GREETING (Acts 2:37-42)
“What should we do?” the three thousand asked Peter.
“Repent and be baptized,” he told the first Jerusalem crowd.
Those first believing converts to the Christian church,
turned from sin and entered the living water of Jesus Christ.
We too, God, have repented of our old way of living,
and we too have been baptized, and forgiven in Jesus’ name.
Now, God, gift us with your promised Holy Spirit,
as we fellowship, hear the teaching, break the bread and pray.
HYMN 184 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
PSALM 29:1-2
PRAYER
(Think back to the beginning of this day. Start there, and mentally walk through the day again, while you thank God for the day's blessings and God's continuous work of love. Confess and repent of those times when you forgot, ignored or rebelled against God. Continue to pray with your personal prayer list.)
SCRIPTURE LESSON
(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)
Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.
Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.
Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.
Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
(Declare your faith by repeating “The Apostles’ Creed” (882) or “The Nicene Creed,” (880) or use the following affirmation.)
We believe that Jesus submitted to baptism
as a clear example for us to follow.
When 3,000 new converts asked what to do;
Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.”
We believe that baptism is the outward sign,
of our adoption into God’s family.
By authority of Father, Son and Holy Spirit
we are named as God’s children.
Baptism appeals to God to wash off our sin,
and to grant us a clear conscience.
It is like a new exodus through the waters,
from bondage to sin into freedom.
It is like our old selves dying with Christ,
and then rising anew with Christ.
Baptism changes us forever in God’s eyes,
and clothes us with Jesus Christ.
In baptism he saves us from eternal death,
giving us new birth from above.
In baptism God’s Spirit descends upon us,
and seals us for God’s Kingdom.
We unite with Christ in baptismal waters,
and with all Christian believers.
Even our minds are enlightened in baptism,
and we are called to moral living.
Our lives find new purpose in serving God,
and sharing the gospel with others.
Choosing to be baptized is choosing a side,
in the middle of a spiritual war.
We have chosen and believe forever in God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER 70 or 71
PRAYER
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
we saw you, we heard you, we knew you in Jesus’ baptism.
and we watched Jesus begin his ministry of teaching and healing.
For that watershed event, we humbly bow to you and lift up our praise.
Upon entering his baptism, we came alive to you, God;
in those waters we experienced Jesus calling us to ministry;
and now we too teach, heal and witness to the good news in Jesus.
Like Jesus, we give our daily lives as living sacrifices, worshiping you.
Like Jesus in the wilderness, we too have been tempted.
And when he called us, we went deaf, pretending not to hear.
Surely his call was for others, for we have no skill to do ministry.
But when we answered, and were faithful, we produced spiritual fruit.
Sometimes fear of what others would think, held us back.
Sometimes, when no responses came, we became apathetic.
Sometimes we had no time for serving, because of our selfishness.
And sometimes we were amazingly fruitful doing ministry with Jesus.
Examine us today, God. Have we answered Jesus’ call?
Redirect us to where we are needed. Encourage boldness.
Strengthen our gifts for serving, and keep us faithful and loving.
Our hearts and minds, hands and feet, time and sweat we give to you.
God, your Holy Spirit entered into Jesus at his baptism.
Pour out that same Holy Spirit to infuse us with Jesus’ love.
Inspire our ministries with his understanding, truth, and power.
And let all the signs and wonders, all the success, declare your glory. Amen.
SILENCE AND COMMITMENT
(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)
HYMN 604 “Praise and Thanksgiving Be to God”
CLOSING PRAYER
No longer shamed,
our old ways tamed,
with Spirit inflamed,
we now are named.
We are God-claimed,
your love proclaimed,
another soul reclaimed,
our thanks exclaimed.
Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
