Princeton UMC Worship - January 8, 2023

WELCOME TO

Princeton United Methodist Church We are a diverse faith community, engaged in enlivening spiritually thirsty people to joyfully respond to God’s love and grow as disciples of Christ, so that together we may experience the fullness of life.

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JANUARY 8, 2023 BAPTISM OF THE LORD SUNDAY

CURIOUS?

ANNOUNCEMENTS STAINED GLASS WINDOW TOURS

JAN. 19 & FEB. 2 | 1:00-3:00PM

The church will be open for meditation and tours of the stained glass windows on Thursday, January 19, and Thursday, February 2 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm or by appointment. Email windows@princetonumc.org for more information.

ALTAR FLOWERS We have three Sundays without flower donors for February. Please consider memorializing or honoring a loved one. Cost is $45. Please indicate FLOWERS on your form of payment. Contact Pam Nugent (poodleluvs@aol.com) for more information.

STAR WORDS On Epiphany Sunday, worshipers received a word, written on a star. This is a word of intention and reflection, and it is an opportunity to notice God through a particular lens. There is something mystical about these star words. If you would like a star word and haven't gotten one, please contact Tyler at tyler@princetonumc.org.

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JESUS' BAPTISM

BY LAURA JAMES

THE CHURCH GATHERS Pre-Service Music

Ritournelle

Call to Worship

by Caela Wood 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.

Hymn

When Jesus Came to Jordan

UMH #252

Prayer of Confession As we gather our hearts, thoughts, and souls into our confessional space today, I invite us to hear once again the words from Jesus's baptism, these words that are meant for us too. These words that tell us who we are: You are God's child. You are God's beloved. With you God is well pleased. Let's say them together, personalizing them.

I am God's child. I am God's beloved. With me, God is well pleased.

Let's say them again together, and then sit with them for a moment, in silence. Aware of any ways we resist them, any ways we struggle with them, any ways they seem unbelievable to us, lifting all of this to God's loving presence, confessing our need for help to fully embrace this truth.

I am God's child. I am God's beloved. With me, God is well pleased. silence for prayer Words of Assurance adapted from Steve Garnaas-Holmes Down, deep into the water of your grace we sink, God of love. Hold us, bathe us, birth us. We are yours. Friends, Beloved of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are loved, we are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are loved, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen.

SHARING IN WORSHIP TODAY Acolytes - Elliot Walz, Nathan Besler Liturgists - Pastor Jae Hong, Elyse Horn Reader - Shermel Morgan Musicians - Julia Hanna, Children's Choir Ushers - Tom Sandford, Ida Cahill, Bhanu Prakash, Bright Rajaratnam

TO HEAR THE WORD AND REFLECT

Schmitt

TODAY'S FLOWERS ARE GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF My Mother, Joan Baker

by Yvonne Macdonald

Music Ministry Jesus Loves Me/Jesus Loves Me and He Loves You, Too Children's Time

Where Children Belong

TFWS #2233

Scripture Reading Matthew 3:13-17 This is the Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Sermon

Nicene Creed

Water and Spirit

Rev. Jenny Smith Walz

TO RESPOND IN FAITH

Reaffirmation of Baptism Hymn Down by the Jordan

UMH #880 see insert see insert

Prayers of the People The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kin-dom come; your 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 yours is the kin-dom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Offertory Hymn

Postludium

Dohnányi

Doxology

UMH #94

Prayer of Thanksgiving

AND SCATTERS TO BE IN THE WORLD Hymn

The Church's One Foundation

UMH #545

Benediction Postlude

Pequeña danza

Turina

PRAYER CONCERNS For Moorse family on passing of Mick. For healing for Donald, Ian, Larry, Marv, Gary, Antonio, Frank, Jeanette, Nick, and Peter.

For peace for Joan. For those suffering in Ukraine.

For those enduring antisemitism, prejudice, and natural disasters.

HAVE PRAYER CONCERNS? For our Prayer Chain, call Mary Lib Stewart at 609-632-1973 or contact Yvonne Macdonald at yvonnee.mac@verizon.net.

Email Pastor Jae Hong at jae@princetonumc.org when you or a family member is in the hospital or in need of a pastoral call.

REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?

We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin!

Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?

We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves!

Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, his body on earth?

We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, put our whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as our Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races!

Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?

We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world.

Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church as we put our trust in God, the Creator of all; in Jesus Christ, his only Son; and in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Almighty God, the life you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die. Your justice never fails. Your mercy is everlasting.

Your healing river flows. Your Spirit blows where you will.

We cannot stop you, God! But sometimes we try. We try to block the flow, we redirect the winds of the Spirit, or we walk so far away from the life-giving Stream that we do not hear its sound, and we forget its power. We parch ourselves.

We are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us!

Come upon us, Holy Spirit!

Come upon us, Holy Spirit!

Come upon these waters.

Come upon these waters.

Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy.

Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.

Let these waters renew us in the resurrection power of Jesus.

Let these waters make us long for your coming reign.

Most Holy God, Abba, Father!

Glory to you!

Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord!

Glory to you!

Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness!

Glory to you!

Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One! All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!

And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?

We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin!

Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?

We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves!

Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, his body on earth?

We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, put our whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as our Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races!

Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?

We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world.

Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church as we put our trust in God, the Creator of all; in Jesus Christ, his only Son; and in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Almighty God, the life you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die. Your justice never fails. Your mercy is everlasting.

Your healing river flows. Your Spirit blows where you will.

We cannot stop you, God! But sometimes we try. We try to block the flow, we redirect the winds of the Spirit, or we walk so far away from the life-giving Stream that we do not hear its sound, and we forget its power. We parch ourselves.

We are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us!

Come upon us, Holy Spirit!

Come upon us, Holy Spirit!

Come upon these waters.

Come upon these waters.

Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy.

Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.

Let these waters renew us in the resurrection power of Jesus.

Let these waters make us long for your coming reign.

Most Holy God, Abba, Father!

Glory to you!

Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord!

Glory to you!

Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness!

Glory to you!

Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One! All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!