The Baptism of The Lord The Renewal of our Baptismal Vows St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI January 12, 2025, 10:00 am

 
The Baptism of The Lord
The Renewal of our Baptismal Vows
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
January 12, 2025, 10:00 am
Preludes: God’s Son Has Come Georg Andreas Sorge; Adagio Joseph Hector Fiocco
 
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.
 
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
385 Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
 
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 Lord
First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
A Reading From The Book Of Isaiah
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Here what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
SNC 24 I Have Called You By Your Name
 
The Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
Thanksgiving for Holy Baptism
Water is poured into the font with these words
God in Christ gives us water welling up for eternal life. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Lord, give us this water and we shall thirst no more.
 
The president stands before the water and says,
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
 
Father, we give you thanks and praise for your gift of water in creation; for your Spirit, sweeping over the waters, bringing light and life; for your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, baptized in the river Jordan.
 
We bless you for your new creation, brought to birth by water and the Spirit, and for your grace bestowed upon us your children, washing away our sins.
 
May your holy and life-giving Spirit move upon these waters. Restore through them the beauty of your creation, and bring those who are baptized to new birth in the family of your Church.
 
Drown sin in the waters of judgement, anoint your children with power from on high, and make them one with Christ in the freedom of your kingdom.
 
For all might, majesty, dominion and power are yours, now and for ever.
Alleluia. Amen.
 
Prayers of the People [led by the LITANIST]
Generous God, we thank you for the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan river and for the power of your Holy Spirit. We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you in all that we do, individually and together. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We thank you for the wisdom of your Holy Spirit bestowed on this community. We ask that we may use our corporate wisdom to more fully understand and do your will.
 
We thank you for the peace of your Holy Spirit instilled in our hearts. We ask that we may be confident of your love wherever you call us to be. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We thank you for the healing of your life-giving and Holy Spirit. We ask you to bring reconciliation and wholeness where there is division, sickness and sorrow. We pray for those who are ill either in hospital or at home:
-
And others we may name out loud or in our hearts:
-
 
We thank you for the gifts of your powerful Holy Spirit. We ask that you equip us for the work which you have given us. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We thank you for the fruit of your Holy Spirit. We ask you to reveal in our lives the love of Jesus.
 
We thank you for the breath of your Holy Spirit. We ask you to keep the whole Church, living and departed, in the joy of eternal life. We pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ and whose faith is known to you alone, especially:
-
Fill us and all who mourn with the joy of the holy resurrection. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
Generous God, you sent your Holy Spirit upon Jesus, the Messiah at the river Jordan, and upon the disciples in the upper room: in your mercy fill us with your Spirit, hear our prayer, and make us one in heart and mind to serve you with joy for ever. Amen.
 
The Prayers are followed by this act of penitence and dedication
God of truth, you are faithful to the covenant you have made with us; look in mercy on your people. From all our sins, O Lord:
wash us, and we shall be clean.
 
Today we rejoice and give thanks because your Son humbled himself to be baptized in the Jordan. Through the waters you have given us the mystery of baptism for the remission of our sins. From all our sins, O Lord:
wash us, and we shall be clean.
 
Through water and Spirit you give us new life as the people of God, and pour out upon us the gifts of your new covenant. From all our sins, O Lord:
wash us, and we shall be clean.
 
Almighty God, in our baptism you have consecrated us to be temples of your Holy Spirit. May we, whom you have counted worthy, nurture your indwelling Spirit with a lively faith, and worship you with upright lives; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
‘Come forward, you who are thirsty,
receive the water of life,
the free gift to all who desire it.’
 
During the hymn, the congregation should be prepared for the asperges (sprinkling a congregation with holy water).
39 You Are God’s Work of Art
 
The Assurance
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Peace
God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia. (cf 2 Corinthians 1.22)
 
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
 
Announcements & Birthday Song
 
86 More Than We Can Ask or Imagine
 
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.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 5
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, for the gift of a world full of wonder, and for our life which comes from you. By your power you sustain the universe.
 
You created us to love you with all our heart, and to love each other as ourselves, but we rebel against you by the evil that we do. In Jesus, your Son, you bring healing to our world and gather us into one great family.
 
Therefore, with all who serve you on earth and in heaven, we praise your wonderful name, as we sing (say),
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.
 
We give you thanks and praise, loving Father, because in sending Jesus, your Son, to us you showed us how much you love us. He cares for the poor and the hungry. He suffers with the sick and the rejected. Betrayed and forsaken, he did not strike back but overcame hatred with love. On the cross he defeated the power of sin and death. By raising him from the dead you show us the power of your love to bring new life to all your people.
 
On the night before he gave up his life for us, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you.”
 
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which is shed for you and for many, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
 
Gracious God, with this bread and wine we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we offer ourselves to you in him. Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts, that we may know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of bread, and share in the life of the family of your children.
 
Father, you call us to be your servants; fill us with the courage and love of Jesus, that all the world may gather in joy at the table of your kingdom.
 
We sing your praise, almighty Father, through Jesus, our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us,
light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
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.
 
Hymns-during-communion
649 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
PB 218 Spirit Song (verses 1,2 repeated)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 218 Spirit Song (verses 1,2 repeated)
 
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.
 
The 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.
 
527 How Firm a Foundation
 
The Dismissal
We have come to Christ, the living water.
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.