Sunday 12th January 2025
Baptism of Christ (Epiphany 1)

Reading 1:	Acts 8: 14 - 17 
Gospel:	Luke 3.15-17,21-22

We meet in the name of God:
God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Spirit:
God is one.	

Opening Prayer
Loving God, we come to worship.
You have called each of us by name, 
we belong to you.
Pour out your Spirit on us, we pray,
that we may know your love and 
our belovedness today.
Amen.

Song: 10,000 Reasons (click link) https://youtu.be/DXDGE_lRI0E

Confession
We come to God as one from 
whom no secrets are hidden,
to ask for his forgiveness and peace.
	
We confess to you our selfishness 
and lack of love:
fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.

We confess to you our fear and 
failure in sharing our faith: 
fill us with your Spirit.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

We confess to you our stubbornness 
and lack of trust:
Fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. 	

Lord God, we have sinned against you; 
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing 
and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us 
and restore us to the joy of your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 	
Amen.

Absolution

May the God of love
bring us back to himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.		

Reading 1:	Acts 8: 14 – 17
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come[c] upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John[d] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
This is the word of the Lord.	
Thanks be to God.

Gospel:	Luke 3.15-17,21-22
15 As the people were filled with expectation, 
and all were questioning in their hearts concerning 
John, whether he might be the Messiah, 
16 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. 
17 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.” 
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus 
also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 
22 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.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord. 	
Praise to you O Christ.

Talk:	(click link) 	https://youtu.be/05zr8uq0D5w
	Alternative link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zr8uq0D5w  

The Creed	
Let us declare our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
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.
Amen.

Prayers of Intercession 

Let us pause for a moment to bring ourselves 
and all that we offer to God
and give Him thanks.

Silence is kept.

Loving God,
we sit here and ask for your blessing, 
to know you more, 
to sense you with us, 
to be more in awe of the love you have for us,
and the power you have in and through our lives.

Loving God,
we are called by name,
and stand with Jesus 
and hear the words,
you are mine.
Help us to be like Jesus
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
help us to tell other people about you and your love for them.

Loving God,
We pray for your whole Church and its care for people;
who have lots of responsibility,
who lead our country,
who suffer and need support, 
who live in poverty, 
who are worried, who are sick and 
people who are grieving.

Loving God,
We promise to love you 
as much as you love us.
We pray these prayers in Jesus’ name, 
as you beloved children, your sons and daughters.
Amen.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Collect 
Heavenly Father,
at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son:
may we recognise him as our Lord
And know ourselves to be your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Lord’s Prayer	
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done 
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
For the kingdom the power and the glory 
are yours now and forever.	
Amen. 

Song:  On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry  https://youtu.be/pIr21lLgFpg 
	 
Blessing 
God the Father,
who has given to his Son 
the name above every name,
strengthen you to proclaim Christ as Lord; …

… and may the blessing
of God the Father, 
the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be with us and remain with us always
Amen. 

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