10 January 2021 - Baptism of Christ
Sunday 10th January 2021 - 9:45am for 10am - Service via Zoom.
If you would like to join the Zoom Service - please email Canon Vanda Perrett (canonvanda@gmail.com) for full details.
Click here to download a copy of the Order of Service to allow you to follow the Zoom service.
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Saturday 9th January 2021 - 6pm - Service online via Lands End Facebook page
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Welcome and Opening Responses
Welcome to the water of life, come and remember your promises
We renounced evil, we repented of our sin, we turned to Christ.
Welcome to the family of God, born by his love, held in his arms
We are part of God’s family, precious and beloved.
God says to you “Look, my children in whom I am well pleased.”
Thanks be to God.
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins.
Lord we have tried and failed to keep the promises we made at our baptism, confirmation and in our Christian life. Our words have wounded, our actions have hurt others, our lives have not spoken of love and faith in you. We are sorry and ask to be made whole again.
Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit may you complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; as our sins are forgiven, inspire us to live for you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Baptismal Waters Litany Written by the Rev. Melissa Reed
When they say: you are alone. These waters say: You are “with.”
When they say: You are too broken, damaged goods, too wounded, not enough.
These waters say: Enough, beloved. Enough.
When they say: You are too brown, child. Too black. Too queer, child. Too fat.
These waters say: Beautiful, child. Beautiful.
When they say: You are too addicted, stranger.
Immigrant, alien. Criminal. Too far gone, stranger.
These waters say: Home, neighbour. Welcome home.
When they say: We could sell these waters and turn a profit!
These waters say: We are the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Atlantic, the waters of the Tamar. We are free!
When they say: Fear. These waters say: Trust.
When they say: Commodify. Consume. These waters say: Life.
Collect
Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Psalm 29
Refrain: The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven, ♦
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to 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 mighty in operation; ♦
the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; ♦ the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
10 The Lord shall give strength to his people; ♦
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
Refrain: The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
Open our ears, glorious Lord Christ, to hear the music of your voice above the chaos of this world; open our eyes to see the vision of your glory, for you are our King, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading Acts 19.1-7
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied – 7altogether there were about twelve of them.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel we stand
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 1 v 4-11
Glory to you, O Lord.
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.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Address we sit
Do you remember your baptism? Many of us were “done” as children and may have an old, if not ancient photo of a small baby in a white gown being held proudly in church. Hats and smart clothes show the importance of the ceremony. Here is the proof that you are now part of the family of God – or in some cases here is proof you are doing the best you can as a parent to give your child the very best chances in life.
What is baptism really about? A time for celebrating a birth, of asking others to help with the child’s life. An opportunity for some lovely gifts?
Remember that in the bible those being baptised were adults, baptised as they recognised that they have come far from God, had done things that were wrong and needed healing and help. When we think of baptism as something for “babies” we disable the sacrament from being a means of grace and freedom for us all.
Adults seeking baptism is far more common than you would think, and we often have folk in their teens to their eighties coming for baptism, having heard the whisper of God’s love, the promise of his forgiveness and a chance for a new start in life.
There are 3 questions at the baptism service: do you renounce evil, do you repent of your sin, do you turn to Christ? But these questions are not a one off decision but a daily way of living and following Christ. For evil and sin are ever before us as a choice, as is the desire to be able to do everything on our own strength rather than asking God to help through Jesus.
Evil is the word Live backwards, to renounce evil is to turn our backs on all that leads to the death of our spirit and soul, relationships, and joys. To repent our sin means we must recognise that – gasp – we are not perfect, and we get things wrong! To turn to Christ is a reminder we should refer back to Jesus daily in prayer, to ask for his help, to turn to him whenever the challenges of life are overwhelming. Turn to Christ, not from him and you will find the strength to cope with all that is thrown at you.
So, this weekend as we remember the baptism of Christ, might you quietly bring to mind these questions, to offer them and yourself before God. Then perhaps you will be ready to reaffirm these promises.
I renounce evil.
I repent of my sin,
I turn to Christ.
And I pray that you will hear the words of God as spoken at Jesus’ baptism “Here is my precious child, in whom I am well pleased.”
Grasp the grace of God, be saturated in the love of God, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, know yourself to be God’s beloved. Redeemed, forgiven and freed. Thanks be to God.
The Creed We stand
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers by Linda Rudge: we sit or kneel
Lord God, our heavenly Father, who at the baptism of your beloved Son revealed your love, grant that we may listen carefully to your call of service, be immersed in your presence, and be granted a glimpse of glory on this earth – Amen.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we give thanks for all those who are baptized, and for all who minister with us in the Land’s End Benefice. We praise you for our own baptisms and for all our different callings to faith. We ask that we may be given the humility and confidence to show we are members of Christ, children of God and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. We pray for all those in our congregations and local communities who are preparing for baptism, and for those approaching Christian life in person, or online, for the first time. We pray for our own godchildren and our godparents, and thank you for their companionship and love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for justice amongst and within all nations of the world. We pray for all those who suffer in captivity, who are slaves to others or to indebtedness, and for those who are held hostage. We pray for the wellbeing and good-heartedness of all world leaders as they try to bring peace, prosperity and health to their people. May they seek the truth and use it to set the world free from tyranny, lies and greed, and may we be your willing servants in this work.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we humbly ask at this worrying time in our world for your grace and healing on those who are unwell, or seriously ill, and for those who are caring for them at home, in hospitals or in hospices. We pray especially for those we know, and for those who are brought to the attention of our communities in conversations, in our prayer books and on our prayer trees.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for all those who kept the faith, and who have died. We pray for loved ones departed, and for those that mourn their loss. We pray at this time especially for those named in our hearts, and we look to the time when we may rejoice with them in heaven.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ - Amen.
Prayers conclude with:-
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Words of Assurance (inspired by Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18)
Our God knows you by name. Our God knows what you fear. For you are fearfully and wonderfully made. In your name, God’s works are revealed again to us. Amen.
Blessing
Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace, one of God’s family, to share his love.
We go in love and joy, following our Lord.
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):Collect (Baptism of Christ) © Oxford University Press: The Book of Common Worship of the Church of South India Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000