09A - Baptism of Jesus — 11A - Epiphany 3A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
PSALM 40:1-11 (a translation for today)
Patiently I have waited for the LORD
and the LORD turned to me and heard my cry,
lifted me up from my despair, my messy situation,
set me on firm ground,
and steadied my footsteps.
The LORD put a new song on my lips,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see this and wonder,
and they will trust in the LORD.
Those who have made the LORD their trust are satisfied;
those who have not turned to the arrogant,
or those making false gods.
Many are the wonders that you have done, O LORD,
and your plans for us – no one else could have arranged them
I will declare them, I will speak of them –
“They are too many to count!”
You do not desire sacrifice and offering –
you have given me ears to hear
Then I said, “Here I am. It is written about me in the scroll of the book.”
I want to do your will, your word is set deep in my being.
In the congregation of your people I have told the glad tidings
of your actions which put things right;
I don’t stay silent on the matter, you know that.
I have not hidden in my heart your ways of putting things right;
I’ve spoken out about your faithfulness and your saving ways,
and I haven’t hidden your loving kindness or your truth
from your people.
OFFERING
Life-giver and sustainer whom we name God,
bless our giving and our living,
signs of our often hesitant following,
risking the invitational way of Jesus. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – John 1:29-42
Continue to feature the length of blue cloth (mid- to dark blue) – symbolising John the Baptist and a reminder of last week’s theme of the baptism of Jesus. It could be hung as a large plain banner or draped in a manner appropriate for your worship space. Whatever symbols adorned it last week could remain this week. In addition, a large glass jug of water and perhaps a largish rock, the latter as a reminder of the meaning of the name Jesus gives to Simon.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Holy one, whose light and life
have been revealed most fully in Jesus,
sustain and encourage those whom we name on our lips
and in our silence…
those whose trouble is known only to you …
And, by your Spirit of grace,
give us the boldness of John
to live in ways that point to Jesus…
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 2A | |
| Christ whose glory fills the skies | TIS 212 |
| Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult | TIS 589 |
| Lord Jesus, think on me | TIS 546 |
| O love how deep, how broad, how high! | TIS 194 |
| Son of God, eternal Saviour | TIS 606 |
| Isaiah 49:1-7 | |
| God is our strength and refuge | TIS 28 |
| Safe in the shadow of the Lord | TIS 644 |
| This, this is the God we adore | TIS 220 |
| You servants of God, your Master proclaim | TIS 215 |
| Psalm 40:1-11 | |
| All my hope on God is founded | TIS 560 |
| God is our song, and every singer blest | TIS 646 |
| I waited for the Lord my God, | TIS |
| Master, speak, thy servant heareth | TIS 597 |
| O Jesus, Saviour, grow in me | TIS 575 |
| O Lord, do not withhold your mercy | TIS 23 |
| Sing praise and thanksgiving | TIS 107 |
| You are my hiding place | TIS 754 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 | |
| Christ from whom all blessings flow | TIS 440 |
| Christ is the world’s redeemer | TIS 192 |
| Give thanks with a grateful heart | TIS 717 |
| God of grace and God of glory | TIS 611 |
| This, this is the God we adore | TIS 220 |
| John 1:29-42 | |
| According to thy gracious word | TIS 515 |
| Behold the Lamb of God | |
| Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong hands | TIS 364 |
| Christ, when for us you were baptised | TIS 250 |
| Come let us join our cheerful songs | TIS 204 |
| Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes | TIS 269 |
| Hark! a herald voice is calling | TIS 264 |
| He walked on earth showing glimpses of heaven | TIS 260 |
| Jesus the name high over all | TIS 218 |
| Like the murmur of the dove’s song | TIS 419 |
| Lord, your almighty word | TIS 447 |
| No weight of gold or silver | TIS 249 |
| O for a closer walk with God | TIS 576 |
| Spirit, divine, attend our prayers | TIS 406 |