WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE “Now the Silence” arr. Sue Mitchell-Wallace

CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 29: 2-4

Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name,

worship the LORD in holy splendor.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

*HYMN “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” #288

CALL TO CONFESSION – Isaiah 40:27-28

Nothing can be hidden from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, whose wisdom is endless, whose mercy is great. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God our Father, long-suffering, full of grace and truth, you create us from nothing and give us life. You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism. You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us aside. We confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbor. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are forgiven and called to lives of obedience and service. Believe the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*GLORIA PATRI “Glory Be to the Father” #579

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen, amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS:

Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Mark 1: 4-11

⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

SERMON: “Where It Begins” Rev. Barrett Ingram

*HYMN “Baptized in Water” #492

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his

only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the

third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right

hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the

dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the

forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Jig on “Baptized in Water” John A. Behnke

If anyone wants their Christmas Cards delivered they can get up with Dan Ward or Rev. Ingram and they will make it happen.

Prayer List:

Marguerite Hufham, Sarah Melvin, Louise Quick, Ronnie Rush, Juanita McGraw, Betty Johnson, Bill Jackson, Darrel Melvin, Happy Lashlee, Gerry Carey, Becky Regan, Mary Ward, Lucille Hood, Amy Johnson, Bill Marsh, Esther Collier, Madeline NcNeill Long, Shannon Wilcox, Ted Johnson, Clara Wooten Hunsucker, Ernest Ray Long, Jo Campbell, Linda Smith, Susan and David Butler, Doug Bergeron, Margaret Ingram, Bill Greene, Allison Ward, Jimmy Hickman, Holly Eppley, Betty Faircloth, Susan Deans, Carey King, Sammy Hatcher, Kim Worley Sellers, Carmen McQueen, Claudia Hester, Wynn Hair family, Lin Weeks, Billy Hester, Nellie Macon, Richard and Mary Jane Howell, Susan Priest, David Callihan, Ray Battle, Family of James Hough