First Sunday after Epiphany

Baptism of our Lord

January 10, 2010

1. Drawn to the light of Christ, made bold in the waters of our baptism, and filled with your spirit, we lift up our prayers in confidence that God cares and listens to our prayers.

"God of our baptism," you are invited to respond, "HEAR OUR

PRAYER."

(Congregation may be invited to be seated for prayer.)

A brief silence

2. Voice of the Lord upon the waters, speak to your whole church gathered together in worship and help each member to hear and respond to your words of comfort, guidance and power.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

3. Voice of the Lord who makes even giant oak trees bend to your will, speak to this congregation. Strip away those things preventing us from fulfilling our mission of caring for all you have entrusted to us. We pray that same blessing on our neighboring congregations and on our sister congregations: in particular we pray for Benediction Lutheran Church in Delta and interim pastor Lorin Koss; and for Trinity Lutheran Church in Delta and their pastor Murray Halvorson. May we, and every member of every faith community, reflect the same radical love that has adopted us into the family of God.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

4. Voice of the Lord who shakes the wilderness, speak words of comfort, and bring deeds of assistance to those who suffer from natural and human made disasters. Sustain the many workers who, even at personal risk, endeavor to bring help to those in need.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

5. Voice of the Lord who has made all things well. Be with all those who are unwell, in pain, in problems of relationships, or in anxiety for themselves or others. We pray at this time especially for those we name aloud or quietly in our heart…

May all know the healing and sustaining power of your care, and may they know it through our acts of kindness in this coming week.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

6. God of all goodness, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving to you who continue to surprise us with your daily blessings:

- We thank you for all who have the gift of another birthday or another anniversary, and for those who have known the gift of new life;

- we thank you for the promises of your grace reflected in the sacrament of baptism;

- we thank you for the guidance of your spirit that leads us sometime in direction not of our choice;

- we name our special, personal reasons for thankfulness aloud or quietly in our heart at this time…

Lord God, continue to help us to hear your voice of reassurance and power.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

7. Voice of the Lord who sits enthroned above the waters of the world's chaos, speak to the leaders of our province, our nation and this world. Equip and prod them into lives of leadership that reflect a humble and a courageous desire to work for equity for all. Lord, no mater how few we are, give us the incentive to speak on behalf of those who do not have a voice.

God of our baptism: HEAR OUR PRAYER.

8. Voice of the Lord who bursts forth in unexpected lightning flashes, touch the hearts of those who worship here this morning that from our midst might come new leaders in our church, our community and the world.

God of our baptism:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

9. Good and gracious God, we ask all these things and whatever else you see that we need with a sure and certain hope in your goodness and mercy. AMEN.

Acts 8:14-17

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16(for as yet the Spirit had not come* upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17Then Peter and John* laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

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,* 16John 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. 17His 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, 22and 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.'*