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Baptism Of Our Lord

Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Cycle B, Series IV
First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-5
Theme: Meeting the God of Eternity


Call To Worship
Leader: Trust in the Lord your God who is now and who has always been!
People: For we are limited and our lives span only a moment in eternity.
Leader: But God was before the Creation and will be forever!
People: Our faith is well placed when we rest upon the word of the Lord.
Leader: Then let us give praise that God has reached through time to call us!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

O God, You were before the winds blew or the sun shone, and You will be when the days of time run out, yet You delight in reaching out to each one who would hear Your voice. We praise You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, so often as we live life day by day we let our focus drop to only the time at hand and we forget that all of eternity awaits us if we will but place our faith and trust in Your leadership for our lives. Too often we would even compromise what we know to be Your will for the comforts of the moment. Forgive us, Lord, and lead us to keep our focus upon You. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Higher Ground"

"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"

"Dear Lord, Lead Me Day By Day"

* * * * *

Second Lesson: Acts 19:1-7
Theme: Unified by our Baptism in Christ


Call To Worship
Leader: We celebrate together this day the Christ, our Lord and Savior!
People: For we were once wandering in a world of uncertainty and despair.
Leader: But Christ has given us eternal hope and a life of true joy!
People: And in our Baptism we are united as one with the risen Christ.
Leader: Let our hearts sing with joy and our voices praise our beloved God!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

All-wise and merciful God, through Christ You have made it possible for each and every one of us to walk again with hope and dignity in our hearts and lives! We praise You, O Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, as we are called again to remember our Baptism, we also remember those times when we have taken it and You for granted and lived our lives not as You have called us to live, but focused on our own desires. Forgive us, Lord, and help us keep our eyes upon our commitment to You that You might one day tell us we have been good and faithful followers. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Christ For The World We Sing"

"Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above"

"We've A Story To Tell To The Nations"

* * * * *

Gospel: Mark 1:4-11
Theme: Commitment before the Lord


Call To Worship
Leader: Let the heavens declare the glory of the Lord!
People: Let us give unto the Lord all glory and praise!
Leader: Let our lives declare the glory due to our merciful God!
People: For the voice of God fills our ears with its beauty and strength.
Leader: Let us lift our voices in praise for God's kindness and mercy!
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, in Jesus we saw a life of perfect commitment. Even when faced with danger, from His baptism to the cross, Jesus never strayed from Your will. Help us to be faithful, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession

Lord, when we first placed ourselves into Your loving care we knew Your Spirit's power to remake us and claim us for Your own. We promised then to love and follow You, but we have found the way hard. We have often been slow to take our stand for You and at times slow even to accept Your help. Forgive us, Lord, and remake our hearts with love. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymns

"Higher Ground"

"More Like The Master"

"More Love To Thee"




UPCOMING WEEKS
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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For August 3, 2025:

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Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

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StoryShare

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Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

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Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
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Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

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Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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