Celebration of Worship
BAPTISM of THE LORD, Sunday, January 10, 2021
PRELUDE “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Hopkins
GATHERING SENTENCES Worship Leader: Herman Wissenberg
One: Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor
MANY: The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
One: The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
MANY: He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
One: The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
ALL: The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! Psalm 29: 1-11
PRAYER OF ADORATION: Herman Wissenberg
HYMN “From a Distant Home”
From a distant home the Savior we come seeking,
Using as our guide the star, so brightly beaming.
Lovely eastern star that tells us of God’s morning,
Heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease thy shining!
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
And upon the earth be peace and love to all.
Glowing gold I bring the newborn babe so holy,
Token of His power to reign above in glory.
Lovely eastern star that tells us of God’s morning,
Heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease thy shining!
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
And upon the earth be peace and love to all.
Frankincense I bring the Child of God’s own choosing.
Token of our prayers to heaven ever rising.
Lovely eastern star that tells us of God’s morning,
Heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease thy shining!
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
And upon the earth be peace and love to all.
Bitter myrrh have I to give the infant Jesus,
Token of the pain that He will bear to save us.
Lovely eastern star that tells us of God’s morning,
Heaven’s wondrous light, O never cease thy shining!
Glory in the highest to the Son of Heaven,
And upon the earth be peace and love to all.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Merciful God, in baptism you promise forgiveness and new life, making us part of the body of Christ. We confess that we remain preoccupied with ourselves, separated from sisters and brothers in Christ. We cling to destructive habits, hold grudges, and show reluctance to welcome one another; we allow the past to hold us hostage. In your loving kindness, have mercy on us, and free us from sin. Remind us of the promises you make in baptism so that we may rise to new life, and live together in grace. Amen. (A moment for silent reflection)
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 Herman Wissenberg 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.
New Testament Reading: Acts 19:1-7 Herman Wissenberg
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.
SPECIAL MUSIC: “O Morning Star” arr. Bach
Gospel Reading: Mark 4:1-11
Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’
When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables.
SERMON: “Wind and Spirit” The Reverend Michael R. Mansperger
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
A.J. Krueger, Linda Page, “Chickie” Johnson, Barbara O’Reilly, Sue Schaefer, Dona Whitehouse, Janet Squier at the passing of her husband Barry, The Cunningham’s great grandson Owen, Tom Miner, Jim Diefenderfer, Marilyn Brown, Norma Lewis, Ronnie Crain, June Wright; Gail Heins, Doug and Muriel Maxwell in Toronto, Binnie Trimble, Laurie Wiesemann, Mildred Conley, the Hummel’s daughter Cynthia and the Pratt’s daughter Leslie, Marilyn Gabriel, David King, Dorothy Kirkpatrick, Curt and Nancy Hood, Carol and Harold Paul, Danny Zirpoli. Our nation. Celebrating coming vaccinations and antibody treatments. The Laurel Civic Association in Nokomis.
OFFERING OF OUR LIVES No-Touch Offering Plates are available as you leave
HYMN “SPIRIT”
REFRAIN: Spirit, spirit of gentleness, Blow through the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, Stir me from placidness, Wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, You called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains From the valleys of sleep,
And over the eons You called to each thing,
“Awake from your slumbers And rise on your wings.” REFRAIN
You swept through the desert, You stung with the sand,
And You gifted your people With a law and a land,
And when they were blinded With their idols and lies,
Then you spoke through Your prophets To open their eyes. REFRAIN
You sang in a stable, You cried from a hill,
Then You whispered in silence When the whole world was still,
And down in the city You called once again
When You blew through Your people On the rush of the wind. REFRAIN
You call from tomorrow, You break ancient schemes,
From the bondage of sorrow The captives dream dreams;
Our women see visions, Our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions Your people arise. REFRAIN
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE ”Brightest & Best” Harding
ANNOUNCEMENTS
End of Year Giving Statements for 2020 are being mailed to those who are unable to attend in person worship. Please remain distant while you find yours in the Narthex.
Offering Envelope Booklets for 2021 are ready to be picked up in the parlor. If you would like to have a booklet please inform the church office and we will prepare one for you.
Happy Birthday in January to: Meg Richmond 1st, Douglas Maxwell 1st, David Stasney 1st, Don Bates 4th, Helen Krueger 4th, James Pratt 8th, A. J. Krueger 11th, Jane Pyle 12th, Judy Kraut 13th, Diane Steiger 18th, Ken Angotti 22nd, Lois Reed 27th, Allen Steiger 28th , Mark Richmond 29th, Robert Harrod.
If you would like a friend to see and hear this worship service simply go to: www.presbyteriancc.org click on website and follow the link to Worship Services, where you and others can follow online the previous services. To worship virtually with us on Sunday morning go to Facebook and search Presbyterian Church of The Covenant, Sarasota and share worship there.
