January 8
Jesus’ Baptism
Year 1 ( 2022 – 2023 )
Text:
Matthew 3:1-17
Summary:
John preaches in the wilderness. John would have prevented him, but Jesus is baptized.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious Jesus,
You come to be with us;
you come to stand beside us,
you wade into the waters of this world:
murky, mucky, muddy as they are.
We would stop you if we could –
stop you from meddling in our lives,
stop you from getting too close,
stop you to save your own reputation,
lest your holiness be muddied in our mess and mire.
Forgive us for all the ways we try to hold you back
and at a distance.
Thank you for diving into our waters anyway,
for taking on our stains,
and drenching us with your grace.
Teach us how to rise up and walk with you.
Congregational Song Suggestions
“As I Went Down to the River to Pray”
VT 453
“Crashing Waters at Creation”
GTG 476 CRASHING WATERS, VT 441 RESTORATION
“Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways”
GTG 164
“From the Waters I Will Rise”
VT 442
“God Calls You Good”
VT 172
“Sing of God Made Manifest”
GTG 156
“With Water Freely Flowing”
VT 452
Beyond the Hymnal
“Breaths (Listen more often to things than to beings)”
by Ysaye Barnwell
“The River of Dreams”
by Billy Joel