The Baptism of the Lord January 8, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

 
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
The Baptism of the Lord
January 8, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
 
The Gathering of the Community
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
And also with you.
 
There is one body and one Spirit,
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all.
 
465 Gather Us In
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit, keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word –
Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9
A Reading From The Book Of Isaiah
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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 fulfil 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 the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon:
 
Presentation and Examination of the Candidates
The celebrant says,
The candidate for Holy Baptism will now be presented.
 
Parents and sponsors,
I present Ethan James Long to receive the sacrament of baptism.
 
Parents and sponsors,
I present Kai Nicholas Pharo to receive the sacrament of baptism.
 
The celebrant asks the parents and sponsors,
Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?
Parents and sponsors,
I will, with God’s help.
 
Celebrant
Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?
Parents and sponsors,
I will, with God’s help.
 
Then the celebrant asks the following questions of the parents and sponsors.
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Saviour?
I do.
 
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
I do.
 
Do you promise to obey him as your Lord?
I do.
 
After all have been presented, the celebrant addresses the congregation, saying,
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
We will.
 
Prayers for the Candidates
Let us now pray for these persons who are to receive the sacrament of new birth.
 
Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Send them into the world in witness to your love.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Celebration of Baptism
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
 
We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
 
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
 
Now sanctify this water by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who are here cleansed from sin and born again, may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
 
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The celebrant then says these or similar words.
Let us join with those who are committing themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.
 
The Baptismal Covenant
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God,
The Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
 
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
 
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in God the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
 
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I will, with God’s help.
 
The Baptism
The celebrant, or an assisting priest or deacon, pours water upon, the candidates, saying,
Ethan James Long, I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I sign you with the cross,
and mark you as Christ’s own for ever.
 
Kai Nicholas Pharo, I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I sign you with the cross,
and mark you as Christ’s own for ever.
 
The celebrant, prays over the newly baptized, saying,
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.
 
The Giving of the Light
Each of the newly baptized receives a lighted candle,
Receive the light of Christ,
to show that you have passed from darkness to light.
 
When all of the newly baptized have received candles, the people say,
Let your light so shine before others
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
 
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We receive you into the household of God.
Confess the faith of Christ crucified,
proclaim his resurrection,
and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
 
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
 
Announcements
 
309 Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of life and freedom, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus as the Christ who makes all creation new. Accept all we offer you this day and make us new in him, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
 
The Prayers of the Community
Let us our prayer to our Creator. The magi came from the east to worship the Christ Child receiving gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh: accept the offering of our hearts and minds. May our love for one another be strengthened by your grace.
 
Grant peace to your world. You have called us to be a light to the world, may our lives shine as a witness to the saving grace you have given for all. The Holy Family lived in exile: have mercy for poor and powerless, and all who suffer. You have called us to be members of your body, and to welcome people into your family through the sacrament of baptism, and today we celebrate Ethan and Kai.
 
We pray for all those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially,
- …
And others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-
We pray for all who have died and are at rest, especially,
-
Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your loving care.
 
O God, we rejoice in our fellowship with the shepherds, the angels, the magi, with Mary, Joseph and all the faithful departed. In your unfailing love for us and for all people, hear and answer our prayers through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 2
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.
 
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. He is your living Word, through whom you have created all things.
 
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
 
In fulfilment of your will he stretched out his hands in suffering, to bring release to those who place their hope in you; and so he won for you a holy people.
 
He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows, and to give up his life on the cross, that he might shatter the chains of evil and death, and banish the darkness of sin and despair. By his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence.
 
Now with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven 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.
 
Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread and gave you thanks, saying, “Take, and eat: this is my body which is broken for you.” In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”
 
Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.
 
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon the offering of your holy Church. Gather into one all who share in these sacred mysteries, filling them with the Holy Spirit and confirming their faith in the truth, that together we may praise you and give you glory through your Servant, Jesus Christ.
 
All glory and honour are yours, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
The Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in him!
 
Lamb of God
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
               have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
               have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
               grant us your peace.
 
The Communion
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Hymns-during-communion
520 The King of Love My Shepherd Is 
408 Wind Upon the Water 
73 One Bread, One Body
45 Down Galilee’s slow Roadways
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Gracious God, lover of all, by this sacrament you make us one family in Christ your Son, one in the sharing of his body and blood, one in the communion of his Spirit. Help us to grow in love for one another and come to the full maturity of the Body of Christ. We ask this in his name. Amen.
 
The doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Blessing
May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
397 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
 
The Scattering
Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the birth of our Saviour.
      Thanks be to God.