Holy Baptism for The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord
The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord
7 January 2024
according to the Book of Common Prayer (p. 299ff.)
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We Gather in God’s Name
Entrance Hymn: The first Nowell the angel did say (Hymnal 109)
BCP 299
The people stand as able.
Greeting
Officiant:
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People:
And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Officiant:
There is one Body and one Spirit;
People:
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
Officiant:
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People:
One God and Father of all.
The Collect of the Day
Officiant:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you.
Officiant:
Let us pray.
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into 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.
People:
Amen.
The people are seated.
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-5
Lector:
A reading from the book of Genesis.
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Lector:
The word of the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 29
Afferte Domino
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you / gods, *
ascribe to the LORD glory and / strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his / Name; *
worship the LORD in the beauty 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 powerful / voice; *
the voice of the LORD is a voice of / splendor.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the / cedar trees; *
the LORD breaks the cedars of / Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a / calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild / ox.
7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shakes the / wilderness; *
the LORD shakes the wilderness of / Kadesh.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees / writhe *
and strips the forests / bare.
9 And in the temple of the / LORD *
all are crying, / “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned above the / flood; *
the LORD sits enthroned as King for / evermore.
11 The LORD shall give strength to his / people; *
the LORD shall give his people the blessing of / peace.
The Second Lesson: Acts 19:1-7
Lector:
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.
Lector:
The word of the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn: Angels, from the realms of glory (Hymnal 93)
The people stand as able.
The Holy Gospel: Mark 1:4-11
Deacon:
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People:
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Deacon:
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Deacon:
The Gospel of the Lord.
People:
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The people are seated.
A brief homily, spiritual conversation, or moment of silence may be placed here.
Silence follows the homily.
We Respond in Faith
BCP 301
The Presentation and Examination of the Candidates
Celebrant:
The Candidate(s) for Holy Baptism will now be presented.
Adults and Older Children
The candidates who are able to answer for themselves are presented individually by their Sponsors, as follows
Sponsor
I present N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
The Celebrant asks each candidate when presented
Do you desire to be baptized?
Candidate
I do.
Infants and Younger Children
Then the candidates unable to answer for themselves are presented individually by their Parents and Godparents, as follows
Parents and Godparents
I present N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
When all have been presented the Celebrant asks the parents and godparents
Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is brought up in the Christian faith and life?
Parents and Godparents
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant
Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?
Parents and Godparents
I will, with God’s help.
Then the Celebrant asks the following questions of the candidates who can speak for themselves, and of the parents and godparents who speak on behalf of the infants and younger children
Question
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces
of wickedness that rebel against God?
Answer
I renounce them.
Question
Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Answer
I renounce them.
Question
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
Answer
I renounce them.
Question
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
Answer
I do.
Question
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
Answer
I do.
Question
Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
Answer
I do.
After all have been presented, the Celebrant addresses the congregation, saying
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
People
We will.
The Celebrant then says these or similar words
Let us join with those who are committing themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.
BCP 304
The Baptismal Covenant
Celebrant:
Do you believe in God the Father?
People:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant:
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People:
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He 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,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant:
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People:
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.
Celebrant:
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People:
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant:
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People:
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant:
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People:
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant:
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People:
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant:
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People:
I will, with God’s help.
BCP 305
Prayers for the Candidates
The Celebrant then says to the congregation
Let us now pray for these persons who are to receive the Sacrament of new birth.
A Person appointed leads the following petitions
Leader
Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy
Church.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Send them into the world in witness to your love.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader
Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.
People
Lord, hear our prayer.
The Celebrant says
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death
of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his
resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who
lives and reigns now and for ever.
People
Amen.
BCP 306
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Celebrant blesses the water, first saying
The Lord be with you.
People
And also with you.
Celebrant
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant
We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water.
Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage
in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus
received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy
Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death
and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are
buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his
resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his
fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in
the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
At the following words, the Celebrant touches the water
Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your
Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and
born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus
Christ our Savior.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.
BCP 307
The Baptism
Each candidate is presented by name to the Celebrant, or to an assisting priest or deacon, who then immerses, or pours water upon, the candidate, saying
N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People
Amen.
When this action has been completed for all candidates, the Bishop or Priest, at a place in full sight of the congregation, prays over them, saying
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy
Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the
forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of
grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them
an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to
persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy
and wonder in all your works.
People
Amen.
Then the Bishop or Priest places a hand on the person’s head, marking on the forehead the sign of the cross [using Chrism if desired] and saying to each one
N., you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.
People
Amen.
When all have been baptized, the Celebrant says
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
Celebrant and People
We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
The Peace
Presider:
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:
And also with you.
We greet one another in the name of the Lord.
The Prayers of the People
Today the response to the prompt, “let us pray” is, “Lord, have mercy.” The final verse and response, as we “offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ,” is “To you, O Lord.”
Silence
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Epiphany Proclamation
Birthdays and Anniversaries (BCP, 830)
Everyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month, or anyone wishing to stand in for someone close to them celebrating such an event, is invited to stand and tell us your name and the event you are celebrating.
A prayer for a birthday:
O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The people are seated.
The Announcements
We Offer Ourselves To God
The altar is prepared
The people stand as able.
Offertory Hymn: We three kings of Orient are (Hymnal 128)
BCP 369
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer C
Celebrant:
The Lord be with you.
People:
And also with you.
Celebrant:
Lift up your hearts.
People:
We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People:
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
The Celebrant continues:
God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of
glory and praise.
People:
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant:
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.
People:
By your will they were created and have their being.
Celebrant:
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
People:
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.
Celebrant:
Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.
People:
By his blood, he reconciled us.
By his wounds, we are healed.
Celebrant:
And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
Hymnal S-125
Sanctus
Celebrant and People:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Celebrant continues:
And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,
Celebrant and People:
We celebrate his death and resurrection,
as we await the day of his coming.
The Celebrant continues:
Lord God of our Fathers; God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the
world in his name.
People:
Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.
Celebrant:
Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation.
People:
AMEN.
Hymnal S-119
BCP 364
The Lord’s Prayer
Presider:
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Officiant and People:
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,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymnal S-155
The Breaking of the Bread
Presider:
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Presider:
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
pb
We Receive the Gift of God
“If a person desires to receive the Sacrament, but, by reason of extreme sickness or physical disability, is unable to eat and drink the Bread and Wine, the Celebrant is to assure that person that all the benefits of Communion are received, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth.” (BCP, 457)
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people. All are welcome to receive at Christ’s table. If you would prefer to receive a verbal blessing instead of communion, cross your arms over your chest to indicate this.
Communion Hymn: What child is this, who, laid to rest (Hymnal 115)
BCP 366
The Post-communion Prayer
Presider:
Let us pray.
People:
Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Processional Hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise (Hymnal 135)
BCP 366
The Dismissal
Deacon:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People:
Thanks be to God.