Morning Worship
A Service of Remembering Our Baptism
Welcome
*Call to Worship
Friends, let us remember and celebrate God’s gracious gift of baptism.
There is one body, and one Spirit; we have one hope in Christ.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, Creator of us all.
Out of baptism we rise with new life,
forgiven, renewed and one with Christ, members of Christ’s body.
Let us worship God.
*Hymn VU # 449 Crashing Waters at Creation
Call to Confession
Let us draw near to God with sincerity of heart
and full assurance of faith,
our guilty hearts sprinkled clean,
our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us confess our sins before God and one another.
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign God,
in baptism you called us to turn from sin
and to turn to Jesus Christ;
but we stray from Christ’s ways
and do not heed your call.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In baptism you joined us to Christ in his death
that we might be raised with Christ in new life;
but we cherish old ways
and fail to embrace the risen life
of righteousness, justice, and love.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In baptism you united us with all the baptized
who confess your name;
but we foster division in the church.
We refuse to live as one people,
and so fail to witness to your reconciling love before the world.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In baptism you call us to ministry in all realms of life,
but we refuse the struggle to know your will;
we do not nurture the ways of peace ;
we allow enmity and hatred to grow among us,
putting neighbor against neighbor,
and nation against nation.
We abuse the earth you entrust to our care,
and live in discord with all you made.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In baptism you sent us to serve with compassion
all for whom Christ died;
but we ignore the suffering of the oppressed
and the plight of the poor.
We take bread from the hungry,
and will not listen to cries for justice.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In baptism you gave us the Holy Spirit
to teach us and guide us,
but we rely on ourselves,
and refuse to trust your direction.
We spurn your eternal wisdom,
preferring the luring of the world.
Silence.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Remember the promise you made to us in our baptism,
forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness.
Set us free from all that enslaves us,
and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ,
that we may be your faithful servants,
showing forth your healing love to the world,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news!
In baptism we were buried with Christ.
In baptism we also were raised to new life with him,
through faith in the power of God
who raised Christ from the dead.
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life has gone; the new life has begun.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading Romans 6:1-11
*Affirmation of Our Baptismal Faith: The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Thanksgiving for Baptism
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Eternal and gracious God, we give you thanks.
In countless ways you have revealed yourself in ages past,
and have blessed us with signs of your grace.
We praise you that through the waters of the sea you led
your people
into freedom in the land of your promise.
We praise you for sending Jesus your Son,
who for us was baptized in the waters of the
and was anointed as the Christ by your Holy Spirit.
Through the baptism of his death and resurrection
you set us free from the bondage of sin and death,
and give us cleansing and rebirth.
We praise you for your Holy Spirit,
who teaches us and leads us into all truth,
filling us with a variety of gifts,
that we might proclaim the gospel to all nations
and serve you as a royal priesthood.
We rejoice that you claimed us in our baptism,
and that by your grace we are born anew.
By your Holy Spirit renew us,
that we may be empowered to do your will
and continue forever in the risen life of Christ,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all glory and honor, now and forever.
Amen.
Act of Baptismal Remembrance
*Hymn VU # 444 Child of Blessing, Child of Promise
*Charge and Benediction
*Passing of the Peace
Participants in Worship:
Rev. Terry Hamilton-Poore, Worship Leader
Mr. Peter Barnes-Davies, Worship Leader
Mr. Joseph Nguyen, Musician
The liturgy for this service is adapted from the Book of Common Worship (Westminster/John Knox Press, copyright 1993), and is used with permission. The call to worship is adapted from Celebrate God’s Presence (United Church of Canada 1993).
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