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The Baptism of Our Lord

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, January 11, 2026

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Prelude Shall We Gather at the River Robert Lowry

Arr. by Donna Gartman Schultz

Welcome & Announcements

*Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Word who spoke life into being, the Wind stirring the waters. Amen.

Let us turn in confession to the one who knows us completely.

Mighty God, lover of justice, you call us to life in community, but we have served our own interests at the expense of our neighbors. We have sown deceit where honesty was needed. We say the right words, but our hearts are far from you. Turn us to seek your face. Knit us together and give us the mind of Christ, that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

The former things have passed away, and new things God now declares: Like a spring of water that never fails, God covers you in the righteousness of Christ, and forgives your sin in Jesus’ name. May the Spirit give you strength to live for others, and bless you with the gift of peace. Amen.

*Gathering Hymn Christ, When For Us You Were Baptized

*Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray…

O God our Father, at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful to their calling to be your daughters and sons, and empower us all with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 42:1-9

1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the | Lord, you gods,

ascribe to the Lord glo- | ry and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory | due God’s name;

worship the Lord in the beau- | ty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of | glory thunders;

the Lord is upon the | mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a pow- | erful voice;

the voice of the Lord is a | voice of splendor. R

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the | cedar trees;

the Lord breaks the ce- | dars of Lebanon;

6 the Lord makes Lebanon skip | like a calf,

and Mount Hermon like a | young wild ox.

7 The voice | of the Lord

bursts forth in | lightning flashes.

8 The voice of the Lord | shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilder- | ness of Kadesh. R

9 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the | forests bare.

And in the temple of the Lord all are | crying, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned a- | bove the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king for- | evermore.

11 O Lord, give strength | to your people;

give them, O Lord, the bless- | ings of peace. R

The Epistle Lesson Acts 10:34-43

34 Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation

Cantor: A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, | the Beloved,* with whom I | am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17)

*Gospel Matthew 3:13-17 Glory to you O Lord

13 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day Crashing Waters at Creation

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you.

And also with you.

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive our prayer.

v 2 I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus.

Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,

and show me the way to the Father. Refrain

*Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

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Offering Music Brightest and Best of the Stars Choir

Offering Prayer

God of majesty, no eye has seen, no ear has heard what you have prepared for those who love you, yet in this meal you reveal the wideness of your mercy. Use what we have gathered to feed us with the reign of God come near, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. By the leading of a star he was shown forth to all nations; in the waters of the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son; and in the miracle of water turned to wine he revealed your glory. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup...through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever. Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Communion Distribution

Communion Hymn Spirit of Gentleness

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

Radiant God, we have seen your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

In the sacrament of his body and blood you have drawn us to your heart. Send us from this table with delight, that our lives may reflect the beauty of your love, and bear witness to all we

have seen and heard, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*Sending Hymn Remember and Rejoice