(Modified 2023-01-08: Added audio recordings)
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
January 8, 2023
TODAY AT ST. MARY’S
10:00 A.M. MORNING PRAYER (Prayer book pp. 6-15.) (Psalm 87,93, Isaiah 49:1-13, Luke 3:15-22)
10:30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION (Prayer Book pp. 67- 85)
ORGAN PRELUDE: Bethlehem Lullaby – Malcolm Archer (b. 1952)
HYMNS
- Opening: # 162 Sing of God Made Manifest
- Gradual: # 622 How Bright Appears the Morning Star
- Offertory: # 165 Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering
- Communion: # 158 Earth Has Many a Noble City
- Closing Hymn: # 160 As with Gladness Men of Old
ORGAN POSTLUDE: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern , How lovely shines the morning star, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
THE COLLECT
O HEAVENLY Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ did take our nature upon him, and was baptized for our sakes in the river Jordan: Mercifully grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may also be partakers of thy Holy Spirit; through him whom thou didst send to be our Saviour and Redeemer, even the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
THE LESSON: Isaiah 42:1-8
Behold 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.
He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: “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, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to graven images.
R./ Thanks be to God
PSALM: 98:8-10
LET the sea make a noise, and all that is therein; / the round world, and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; / for he is come to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall he judge the world, / and the peoples with equity.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 1: 1-11 R. / Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”’, 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.’
R. / Praise be to thee, O Christ.
All baptized Christians are invited to come forward with faith and love towards
Christ and His Church to receive Holy Communion with us today.