The Baptism of Our Lord - January 9, 2022

The Baptism of Our Lord January 9th, 2022

The Collect

 Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 Old Testament Isaiah 43:1-7 

Thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth-- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." 

 

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, * 

ascribe to the LORD 

glory and strength. 

2 Ascribe to the LORD 

the glory due 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 a powerful voice; * 

the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor. 

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; * 

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon; 

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, * 

and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. 

7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire; 

the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; * 

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe * 

and strips the forests bare. 

9 And in the temple of the LORD * 

all are crying, "Glory!" 

10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; * 

the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore. 

11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; * 

the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace. 

The New Testament Acts 8:14-17 

When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 

The Gospel Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. "

A Litany for the Baptism of Christ

Great Creator, you formed the waters for life

planting oceans, lakes and rivers to feed us

the water you give for renewal and cleansing

teams with abundant life and great dangers.

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today.

Today we come to the edge of the waters

to remember His baptism and our baptism

how the crowd heard your pleasure with him

and we become your beloved through him.

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today.

Our world is over run with great sickness

we have damaged our planet and it cries out

there are so many worries, tears and fears

yet you call us to return to the edge of the water.

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today.

Cleanse us today from our pride and cruelty

make us humble and kind, serving the least.

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today.

Pour your loving spirit over all every one

submerge us deep into your heart of compassion

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today.

Let you voice reverberate in all our beings

so your love may wash over the whole world again.

Holy One, move upon the waters and renew us today. Amen