BAPTISM OF THE LORD

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

OT. Isaiah 42:5-9

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

    who created the heavens and stretched them out,

    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

    and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]

    a light to the nations,

7     to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

    from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord, that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have come to pass,

    and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

    I tell you of them.

Take our hand Precious Lord

Baptize us to be 

your hands and voice

for righteousness and justice

Stretch for our hands to touch 

the blind that they may see

the glory of the dawn

and the smiles of their families

Strengthen our arms to lift 

the lame from their beds

so they may walk and run

the streets and neighborhoods

Embolden our courage for justice

to break the chains of the prisoner

let the captives go free

and the oppressed enjoy liberty

Enrich our voices for peace

to call for the end of war

and the sisterhood and brotherhood 

of all God's people

Take our hand Precious Lord

Baptize us to be your ministers

of love and grace

and heralds of Your Kingdom

now and always

Amen 

NT. Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

We come to the waters

We come to be baptized

We leave hoping

you are pleased with us also

We come to be cleansed

of all our sins

Washed in the blood of the lamb

redeemed and restored

We come to be claimed

by the One who baptizes 

who brings us out of the waters

into faithful discipleship 

We come to be called

your daughters and sons

inheritors of the Kingdom

you create for all who love you

We come to be commissioned

for deeds of love and mercy

spreading the Word 

preaching the Gospel of peace

We come to the waters

We come to be baptized 

in the name of the Father

Son

and Holy Spirit.

Amen