A Service of the Word

for the First Sunday after Epiphany

Anglican Parish of the Upper Kennebecasis
Online YouTube Service – January 10, 2021
Rev. Dr. Chris McMullen, Priest in Charge
Greeting, Call to Worship (Book of Alternative Services* pp. 348, 151)
“A voice came from heaven, saying,
‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
There is one body and one Spirit,
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all.
Hymn of Praise
“Sing of God Made Manifest” CP # 163
Sing of God made manifest
in a child robust and blest,
to whose home in Bethlehem
where a star had guided them,
magi came and gifts unbound,
signs mysterious and profound:
myrrh and frankincense and gold
grave and God and King foretold.
Sing of God made manifest
when at Jordan John confessed,
"I should be baptized by you,
but your bidding I will do."
Then from heaven a double sign--
dove-like Spirit, voice divine--
hailed the true Anointed One:
"This is my beloved Son."
Sing of God made manifest
when Christ came as wedding guest
and at Cana gave a sign,
turning water into wine;
(Continued…)
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further still was love revealed

as he taught, forgave, and healed,
bringing light and life to all
who would listen to God's call.
Sing of God made manifest
on the cloud-capped mountain's crest,
where both voice and vision waned
until Christ alone remained:
glimpse of glory, pledge of grace,
given as Jesus set his face
towards the waiting cross and grave,
sign of hope that God would save.
Carl P. Daw, Jr. © 1990 by Hope Publishing Co.
Used with permission, CCLI # 3117248
Collect for the Day (BAS p. 348)
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit,
keep your children, born of water and the Spirit,
faithful to their calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Scripture Lesson
Genesis 1: 1-5
Psalm 29 (BAS p. 738)
1
Ascribe to the Lord, you gods,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.
5
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord
shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
(Continued…)
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8
The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe
and strips the forests bare.
9
And in the temple of the Lord all are crying, “Glory!”
10
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
11
The Lord shall give strength to his people;
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
Psalm Prayer: God of mystery and power,
open our eyes to the flame of your love,
and open our ears to the thunder of your justice,
that we may receive your gifts of blessing and peace,
to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel Lesson
Mark 1: 4-11
Hymn of Faith
“Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways” CP # 45
Down Galilee’s slow roadways
A stranger travelled on,
From Nazareth to Jordan
To be baptized by John.
He went down to the waters
With soldier, scribe and slave,
But there within the river
The sign was birth and grave.
Arising from the river,
He saw the heavens torn;
It seemed the sky was open
To show the Spirit’s form.
The holy Dove descended;
He heard a glorious voice:
“You are My own beloved –
My Child, My Heart, My Choice!”
We too have found a roadway,
It led us to this place.
We all have had to travel
In search of hope and grace.
But now beside this water
again a voice is heard:
(Continued…)
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“You are My own, My chosen,

Beloved of your Lord.”
Sylvia G. Dunstan © 1991 GIA Publications
Used with Permission, CCLI # 3117248
Sermon
What Jesus’ Baptism Meant to Him – And May Mean for Us”
Hymn of Response
“When Jesus Came to Jordan” UMH # 252

When Jesus came to Jordan

To be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon,
But as the Sinless One.
He came to share repentance
With all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence
With which good news begins.
He came to share temptation,
Our utmost woe and loss,
For us and our salvation
To die upon the cross.
So when the Dove descended
On him, the Son of Man,
The hidden years had ended,
The age of grace began.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us
To keep the vows we make,
This very day invade us,
And every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction,
The gift we covet most:
To share the resurrection
That leads to Pentecost.
Fred Pratt Green © 1980 Hope Publishing Co
Used with Permission CCLI # 2319023

Introduction and Invitation

 (Continued…)
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Thanksgiving Over the Water (BAS p. 330)

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water.
Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel
out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise.
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John
and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ,
to lead us, through his death and resurrection,
from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son,
we celebrate our fellowship in him in faith.
We pray that all who have passed through the water of baptism
may continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Renewal of Our Baptism (BAS p. 331f. )
Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil
and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
I do.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
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.
(Continued…)
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Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil and,
whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation,
and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I will, with God’s help.
God the creator, the rock of our salvation,
has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,
and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May he keep us faithful to our calling, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Jesus calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Washed clean by the waters of baptism, let us pray that we may live the
life to which he has called us.
 

Lord Jesus, eternal Word, proclaimed as the Christ by John the Baptist,
hear us as we pray for all who proclaim your word …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
 

Lord Jesus, baptizing with the Spirit and with fire,

strengthen us to withstand all the trials of our faith …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
(Continued…)
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Lord Jesus, bringing forgiveness to all who repent,

teach your Church dependence on your grace …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
 

Lord Jesus, fulfilment of the promises of old,

give hope to all who suffer or are ignored …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
 

Lord Jesus, beloved Son of the Father,

anoint us with the gifts of your Holy Spirit …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
 

Lord Jesus, bringer of hope,

share with all the faithful the riches of eternal life …
Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
 

Lord Jesus Christ,

in you the Father makes us and all things new.
Transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory.
Amen.
(Church of England Common Worship, ©2006
used with permission, Archbishop’s Council)
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn of Dedication
“What King Would Wade…?” CP # 164

What king would wade through murky streams

And bow beneath the wave,
Ignoring how the world esteems
The powerful and brave?
Refrain: Oh water, river, Spirit, grace,
Sweep over me, anew!
Re-carve the depths your fingers traced
Baptizing me into you.
Christ gleams with water brown with clay
From land the prophets trod.
 Above while heaven’s clouds give way
Descends the dove of God.

(Continued…)

(8)

Come bow beneath the flowing wave.

Christ stands here at your side,
And raises you as from the grave
God raised him crucified.
Thomas H. Troeger © 1987, 1991 Oxford University Press
Used with Permission CCLI # 3117248
Dismissal and Blessing
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands
stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart
open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,
and may everyone you meet
see the face of Christ in you.
(A Traditional Celtic Benediction. Voices United,
Toronto: United Church Publishing House, 1996, # 349)

And may the Blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be with you, this week, and for evermore!
Amen.
*(The Book of Alternative Services
© 1985, General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Used with permission.)