Sunday School, January 7, 2024 1 Epiphany B: The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
Theme:
Joining and Belonging
Joining and Belonging is what makes us great
God is the greatest of all, so great that God doesn’t need to join humanity. God did not need to even let men and women know of God’s existence.
But God joined the human community.
First by giving men and women a law and way of living for their lives.
God joined and belonged to human family in the closest way by being born in Jesus.
Jesus was God special Son and he could have believed that he was so perfect that he did not have to be with those who were not as good and perfect as he was.
What did Jesus do?
He fully joined the human community. How did he show this?
He was baptized by John the Baptist. He perhaps was joining the community of John the Baptist.
The baptism of Jesus shows us that he did not think that he was too good for all people.
The baptism of Jesus shows us that Jesus joined and belonged to human community.
Jesus did not act too good and perfect for us, he joined, he belonged, and he participated.
God is great and Jesus is great because they joined humanity.
Great people join. They join to share with other people the greatness of love, kindness and wisdom about how we should live best.
How should we follow Jesus?
We follow Jesus by joining, by being baptized, by belonging to groups of people.
By joining our church, we gather to follow Jesus who joined us to show us how to live.
If we want to live the best life, the way that we do is to join and belong to groups of people who are committed to what Jesus has taught.
Sermon
What is the most common mistake that everyone makes, children and adults?
I think the most common mistake that all of us make is the mistake of forgetting.
Do you ever forget? Forget to do your homework? Forget to clean your room? Forget what your teacher told? Forget what your parents told you? Forget what you promised to your children or spouse?
Forgetting is easy to do.
But the most serious forgetting is forgetting about God. Today we have read the story about John the Baptist on the day that he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.
John the Baptist and Jesus were special men who were prophets. And they came to help people recover from their forgetting. See many people had forgotten some important things about God. Even the religious leaders had forgotten some important things about God. And what is often forgotten about God?
People often forget that God loves them. People often think that God loves the people in our country, or in our neighborhood or in our race better than people in another country, neighborhood or race.
When Jesus was baptized, the voice of God said, this is my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.
You and I need to remember what baptism means. Baptism looks like just pouring some water over the head of a baby or an adult. But what does baptism mean? It means that we celebrate that each and every person is a child of God, a son or daughter of God.
You see the problems in our life happen when we forget that we are sons and daughters of God. The problems in our life happen when we forget that other people are son and daughters of God.
When we remember that we are children of God we treat ourselves with respect. When we remember that other people are children to God, we treat them with respect too. When we remember God, then we remember to live good lives for God and we remember to live in peace and love with each other.
John the Baptist and Jesus came to remind us about some things that we had forgotten.
Let us remember the meaning of baptism. Our baptism is a reminder that we and all people belong to the same family of God. And if we remember that we will work to love one another and live in peace with each other. Amen.
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
January 7, 2024: 1 Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Gathering Songs:
There Is One Lord, Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children, God is So Good
Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.
Song: There is One Lord (Renew # 161)
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God who is Father of all.
(Twice to begin, once after each solo verse)
Liturgist: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Liturgist: Let us pray
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
First Litany of Praise: Alleluia (chanted)
O God, you are Great! Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us! Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior! Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family! Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins! Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead! Alleluia
Liturgist: A reading from the Book of Genesis
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Liturgist: Let us read together a verse from Psalm 29
Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, * ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; * worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; * the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; * the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.
My faithfulness and love shall be with him, * and he shall be victorious through my Name.
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)
Liturgist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
Thanks be to God!
Liturgist: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Liturgist: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon:
Children’s Creed
We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever. Amen.
Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)
For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.
Liturgist: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering
Song: Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (# 104 in All the Best)
1-Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are week but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus Loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
2-Jesus love me. He who died. Heaven’s gates to open wide. He will wash away my sin, let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Prologue to the Eucharist.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.
Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we
Forever sing this hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might. Heav’n and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.
(All gather around the altar)
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
the bread and drink the wine, we can know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as
this food and drink that becomes a part of us.
And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us that we may love God and our neighbors.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this Holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ; and that his presence will be with us in our future.
Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ. May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.
By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing, (Children may rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)
Our Father (Sung): (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.
Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.
And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.
Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed by thy name.
Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Words of Administration.
Communion Song: Jesus Loves the Little Children (# 30 in All the Best)
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Post-Communion Prayer
Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Closing Song: God is So Good (# 31 in All the Best)
1-God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me.
2-He cares for me, He cares for me, He cares for me, He’s so good to me.
3-I’ll do His will, I’ll do his will, I’ll do his will, He so good to me.
4-He is my Lord, He is my Lord, He is my Lord, He’s so good to me.
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
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