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©Order of Worship for Sunday January 12, 2025
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am
Prelude………………………………..………..Greg D.
Coming of the Light…………………………………..
Greetings…………………………………..…Pastor Steven
Announcements:………………………………………Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………………………Beverly B.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2024.
When we pass through the cleansing waters of baptism and the troubled waters of our lives, God declares:
I will be with you.
When we go through the fires that refine us and the fires that threaten our livelihoods, God declares:
I will be with you.
Even when we travel to the far corners of the earth or down into the depths of our souls, God declares:
I will be with you.
So come, let us worship God whose love never fails, whose presence never leaves, whose mercies never end.
Praise be to God who, in the form of Jesus, waded into the waters of baptism to prove God’s solidarity with us! Amen.
Opening Prayer: ……………………………Beverly B.
Eternal Father,
at the baptism of Jesus
you revealed him to be your Son
and anointed him with the Holy Spirit,
Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit
faithful to their calling as your people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Opening Hymns:…..“Spirit of God” TFWS #2117
Steve Garnaas Holmes
Spirit of God, bright Wind, breath that bids life begin,
blow as you always do; create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing, lifted on soaring wing,
held in your hands, borne on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, come.
Spirit of God, bright Dove, grant us your peace and love,
healing upon your wings for all living things.
For when we live your peace captives will find release,
held in your hands, borne on your wings. Alleluia!…
Spirit of God, bright Hands, even in far-off lands
you hold all the human race in one warm embrace.
No matter where we go you hold us together so,
held in your hands, borne on your wings. Alleluia!…
Spirit of God, bright Flame, send us in your holy name,
with power to heal, to share your love everywhere.
We cannot fail or fall or know defeat at all,
held in your hands, borne on your wings. Alleluia!…
Spirit of God in all, we gladly hear your call,
the life in our hands that sings, the power of your wings.
Born of your grace we rise, love shining in our eyes,
held in your hands, borne on your wings. Alleluia!
“Wade in the Water” TFWS #2107
Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God’s gonna trouble the water
God’s gonna trouble the water
God’s gonna trouble the water
Mmh-mmh
Mmh-mmh
God’s gonna trouble the water
Passing of the Peace:…………………………..Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our tithes and offerings ………………..Pastor Steven
Offertory: ….…………………………..Greg D.
Offertory Response: “The Doxology” #94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623;
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God,
all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the
source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:……………………Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People: ……………………Pastor Steven
Anthem:
Gospel Lesson:…..Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22 ……………Beverly B.
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 strap 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.”
Hymn of Preparation:
“I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” TFWS #2051
John Ylvisaker
I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.
When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk ‘till rising sun.
In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.
I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.
Sermon:.“Remembering Why You Got Baptized”.Pastor Steven
Closing Hymn:…“The Lily of the Valley” TFWS #2062
1 I have found a friend in Jesus-
He’s ev’rything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley- in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.
2 He all my grief has taken and all my sorrows borne,
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.
3 He will never, never leave me nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear-
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory I’ll see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the greatest of ten thousand to my soul.
Dismissal with Blessing:………………………………Pastor Steven
Postlude:……………………..………………………………….Greg D.
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Sunday January 12th Worship Service