jesus' ministry - His baptism.
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
One pastor did this:
Welcome! In the name of the Lord and Savior of the world. The way is clear for us to celebrate the results of Christmas without all the accoutrements of the world getting in our way. On this day, I invite us to open ourselves to the coming of the world's savior into our lives, into the life of this congregation, and into the life of the whole world.
You may want to continue with a litany similar to this:
Pastor:
Jesus the Savior has come. Rejoice!
Ministers: But we don't feel like rejoicing.
Pastor:
Rejoicing has nothing to do with feelings.
Ministers: How do we rejoice when we don't feel like rejoicing?
Pastor:
Remember the news, the good news that Jesus came to a world which hadn't much to rejoice about either.
Ministers: We do remember that.
Pastor:
So rejoice that the savior keeps on coming to us, so the old can become new.
Ministers: We begin to see. We rejoice, maybe reluctantly, maybe cautiously, maybe slowly, but we do rejoice.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Many of our people never get beyond thinking that the only, or greatest sins, are those committed by other people, and many define those sins as murder, theft, or adultery. So, on this day when we think about Jesus' baptism, and our own, which represents our ordination as people of faith, consider silently this question: "What do you think people say about you as a Christian?" Offer some suggestions, such as, "What a powerhouse for God she is!" or "He's perfectly harmless; he wouldn't hurt a fly." Give the people three minutes to think about this silently.
Then say, "The Savior has come to empower us, to help us to give up those activities and thoughts that de-energize and de-humanize us. Are you willing to receive that power which God promised to your baptism?" Perhaps you will want to provide a time after worship when the people who choose to do so will want to talk with you and the governing body about how to claim God's promises.
Then, conclude with this litany:
Pastor:
Listen! Here is the Good News! Jesus Christ came into the world to liberate the alienated, rebellious, cowardly, self-centered ones. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, reconciled, and freed. Amen.
Ministers: I hear! We hear! This is Good News indeed! Jesus the Savior came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are forgiven, reconciled, freed! Amen.
Message with the Children of All Ages
If you've never done this, try it:
Even if you have no one to baptize on this Sunday, review the significance of baptism with the children. You may want to ask if they remember their baptism. If so, what do they remember? If not, simulate a baptism. Ask them to place their hands on each other's head, and to say, "You are baptized." Invite the congregation to do the same; or, if they're too shy, ask them to place their hand on their own head, and affirm, "I am baptized." Make certain that they see baptism as an act of the whole church, that we are called by the Savior to reach the whole world for God.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Topic - No partiality. We choose, deliberately and non-deliberately, whom we want in "our church." The community knows whom we include or exclude. We have a large Hispanic population in the community I serve; the Roman Catholic Church serves them. I have heard remarks that "they wouldn't feel comfortable with us -" and, of course, they wouldn't. Center on the universality of the gospel as God's will, despite God's people.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The Stewardship of Baptism. What does yours look like in relationship to your time, resources, money - not only what you give to the institutional church, but what you give as the church to the world?
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Samuel Miller of Harvard Divinity School, once likened church members to marbles in a bag; they touch only at the outer edge. Christ invites us, bids us, encourages us, urges us - by Holy Spirit - to touch each other at the center; so that we will touch this world at its center. Baptism begins the process.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 29
Psalm 45:7-9
Genesis 1:1-5
Isaiah 42:1-7
Acts 19:1-7
Acts 10:34-38
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The First Noel" Traditional English Carol
"To Abraham the Promise Came" Traditional Carol
Southern Harmony, 1835
"O God, This Child from You Did Come" Frank A. Brooks, Jr., 1972
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Medley of Epiphany Hymns
Response to the Proclamation
"Pass It On" Words and Music by Kurt Kaiser
Doxology
Consider using the chorus to "O Come, Let Us Adore Him ... Christ ... the Lord"
Response to the Bendiction
"I Am the Light of the World" words and music by Jim Strathdee
Desert Flower Music, Ridgecrest, CA
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
One pastor did this:
Welcome! In the name of the Lord and Savior of the world. The way is clear for us to celebrate the results of Christmas without all the accoutrements of the world getting in our way. On this day, I invite us to open ourselves to the coming of the world's savior into our lives, into the life of this congregation, and into the life of the whole world.
You may want to continue with a litany similar to this:
Pastor:
Jesus the Savior has come. Rejoice!
Ministers: But we don't feel like rejoicing.
Pastor:
Rejoicing has nothing to do with feelings.
Ministers: How do we rejoice when we don't feel like rejoicing?
Pastor:
Remember the news, the good news that Jesus came to a world which hadn't much to rejoice about either.
Ministers: We do remember that.
Pastor:
So rejoice that the savior keeps on coming to us, so the old can become new.
Ministers: We begin to see. We rejoice, maybe reluctantly, maybe cautiously, maybe slowly, but we do rejoice.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Many of our people never get beyond thinking that the only, or greatest sins, are those committed by other people, and many define those sins as murder, theft, or adultery. So, on this day when we think about Jesus' baptism, and our own, which represents our ordination as people of faith, consider silently this question: "What do you think people say about you as a Christian?" Offer some suggestions, such as, "What a powerhouse for God she is!" or "He's perfectly harmless; he wouldn't hurt a fly." Give the people three minutes to think about this silently.
Then say, "The Savior has come to empower us, to help us to give up those activities and thoughts that de-energize and de-humanize us. Are you willing to receive that power which God promised to your baptism?" Perhaps you will want to provide a time after worship when the people who choose to do so will want to talk with you and the governing body about how to claim God's promises.
Then, conclude with this litany:
Pastor:
Listen! Here is the Good News! Jesus Christ came into the world to liberate the alienated, rebellious, cowardly, self-centered ones. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, reconciled, and freed. Amen.
Ministers: I hear! We hear! This is Good News indeed! Jesus the Savior came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are forgiven, reconciled, freed! Amen.
Message with the Children of All Ages
If you've never done this, try it:
Even if you have no one to baptize on this Sunday, review the significance of baptism with the children. You may want to ask if they remember their baptism. If so, what do they remember? If not, simulate a baptism. Ask them to place their hands on each other's head, and to say, "You are baptized." Invite the congregation to do the same; or, if they're too shy, ask them to place their hand on their own head, and affirm, "I am baptized." Make certain that they see baptism as an act of the whole church, that we are called by the Savior to reach the whole world for God.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Topic - No partiality. We choose, deliberately and non-deliberately, whom we want in "our church." The community knows whom we include or exclude. We have a large Hispanic population in the community I serve; the Roman Catholic Church serves them. I have heard remarks that "they wouldn't feel comfortable with us -" and, of course, they wouldn't. Center on the universality of the gospel as God's will, despite God's people.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The Stewardship of Baptism. What does yours look like in relationship to your time, resources, money - not only what you give to the institutional church, but what you give as the church to the world?
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Samuel Miller of Harvard Divinity School, once likened church members to marbles in a bag; they touch only at the outer edge. Christ invites us, bids us, encourages us, urges us - by Holy Spirit - to touch each other at the center; so that we will touch this world at its center. Baptism begins the process.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 29
Psalm 45:7-9
Genesis 1:1-5
Isaiah 42:1-7
Acts 19:1-7
Acts 10:34-38
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"The First Noel" Traditional English Carol
"To Abraham the Promise Came" Traditional Carol
Southern Harmony, 1835
"O God, This Child from You Did Come" Frank A. Brooks, Jr., 1972
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Medley of Epiphany Hymns
Response to the Proclamation
"Pass It On" Words and Music by Kurt Kaiser
Doxology
Consider using the chorus to "O Come, Let Us Adore Him ... Christ ... the Lord"
Response to the Bendiction
"I Am the Light of the World" words and music by Jim Strathdee
Desert Flower Music, Ridgecrest, CA
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
