Worship Service January 19, 2025

Order of Service

Welcome, Greeting, Service Introduction                       Rev. Warren Lunsford /All

*Call to Worship                                                                Rev. Warren Lunsford/All

The heavens open. The Spirit descends.

Jesus emerges from the water.

And a voice echoes through the blue expanse.

“This is my child, the Beloved, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Jesus is named. Claimed.
We come to the water. We remember we are named. Claimed.

Can it be so? What a thing to be named. Claimed.

Let us worship the one who names and claims us still.           ~ written by Caela Wood

Response to the Call            Jesus, Thine All Victorious Love                  UMH 422

 Opening Prayer                                                       Rev. Warren Lunsford/All                                                           

Lord, our Lord, enthroned above the storms of our lives,

   as we gather in the shadow of your awesome splendor,

      shake our deserts of despair.

Strip bare the forest of our transgressions.

And out of your strength, Lord, bless your people with peace.

O Holy Spirit, come on the quiet wings of a dove with gentle tenderness,

    and caress our lifted faces with the wingbeats of your love.

O Holy Spirit, come as unquenchable fire with purifying heat,

    and cleanse the chaff from our hearts.

O Holy Spirit, come as thunder upon our apathy with awesome swiftness,

    and strike us with the flash of lightening sending us forth in POWER!  Amen         

(Invocations & Benedictions for the Revised ‘common Lectionary, John M. Drescher, p.109)

Life of the Church                                                 Rev. Cindy Lunsford (see bulletin)

Mission Moment –

Affirmation of Faith   A Modern Affirmation  UMH 885         Sheri King/All                                                          

Gloria Patri                                                                                                    UMH 071

Psalm                                            Psalm 29  (UMH 761)                          Gina Elrod

Hymn                                                  Amazing Grace                                   UMH 378

OFFERING OF OURSELVES

Pastoral Prayer                                                                     Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All    

Worship with Our Tithes & Offerings                           Steve Hawkins instrumental

              Dedication & Offertory                                              Rev. Warren Lunsford

             Doxology                                                                             UMH 095 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen

Centering Song           The Least I Can Do by the Ball Brothers           Steve Hawkins

PROCLAMATION

Prayer of Illumination                                                                                Gary Seiler

Heavenly Father, at the Jordan You revealed Jesus as Your Son;

     as we hear Your Word this morning,

may we recognize Him as our Lord and know

     ourselves to be Your beloved children;

through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen

Scripture                             Luke 3:15-17, 21-22                         Rev. Cindy Lunsford

Message                  The Beginning of the Age of Grace                Rev. Cindy Lunsford

Remembering Our Baptism

GOING FORTH WITH CHRIST

Closing Hymn                     When Jesus Came to Jordan                              UMH 252

Commissioning & Benediction                                                    Rev. Cindy Lunsford

Depart to Serve, caring for others, as we truly serve God