A Servant with Spirit
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: The identity of the Suffering Servant named in this so-called "First Servant Song" (vv. 1-4) is vague, referring either to Israel or to an anticipated individual. That this divinely-chosen servant was to be low-key and "a bruised reed," however, gave even the primitive Church reason to identify Jesus with the Servant; and God's declaration in v. 1 about placing the Spirit upon him and about his bringing "justice to the nations" certainly influenced the Synoptic accounts of Jesus' baptism.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 29)
Leader:
The voice of God thunders upon the waters!
People:
THE VOICE OF GOD IS FULL OF POWER AND MAJESTY!
Leader:
The voice of God shakes the forest and the wilderness!
People:
AND IN GOD'S TEMPLE ALL SHOUT, "GLORY!"
Collect
God of power and might, you sent us a Servant to be a Savior in the person of Christ Jesus. Help us to recall his baptism today: that, seeing there your Spirit descending upon him, we may realize his divine glory and your holy will to bring justice to a wicked and sinful world. In that Servant's holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of peace and mercy, we confess that we rarely even notice the role of the Christ as a Suffering Servant of your divine will for world justice, probably because we fear in our hearts that we might have to swallow our pride and follow his way to the cross. Forgive us, we pray, and give us the courage and strength to leave our com fortable Christianity for a mission more in keeping with his teaching and example. In his name we pray. Amen
Baptism of our Lord
(First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Second Lesson: Acts 10:34-43
Theme:
Jesus' baptism, God's epiphany
Exegetical note: Peter's kerygmatic reference to the baptism, like the accounts of Mark and John, treats that event as the inception of Jesus' ministry, for in it the Master receives the anointing of the Spirit that, in effect, makes him the Messiah-Christ (i.e., the "anointed One"). Notable throughout this passage is the fact that it is God who is the real agent, both at the baptism and in the entirety of Jesus career.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 29)
Leader:
God sits enthroned in royal majesty!
People:
GOD RULES THE EARTH FOREVER!
Leader:
May God give us strength!
People:
MAY GOD BLESS US WITH PEACE!
Collect
Majestic God, you have sent us a Christ in whom and through whom you worked mighty acts for our salvation. Send now your Holy Spirit upon us: that, anointed and empowered as Jesus was at his baptism, we also may serve you in righteousness to the glory of your coming Reign and the honor of the one who established it. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we continually make the mistake of trying to live and to minister "under our own steam," instead of opening ourselves to the working and direction of your Holy Spirit. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to take to heart the image of Jesus and to model ourselves after him, who accepted an anointing of water from John the Baptizer, and the anointing of the Spirit from you. In his name we pray. Amen
Baptism of our Lord
(First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Gospel:
Matthew 3:13-17
Theme:
An epiphany to the world
Exegetical note: Whereas Mark's earlier version of Jesus' baptism makes the theophany more subjective (with the voice from heaven addressing Jesus as a "Thou"), Matthew (with Luke) makes it more objective, with the divine declaration from above addressed to the bystanders. By making this personal event, in effect, public, Matthew may be declaring that this baptism was an epiphany to the world.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Give thanks to the God of the Prophets!
People:
GIVE PRAISE TO THE GOD OF THE BAPTIZER!
Leader:
All glory to the God whose Spirit once descended on Jesus!
People:
ALL HONOR TO THE GOD WHOSE HOLY PRESENCE INSPIRES US STILL!
Collect
O great God, you showered your Spirit upon Jesus and uttered words acknowledging him publicly as your own. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see your self-manifestation in that Holy One: that, moved by both your Word and mighty works in him, we may undertake ministry on behalf of you and your coming Reign. In the name of that anointed one we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it saddens us to acknowledge how deaf and blind we often are to all of your self-manifestations in the world, and in particular to your unique self-disclosure in the life and ministry of Jesus. Forgive us, merciful God, and remove by the power of your Holy Spirit every internal and external obstacle to our recognizing in Jesus, his teachings, and his works the very presence and power of you. In his name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 29)
Leader:
The voice of God thunders upon the waters!
People:
THE VOICE OF GOD IS FULL OF POWER AND MAJESTY!
Leader:
The voice of God shakes the forest and the wilderness!
People:
AND IN GOD'S TEMPLE ALL SHOUT, "GLORY!"
Collect
God of power and might, you sent us a Servant to be a Savior in the person of Christ Jesus. Help us to recall his baptism today: that, seeing there your Spirit descending upon him, we may realize his divine glory and your holy will to bring justice to a wicked and sinful world. In that Servant's holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of peace and mercy, we confess that we rarely even notice the role of the Christ as a Suffering Servant of your divine will for world justice, probably because we fear in our hearts that we might have to swallow our pride and follow his way to the cross. Forgive us, we pray, and give us the courage and strength to leave our com fortable Christianity for a mission more in keeping with his teaching and example. In his name we pray. Amen
Baptism of our Lord
(First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Second Lesson: Acts 10:34-43
Theme:
Jesus' baptism, God's epiphany
Exegetical note: Peter's kerygmatic reference to the baptism, like the accounts of Mark and John, treats that event as the inception of Jesus' ministry, for in it the Master receives the anointing of the Spirit that, in effect, makes him the Messiah-Christ (i.e., the "anointed One"). Notable throughout this passage is the fact that it is God who is the real agent, both at the baptism and in the entirety of Jesus career.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 29)
Leader:
God sits enthroned in royal majesty!
People:
GOD RULES THE EARTH FOREVER!
Leader:
May God give us strength!
People:
MAY GOD BLESS US WITH PEACE!
Collect
Majestic God, you have sent us a Christ in whom and through whom you worked mighty acts for our salvation. Send now your Holy Spirit upon us: that, anointed and empowered as Jesus was at his baptism, we also may serve you in righteousness to the glory of your coming Reign and the honor of the one who established it. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we continually make the mistake of trying to live and to minister "under our own steam," instead of opening ourselves to the working and direction of your Holy Spirit. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to take to heart the image of Jesus and to model ourselves after him, who accepted an anointing of water from John the Baptizer, and the anointing of the Spirit from you. In his name we pray. Amen
Baptism of our Lord
(First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Gospel:
Matthew 3:13-17
Theme:
An epiphany to the world
Exegetical note: Whereas Mark's earlier version of Jesus' baptism makes the theophany more subjective (with the voice from heaven addressing Jesus as a "Thou"), Matthew (with Luke) makes it more objective, with the divine declaration from above addressed to the bystanders. By making this personal event, in effect, public, Matthew may be declaring that this baptism was an epiphany to the world.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Give thanks to the God of the Prophets!
People:
GIVE PRAISE TO THE GOD OF THE BAPTIZER!
Leader:
All glory to the God whose Spirit once descended on Jesus!
People:
ALL HONOR TO THE GOD WHOSE HOLY PRESENCE INSPIRES US STILL!
Collect
O great God, you showered your Spirit upon Jesus and uttered words acknowledging him publicly as your own. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see your self-manifestation in that Holy One: that, moved by both your Word and mighty works in him, we may undertake ministry on behalf of you and your coming Reign. In the name of that anointed one we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it saddens us to acknowledge how deaf and blind we often are to all of your self-manifestations in the world, and in particular to your unique self-disclosure in the life and ministry of Jesus. Forgive us, merciful God, and remove by the power of your Holy Spirit every internal and external obstacle to our recognizing in Jesus, his teachings, and his works the very presence and power of you. In his name we pray. Amen
