THE WORSHIP OF GOD

January 12, 2014

Epiphany Sunday

“We come to praise God’s faithfulness”

Prelude

Work of the Church Dr. Moore

Chiming of the Trinity

Call to Worship “Walk in the Light”

We’ll walk in the light, the beautiful light;

Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.

Shine all around us by day and by night.

Jesus, the light of the world.

Acolyte Greeting Michael Shepard-Moore

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to God’s people on earth. Alleluia!

*Hymn #113 “We Three Kings of Orient Are” KINGS OF ORIENT

Invocation & Lord’s Prayer John Simpson

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,

and the power, and the glory, forever, AMEN.

*Doxology #253

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God all creatures here below.

Praise God above ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.


“To proclaim God’s word”

Scripture Reading NT #91 Matthew 3:13-17

Sermon “Jesus is All Wet” Dr. Moore

“To listen for God’s guidance”

Scripture Reading OT #672 Isaiah 42:1-9

Morning Prayer Rev. Duncan

*Hymn #82 “Emmanuel” MCGEE

Offertory & Offering

Choral Response “Take My Gifts” TALAVERA TERRACE

Adult Choir

“To respond in faith”

Reaffirmation of Baptism Rev. Eidson

A Baptismal Prayer

We thank you, God, for water.

By it you give life to plants, animals & all humankind.

We thank you that in the beginning your Spirit of creation moved over the face of the waters.

We thank you for safe passage of our ancestors through the Red Sea, passing from slavery to freedom.

We thank you for the baptism of Jesus in the waters of the River Jordan.

We thank you for cleansing us with water, making us new inside and out, spiritually and physically.

We thank you, God, that you have led us by still waters.

We thank you for the promise that one day justice will flow like the waters, righteousness like an everflowing stream.

We thank you for creating us in the watery womb of our mothers and for recreating us in the watery womb of baptism as we are “buried with Christ into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, we too might walk in newness of life.” AMEN

Scripture Reading OT #673 Isaiah 43:1-9

Testimonies of Faith

Baptismal Blessing

“Washed by the Water” Rinehart

Joanie Williams, Erin Kennedy, Hannah & Abby Shepard-Moore

“Wade in the Water”

Wade in the water,

Wade in the water children

Wade in the water.

God’s gonna trouble the water.

Call to Commitment

*Hymn #305 “I Have Decided” ASSAM

*Benediction

Postlude

* If able, please stand.

The acolytes today are Madison Kreutzer, Michael Shepard-Moore, and Kaleb Kreutzer.

The Baptismal Prayer was adapted from a prayer by Nancy Hastings Sehested in For the Living of These Days, edited by Michael Hawn.

*Additional hymns are used with permission from OneLicense.net. (#A-715744).

Sardis Baptist Church

Worship Staff

Rev. Tillie Duncan, Rev. Jonathan Eidson,

Dr. Tim Moore, pastors;

Rev. Joan Williams, minister of music;

Irena Hramenkova, pianist.

Sardis Baptist Meetinghouse

5811 Sardis Road

Charlotte, NC 28270

704-362-0811

www.sardisbaptistcharlotte.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS

·  Sardis Academy in January (8th through 29th) will focus on “Practices for the New Year.” Participants get to explore contemplative ways of praying. Fellowship Dinners begin at 5:45. Youth, children and adult sessions are from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

·  Next Sunday we will have our Winter Church Conference immediately following worship. We will vote on the 2014 budget, church officers and committees for the year. Members will receive a proposed budget in the mail this week.

·  The Missions Committee is collecting canned goods for Loaves and Fishes during January. We want to provide food for the shelves of food pantries for these long winter months. Please bring your donations to the vestibule.

·  The community Taize Service is tonight at 6 PM at Sardis Presbyterian Church.

·  Volunteers are needed to take down the Chrismon Tree on Tuesday, January 14, beginning at 10 AM.

·  “Committee Night” will be Sunday, January 26th. If you serve on a committee, please make plans to attend that evening.


WORSHIP

January 12, 2014

Epiphany Sunday

“The event of baptism marks the beginning of the Christian’s participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It signals one’s death to an old way of life and one’s birth to a new life in Christ.”

--- Daniel Migliore in

Faith Seeking Understanding