Baptism of Our Lord


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The Baptism of Our Lord

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Here's a service that includes renewal of baptismal vows as an appropriate for this day and for the beginning of the new year. Be sure to light the Paschal Candle for this occasion.

GATHERING

Prelude & Announcements

Order for Confession & Forgiveness

Entrance Hymn "On Jordan's Banks"

Apostolic Greeting

Kyrie: (Spoken)

Hymn of Praise: Glory to God in the highest

Prayer of the Day

WORD

First Lesson

Response after the reading:
A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Second Lesson

Response after the reading:
A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Hymn "Songs of Thankfulness and Praise"

Gospel Lesson:

Before the reading sing: C. Glory to you, O Lord.
After the reading sing: C. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day "Spirit of God, Descend"

Renewal of Baptismal Vows:

P. Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is appropriate on this day of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ that we remember and renew the vows once spoken at our baptisms -- that time when we were washed of our sins and received the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Let us boldly make our confession of faith before God, renouncing the sinful life of godless men and women and embracing the godly life of the Spirit-filled Christian.

I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce all the devil and all the forces defy God?
C. I renounce them.

P. Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?
C. I renounce them.

Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?
C. I renounce them.

P. Do you believe in God the Father?
C. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

P. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, 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, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

P. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C. 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.

P. You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God's faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
C. I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

P. People of God, do you promise to support and pray for one another in your life in Christ?
C. We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

P. Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.
C. Amen

Prayer of the Church

Peace

MEAL

Offering

Offertory Hymn: "What Shall I Render"

Offertory Prayer

Great Thanksgiving

Holy, holy, holy

Eucharistic Prayer B (Book of Common Prayer)

P. We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
C. We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

P. And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and brings us to that heavenly country where, with [______________ and] all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of our sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
C. Amen

P. Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
C. Our Father...

Distribution

Lamb of God

(Communion Hymns)

After Communion:

Post Communion Canticle "Lord, now you let..." or the beautiful hymn version of this song of Simeon (LBW #339 / ELW #313)

Post-Communion Prayer:
A. Let us pray. Almighty God, as Christ was made manifest in the streams of the Jordan, so he is made manifest for us again in the bread and the wine, and for this we thank you. Use us to make him known to all people. We ask it in Jesus' name.
C. Amen

SENDING

Benediction (sung)

Dismissal

Closing Hymn: Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Acknowledgments: The Eucharistic Prayer is from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer 1979. The order of the liturgy, the introduction to the Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the Post Communion Prayer are by the Rev. T. L. Weitzel. The Renewal of Baptismal Vows is from Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006.