The Baptism of Our Lord

Order of Worship

Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more. 

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, as we remember the baptism of your Son, bring us to a remembrance of our own baptisms. Grant us faith to trust in the promises that you make to us in this holy sacrament. Drive away any doubt that seeks to turn us from you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We praise you, Lord Jesus, that you have called all Christians through the gospel. In Holy Baptism, you have given your Spirit to each of us so that we may fulfill our callings and bring your Father glory. Help us to serve you in righteousness, and declare your praise to our neighbors, and through the missions you have called us to support, particularly the Small Catechism Project that we support this quarter. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Because we have been baptized into the death of Christ, we know that we will, like him, be raised from the dead. Your Word teaches us that our old nature was crucified with Jesus and is dead, so that we are freed from sin. So, we ask you to give us peace when we do transgress your commandments. Help us, Holy Spirit, to remember the words of promise spoken over us in our baptisms, looking to your cross instead of to our sins. 

We ask this especially for our homebound and suffering, those who cannot be with the communion of this church family. Here, we remind one another of the peace you extend to us. By the power and work of your Spirit, assure those who suffer among us that your incomparable peace is theirs. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We know, Jesus our Savior, that when you walked down into the Jordan River on that day so long ago, that you took humanity's sins upon yourself there, identifying with sinners like us at the very beginning of your mission of redemption. Your baptism foreshadowed your ultimate sacrifice where you fully bore our sins on the cross, becoming the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. While sinless, you submitted to John's baptism of repentance—fulfilling all righteousness, uniting yourself with fallen humanity, and justifying your atoning work. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy — through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Teaching

Open or download this week's preview of the lessons. We send this to our homebound with a bulletin each week and thought you might like to have a copy as well. You may read it online or print it out. It includes prayers, brief teaching on each of the four lessons for Sunday, an overview, and an additional Word Search based on the Gospel Lesson. 

Vespers Tonight

Worship with us this evening at 6:00 in the parsonage across the street. If you can't make it, the readings for The Baptism of Our Lord Sunday are Genesis 1:1–2:3; Ephesians 1:3–14, John 1:29–34. If you use For All the Saints, that is on page 233.