Sermons on Line
To see our Sunday Morning worship service visit our
Youtube Channel by clicking here-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFMQ-hePqtErWPElE39IRIw
Asbury United Methodist Church
January 12, 2025
Welcome!
Prelude
Joys, Concerns, Announcements
Please stand as you are able at *.
*Greeting (Liturgist)
Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit.
Grant that all who are baptized in his name may keep the covenant they have made,
and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, One God, in glory everlasting. AMEN. (UMH #253)
*CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) (Liturgist)
One: When we pass through the cleansing waters of baptism and the troubled waters of our lives, God declares:
ALL: I will be with you.
ONE: When we go through the fires that refine us and the fires that threaten our livelihoods, God declares:
ALL: I will be with you.
ONE: Even when we travel to the far corners of the earth or down into the depths of our souls, God declares:
ALL: I will be with you.
ONE: So come, let us worship God whose love never fails, whose presence never leaves, whose mercies never end.
ALL: Praise be to God who, in the form of Jesus, waded into the waters of baptism to prove God’s solidarity with us! Amen.
*Hymn #252 “When Jesus Came to Jordan”
When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon but as the sinless one.
He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.
He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,
For us and our salvation to die upon the cross.
So when the dove descended on him, the Son of Man,
The hidden years had ended, the age of grace began.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make;
This very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
To share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.
Isaiah 43:1-7 NRSVUE Terry Blackbourn
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 Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight
and honored 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.
Psalm 29- page 761 UMH Terry Blackbourn
Response: With joy the Lord of Hosts proclaim; extol the great almighty name.
R
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
Worship the Lord in holy splendor.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord, upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. R
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
The Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
The Lord makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes froth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness,
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oaks to whirl,
And strips the forests bare;
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
The Lord sits enthroned as Ruler for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace! R
Anthem: “Were You There on That Christmas Night?”
Acts 8:14-17 NRSV Terry Blackbourn
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 NRSV Pastor Alison
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 strap 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."
Pastor: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: “Baptism & Community by Pastor Alison
Hymn #539 “O Spirit of the Living God”
O Spirit of the living God,
Thou light and fire divine,
Descend upon thy church once more,
And make it truly thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power,
With righteousness and peace;
Till Christ shall dwell in human hearts,
And sin and sorrow cease.
Blow, wind of God!
With wisdom blow until our minds are free
From mists of error, clouds of doubt,
Which blind our eyes to thee.
Burn, winged fire!
Inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal,
To preach to all thy great goodness,
God’s glorious common weal.
Teach us to utter living words of truth
Which all my hear,
The language all may understand when
Love speaks loud and clear;
Till every age and race and clime
Shall blend their creeds in one,
And earth shall form one family
By whom thy will is done.
So shall we know the power of Christ
Who came this world to save;
So shall we rice with him to life
Which soars beyond the grave;
And earth shall win true holiness,
Which makes they children whole;
Till, perfected by thee,
We reach creation’s glorious goal!
Prayer Time– Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as 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,
forever. Amen
Offering
*Doxology # 94 (To the tune “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise god, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!
Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer Of Dedication (Unison)
Grace-filled God, today we celebrate your baptism where there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” Rejoice these humble offerings to change the world for the better. Grow your people so that we might better give of ourselves to benefit others. Amen.
*Hymn #548 “In Christ There is No East or West”
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts
Everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Close binding humankind.
In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek,
And neither slave nor free;
Both male and female heirs are made,
And all are kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
In him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in him
Throughout the whole wide earth.
*Benediction
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today 1/12
9:30 am Choir Practice
9:30 am Bible Study
10:45 am Worship- Potluck
Tuesday 1/14
9:30 am Quilters-Crafters
Wednesday 1/15
Note change in Choir Practice!
Next Sunday 1/19
9:30 am Choir Practice
9:30 am Bible Study
10:45 am Worship
Pastor Alison Dix Cell: 319-573-4801
Email: Alison.dix@iaumc.net
Website: www.theasburymethodistcr.com
Phone: 319-364-3188
Church office hours: Tue – Thurs 9am-1pm
To view live streaming or recordings please visit www.youtube.com and search for Asbury UMC CR and subscribe.
Prayer for at home:
