Lakeview Presbyterian Church
January 8, 2023
Second Sunday After Christmas
CCLI license #1913561
Prelude “In the Secret” Park
Welcome: Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Call to Worship (Based on John 1:9-14)
The Word became flesh and lived among us
And we have seen his glory.
The true light that enlightens everyone has come into the world.
Glory to God who has blessed us in Christ.
Glory to God forever.
*Hymn “In Christ, There is no East nor West” G #317
Call to Confession
Trusting in God’s love made known in the gift of Jesus, let us confess our sins.
Prayer of Confession
“God, we gather in your gracious presence. Probe our souls and identify any thoughts where we have felt superior to others because of race, economic status, educational level, gender, etc. (pause for 15 seconds for each to reflect) God examine this church and identify any misuse of power, attitude, or status in the past or the present that has distorted the diversity that reflects your love for us. (Pause 15 seconds). Lord, help us to release personal and community judgments and liberate in each of us the capacity to reflect the sacrificial love you offer to flow out from this church into your hurting world. Trusting Christ as our savior, enable us to be the loving community that offers hope and healing as a reflection of your image.”
Assurance of Pardon
As children of the Holy One, God forgives you and loves you eternally. By the power of God’s Spirit, forgive yourself and forgive others as God in
Christ has forgiven you.
Prayer for illumination
Heavenly Father, Holy Wisdom came to dwell with us in Jesus, filling our world with her light and life. May she also dwell within your word this day, that we may have intimate knowledge of your love for us, through the One who is close to your heart, Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
Scripture Reading Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Reading from the Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 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. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Hymn (please remain seated)
“For the Bread Which Thou Hast Broken” G #516
Sermon “The Baptism that Rocked the World” Rev. Stephen McCutchan
*Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God, who created and is creating - and we await the new creation.
We believe in God born among us, God born to die, God born to save - and we await rebirth. We believe in God alive within us, among us, through us - and so we await inspiration and work as God calls us.
We believe that the God who comes is a God who waits and wills that justice be done and mercy be shown, that bread be shared and bridges be built, that those in low valleys be lifted up and that insurmountable obstacles to the kingdom be removed. And so we who believe are those who wait and those who work preparing our hearts and preparing the way for the One who is Emmanuel.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Statement about Offering our Gifts Christ has lavished upon us the riches of his grace. Therefore, let us offer our lives and the fruits of our labor to God.
Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font in the center of the sanctuary.
Or mailed to:
Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705
or given online at: lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music “Wade in the Water” AAHH 676
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Lord Jesus Christ, your goodness to us is beyond the reaches of our imagination, a fullness of love that embraces all of life. From you we have received grace upon grace. Accept our offering for the sake of the world. All that we have is yours, and all we return to you is but a reflection of your love for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The Invitation
We come again to the Lord’s Table, to celebrate, and to participate in this great feast which has been prepared for us. Once again, we confront again the power, the mystery, the wonder, the glory of Christ’s presence with us: the hope, the joy, the love and the peace that comes when God is present and guiding our lives. God is always with us, supporting and sustaining us, but sometimes the crush of circumstances causes us to forget. So, we come to this table, again and again, to rekindle the light of God’s presence so that it touches and changes our lives, and so that we carry that light out into the world with us. Come, for our Lord invites us.
The Words of Institution
On the night before he died, Jesus came to the table with those he loved. He took bread, and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread among his disciples and said: ‘Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my body, given for you.’ When the supper was ended, he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy God, creator of the universe, with joy we praise you and give you thanks. You brought light from darkness and drew land from the sea. You made us in your image to live with one another in love. You promised yourself in covenant with us, you told us your purpose in your law and called for justice through the prophets. Through long generations you have been faithful to your people.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!
In the fullness of time, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to preach good news to the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin. Remembering his love for us we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace and love. With all your holy ones of all times and places, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
We praise you for your love: bringing order out of chaos, breathing life into dust, leading captives into freedom, calling wandering children home, giving bread to the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, raising the dead to life. We thank you, Lord for Jesus: Word made flesh, light of the world, living water, shepherd and gate, way and truth, bread of heaven, cup of salvation, resurrection and life.
Spirit come – come and live in us: in this bread, in this cup, in your people, one in the body, one in the blood; one with Christ, one in ministry, in this place, in every place; in this world, in the world to come. Amen
Partaking the Elements
When we break bread, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?
When we give thanks over the cup, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
Jesus said: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Prayer after Communion
Holy God, we thank you for this feast of grace and life. Send us out to answer the summons of our Lord Jesus Christ to a new life, and to follow him with joy and gladness. Set our feet in his holy way, that our lives may be signs of his life and all we do may show forth his love. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer (sung)
*Hymn “Spirit of God, descend upon my Heart” G #688
Announcements
Charge and Benediction
May God, the fount of all Wisdom, bless you and guide you this day and always.
Postlude “We Are” Jobe
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