Prelude – Paul Swenson, organist

Welcome

Gathering Song – Christ When For Us You Were Baptized   Worship 304 (vs 1-2)
1   Christ, when for us you were baptized, God’s Spirit on you came,
as peaceful as a dove, and yet as urgent as a flame, as urgent as a flame.

2   God called you, “My beloved Son”; you are God’s servant true,
sent to proclaim the reign of heav’n, God’s holy will to do, God’s holy will to do.

Text: F. Bland Tucker, 1895-1984, alt.
Text © 1985 Church Pension Fund, admin. Church Publishing Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Prayer of the Day
Holy God, creator of light and giver of goodness, your voice moves over the waters. Immerse us in your grace, and transform us by your Spirit, that we may follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading              (Genesis 1:1-5)
A reading from Genesis:
¹In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Children’s Message – Thanksgiving for Baptism

Alleluia – Worship 175

Gospel             Mark 1:4-11
The gospel from Mark
⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
  ⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Message – Pastor Joy

Song – Crashing Waters at Creation  Worship 455
1          Crashing waters at creation,
ordered by the Spirit’s breath,
first to witness day’s beginning
from the brightness of night’s death:

2   Parting water stood and trembled
as the captives passed on through,
washing off the chains of bondage— 
channel to a life made new.

3   Cleansing water once at Jordan
closed around the one foretold,
opened to reveal the glory
ever new and ever old.

4   Living water, never ending,
quench the thirst and flood the soul.
Wellspring, source of life eternal,
drench our dryness, make us whole. 

Text: Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1955-1993
Text © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose voice is upon the waters,whose mercy is poured out upon all people, whose goodness cascades over all creation. Amen.

Let us confess our sin, trusting in the abundant grace of God.
Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy God, you search us and know us. You are acquainted with all our ways. We confess that our hearts are burdened by sin—our own sins and the broken systems that bind us. We turn inward, failing to follow your outward way of love. We distrust those who are not like us. We exploit the earth and its resources and fail to consider generations to come. Forgive us, gracious God, for all we have done and left undone. Even before the words are on our tongues, you know them; receive them in your divine mercy. Amen.

How vast is God’s grace! Through the power and promise of ☩ Christ Jesus, our sins are washed away and we are claimed as God’s own beloved. Indeed, we are forgiven. In the wake of God’s forgiveness, we are called to be the beloved community living out Christ’s justice and the Spirit’s reconciling peace. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Guided by Christ made known to the nations, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.
A brief silence.

For the church throughout the world and its leaders, that guided by the Holy Spirit they proclaim the forgiveness of sins, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For wilderness and water, wind and wild beasts, and all living things on earth, that God’s goodness is revealed through creation and faithful stewards care for all God has made, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the nations of the world and their leaders, for laborers busy both day and night, and for peacemakers amid strife, that God inspire all people to use their strength wisely, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the sick and those who provide medical care, for the imprisoned and those who show them mercy, for the lonely and those who provide companionship, for all who suffer (especially), that God shower compassion, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the congregation gathered here, for students returning to school, for those seeking renewal in their daily work, that all the beloved of God experience grace and peace, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

In thanksgiving for the faithful departed who now rest from their labors, that their witness inspire us in our baptismal vocations, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, hear the prayers of your people, spoken or silent, for the sake of the one who dwells among us, your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Sharing Peace
Johm riab sua.
Selam.
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you. 

Offering – Paul Swenson, organist

Offering Prayer
O God, receive these gifts as you receive us: like a mother receives her child, with arms open wide. Nourish us anew in your tender care, and empower us in faithful service to tend to others with this same love, through Jesus Christ, our saving grace. Amen.

Communion
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our act of love and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory.  Draw us now to love you whom we cannot as yet see. With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:     

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!  Let earth receive her king; 
Let every heart prepare Christ room and heaven and nature sing, 
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. 

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dream. Blessed are you for Mary and Joseph’s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Remember, beloved ones… how in the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

With bread and cup, we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.  Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people, fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One, Word of God Incarnate, one God, now and forever.

Invitation to Communion                                                                                                      
Beloved: here is bread; here is wine. Here is Jesus. Come and be fed.

Now, if you are gathered with others, when the music begins, please share with one another first the bread and then the cup with the words, 

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, poured out for you.

If you are by yourself, I offer this invitation… 
Receive the body of Christ, given for you.
Receive the blood of Christ, poured out for you.

And if for any reason you will not receive Communion bread & cup today, a blessing for you…

May God fill you up with the Holy Spirit and give you all that you need.

Communion Song – Lord, Be Glorified ELW 744
1   In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified; in my life, Lord, be glorified today.

2   In our song, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in our song, Lord, be glorified today.

3   In your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified; in your church, Lord, be glorified today.

4   In your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.  In your world, Lord, be glorified today.

Text: Bob Kilpatrick, b. 1952 Text © 1978 Bob Kilpatrick Music, assigned 1998 to The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved.

Prayer after Communion
Christ Jesus, at this table we have feasted on your very life and are strengthened for our journey. Send us forth from this banquet nourished in body and in spirit to proclaim your good news and serve others in your name. Amen.

Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Blessing
God the creator strengthen you; Jesus the beloved fill you; and the Holy Spirit the comforter ☩ keep you in peace. Amen.

Sending Song – God Whose Almighty Word  Worship 673
1          God, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard
and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.

2   Christ, who once came to bring,
on your redeeming wing,
healing and sight;
health to the troubled mind,
sight where illusions blind;
oh, now to humankind
let there be light.

3   Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving, holy dove,
speed forth your flight;
move on the water’s face
bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place
let there be light.

4   Holy and blessed three,
glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might:
boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the earth, far and wide,
let there be light.

Text: John Marriott, 1780-1825, alt.

Charge
Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.

Postlude – Paul Swenson, organist