Sunday 10th Jan
Whitewater BeneficeIntroductionWelcome to our online worship on the second Sunday in 2021, when we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. We know how challenging this New Year is for all of us, and pray today that we shall be encouraged by one another and know the Lord is with us through the struggles. There will be a live worship service using zoom at 10am, which will be open 15 mins beforehand for technical sound checks & notices. For any children we have weekly activities which follow the same theme and are used for junior church and for children joining the Zoom Meeting - click here for activity sheets for this week.
Welcome To Worship
Music: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness A prayer for our New Year with GodO Lord our God, as our New Year with you unfolds, “Be bold, be strong, do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, Words of celebrationWe celebrate the day a star leads the wise men to the Christ-child. We celebrate the day water is made wine at the wedding feast. We celebrate the day Jesus is revealed as the Christ in the waters of baptism. HymnGreat is thy faithfulness PreparationBy the mercies of God, ConfessionWe have not always worshipped God, our creator. We have not always followed Christ, our Saviour. We have not always trusted in the Spirit, our guide. AbsolutionMay Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, CollectHeavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: Bible ReadingsActs 19.1-7 1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied. 4Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
Mark 1.4-114And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ 9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ Talk from MarionHymnKnowing you (all I once held dear) Testimony from RosieThis testimony is from one of our congregation who was baptised in the River Jordan
HymnThe Apostles’ CreedThis is the profession of faith made at baptism services I believe in God, the Father almighty, I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, I believe in the Holy Spirit,
PrayersJesus calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Lord Jesus, eternal Word, proclaimed as the Christ by John the forerunner, Lord Jesus, baptizing with the Spirit and with fire, Lord Jesus, bringing forgiveness to all who repent, Lord Jesus, fulfilment of the promises of old, Lord Jesus, beloved Son of the Father, Lord Jesus, bringer of hope, share with all the faithful the riches of eternal life … Lord Jesus Christ, in you the Father makes us and all things new. The Lord's PrayerAs our Saviour taught us, so we pray, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, The PeaceWe are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. OffertoryPlease let us consider our calling to be the ‘light on the hill’ during this season of ongoing challenge and isolation for so many. If you are able to donate online as one off, or regularly, your gifts will be gratefully received. Please do ask if you would like further information about how your giving is being spent by the churches. Giving to our ChurchesSee our giving page for more information about how you can give to our churches
Reflecting on Holy CommunionAt this time when we cannot gather to share Holy Communion with one another we take some time to reflect on what it means to each of us that Jesus gave his own life that we might live life in freedom. 1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 2623For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
BlessingChrist the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory And the blessing of God almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. HymnRaise a hallelujah - A contemporary worship song, that declares we shall trust in God through all the dark and difficult days; these words strengthen our faith: I raise a hallelujah (Bethel Music). Feb 12, 2019. Link to Raise a hallelujah (from YouTube, opens in a new tab)
We will end with the images of Rosie's Baptism in the River Jordan:
Copyright detailsServices and Prayers for the Church of England. Common Worship. Church House Publishing. The Archbishops’ Council. 2000. Daily Prayer, 2005. |
Welcome to our worship. We are in the special season of ‘unveiling’ or ‘manifestation’ which the church calls Epiphany. This is a season when Jesus is revealed as the Messiah, the Christ. Last week we reflected on the visit to the new child of the wise men, the Magi, from the East. These kings or wise men were not of Hebrew background, they brought gifts, and came to worship him. This week we celebrate the celebrate the Baptism of Jesus by John, when the heavens were opened and a voice from heaven declared Jesus to be God’s beloved Son. To come in the next few weeks is the miracle at Cana in Galilee, the conversion of St Paul who was the Apostle to the Gentiles, and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
