Propers Plus for The Baptism of our Lord (Regular Service)

The Baptism of our Lord

January 8, 10:45 a.m.

As We Gather

The theme for the Epiphany season is the showing forth of Jesus as God's Son, the Messiah, our Savior.  He was first known publicly at His baptism.

The Baptism of Jesus is the source of the power and application of Holy Baptism. As God the Holy Trinity was present there, so He is present in every Baptism in His holy Name. Since earliest times, Christians have shared the conviction that all which Jesus placed into the water of His Baptism is bestowed by His Word in the water of our own Baptism. Our Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is a “washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5) in which we receive Christ’s righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

We are bold to confess that such water united with the Word of God is nothing less than a “gracious water of life and renewing in the Holy Spirit.” It is no mere initiation. Holy Baptism confers an entire lifetime of Christian vocation-that “the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and, again, a new man daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” (Luther’s Small Catechism).

Hymn ~“From Wilderness to Jordan Came”                                        

(tune Puer nobis Page 344)

1.         From wilderness to Jordan came

The final Prophet to proclaim

That Judgment soon was to begin

To punish people for their sin.

2.         Although of Abraham's descent,

Since all have sinned, all must repent,

And, like the Gentiles, undergo

A Baptism, and its import show.

3.         But when Christ came, no judgment dire

Did He pronounce with venging fire;

Himself the Baptism underwent,

The sinless One subservient.

4.         On Him the Spirit as a dove

Descended, and the Father's love

Voiced His approval that the Son

Mankind's salvation had begun.

stand

5.         All glory, Lord, to You we pay

For Your Epiphany today;

And to the Father tribute bring,

            As by the Spirit here we sing.

Confession and Absolution

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation

All (sing):   Within the Jordan’s sacred flood

                    The heav’nly Lamb in meekness stood

                    That he, of whom no sin was known,

                    Might cleanse his people from their own.

                    For this His glad epiphany

All glory unto Jesus be,

Whom with the Father we adore,

And Holy Ghost forevermore.

Sts.3, 5, “When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known” LW #81

Confession of Sins

Service of the Word

Introit

    

Behold my servant, whom | I uphold,*

     my chosen, in whom my | soul delights.

I will tell of | the decree:*

     The Lord said to me, "You are my Son; today I have be- | gotten you.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your | heritage,*

     and the ends of the earth your pos- | session.

You shall break them with a | rod of iron*

     and dash them in pieces like a potter_ s | vessel."

Now therefore, O | kings, be wise;*

     be warned, O rulers | of the earth.

Serve the | Lord with fear,*

     and rejoice with | trembling,

for his wrath is quickly | kindled.*

     Blessèd are all who take ref- | uge in him.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

     and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

     is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Behold my servant, whom | I uphold,*

     my chosen, in whom my | soul delights.

Ps. 2:7–11, 12c; antiphon: Is. 42:1a

Collect of the Day

P ... Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Reading from the Book of Concord -                                  

The Large Catechism

Part IV: Baptism 77-79; 84-86

Our Baptism abides forever.  Even though someone should fall from Baptism and sin, still we always have access to it.  So we may subdue the old man again. But we do not need to be sprinkled with water again [Ezekiel 36:25-26; Hebrews 10:22]. Even if we were put under the water a hundred times, it would still be only one Baptism, even though the work and sign continue and remain.  Repentance, therefore, is nothing other than a return and approach to Baptism…

For this reason let everyone value his Baptism as a daily dress [Galatians 3:27] in which he is to walk constantly.  Then he may ever be found in the faith and its fruit, so that he may suppress the old man and grow up in the new.  For if we would be Christians, we must do the work by which we are Christians.  But if anyone falls away from the Christian Life, let him again come into it.  For just as Christ, the Mercy Seat [Romans 3:25], does not draw back from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. Therefore, if we have received forgiveness of sin once in Baptism, it will remain every day, as long as we live.  Baptism will remain as long as we carry the old man about our neck..

Readings from Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading                                          Genesis 1:1–5

    

¹In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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

Gradual

Praise the Lord, all | nations!*

     Extol him, all | peoples!

For great is his steadfast | love toward us,*

     and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for- | ever.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory | due his name;*

     bring an offering, and come in- | to his courts!

Ps. 117:1–2a; 96:8

Epistle Reading                                                      Romans 6:1–11

¹What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ²By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

      ⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Verse

P     Alleluia. You are my beloved Son;

C   with you I am well pleased. Alleluia

Mark 1:11b

Holy Gospel                                                                  Mark 1:4–11

⁴John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

      ⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Hymn ~ “All Who Believe and Are Baptized”.................... Page 601

Offertory ~ “O God of God, O Light of Light” ................. Page 810

Distribution Hymns

“What Is This Bread”........................................................................ Page 629

“O Lord, We Praise Thee”............................................................. Page 617

Hymn ~ “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord”..................... Page 405

Thoughts on The Baptism of our Lord

From earliest times the birth of Jesus, Epiphany, and The Baptism of our Lord have been closely associated in the Church Year.  By 385 Epiphany and The Baptism of our Lord was a major eight day celebration in Jerusalem.

The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River is a much loved subject of Christian art.  It adorns stained glass windows, paintings and icons.

Although The Baptism of our Lord is often passed over in many non-liturgical churches, it affords us the opportunity direct our attention to Jesus’ message and ministry.  John the Baptist, Jesus, and His disciples all share a common message, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” From their time until now, baptism and repentance have been closely connected. 

As we celebrate the beginning of Jesus’ ministry at His baptism, let us see its fulfillment in the cross and resurrection. Jesus’ Baptism is the ideal time for us to remember that in baptism with have been truly connected to Jesus’ death and resurrection.  May we daily return to baptism in repentance and live the new life we have received by the working of the Holy Spirit through baptism.

Pastor Quardokus

Propers Plus for the Contemporary Service for The Baptism of Our Lord

The Baptism of our Lord

Contemporary

January 8, 8:00 a.m.

As We Gather

The theme for the Epiphany season is the showing forth of Jesus as God's Son, the Messiah, our Savior.  He was first known publicly at His baptism.

The Baptism of Jesus is the source of the power and application of Holy Baptism. As God the Holy Trinity was present there, so He is present in every Baptism in His holy Name. Since earliest times, Christians have shared the conviction that all which Jesus placed into the water of His Baptism is bestowed by His Word in the water of our own Baptism. Our Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is a “washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5) in which we receive Christ’s righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

We are bold to confess that such water united with the Word of God is nothing less than a “gracious water of life and renewing in the Holy Spirit.” It is no mere initiation. Holy Baptism confers an entire lifetime of Christian vocation-that “the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and, again, a new man daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

(Luther’s Small Catechism).

The Light of Christ

Arise Shine

Collect of the Day

P ... Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Reading from the Book of Concord -                                  

The Large Catechism,

Part IV: Baptism 77-79; 84-86

Our Baptism abides forever.  Even though someone should fall from Baptism and sin, still we always have access to it.  So we may subdue the old man again. But we do not need to be sprinkled with water again [Ezekiel 36:25-26; Hebrews 10:22]. Even if we were put under the water a hundred times, it would still be only one Baptism, even though the work and sign continue and remain.  Repentance, therefore, is nothing other than a return and approach to Baptism…

For this reason let everyone value his Baptism as a daily dress [Galatians 3:27] in which he is to walk constantly.  Then he may ever be found in the faith and its fruit, so that he may suppress the old man and grow up in the new.  For if we would be Christians, we must do the work by which we are Christians.  But if anyone falls away from the Christian Life, let him again come into it.  For just as Christ, the Mercy Seat [Romans 3:25], does not draw back from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. Therefore, if we have received forgiveness of sin once in Baptism, it will remain every day, as long as we live.  Baptism will remain as long as we carry the old man about our neck..

Readings from Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading                                          Genesis 1:1–5

    

¹In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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

Epistle Reading                                                      Romans 6:1–11

¹What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ²By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

      ⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Verse

P     Alleluia. You are my beloved Son;

C   with you I am well pleased. Alleluia

Mark 1:11b

Holy Gospel                                                                  Mark 1:4–11

⁴John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

      ⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Sermon Hymn

We Worship a Wonderful Savior

The Worship Team

You Bring Peace

Offertory

How Can We Thank You Lord

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord

Distribution Hymns

White As Snow

What Kind of Throne

You Are My All In All

Closing

Shine, Jesus Shine

A Quick Look at the History of Epiphany

Epiphany is an ancient celebration in the Church Year. The first certain reference to it was made by Clement of Alexandria in about the year 200.  He reports that it is already an established festival. (He also writes about Jesus’ birth, “there are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord's birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the twenty-eighth year of Augustus, and in the twenty-fifth day of Pachon..”)

By the year 385 Epiphany had become a major eight day festival in Jerusalem. On Epiphany Eve (January 5) a procession left Jerusalem for Bethlehem and returned the following morning for an elaborate service. A woman who attended the procession and service writes, “It would be superfluous to describe the adornment … of the church … on that day; you see nothing but gold and gems and silk. For if you look at the veils, they are made wholly of silk striped with gold, and if you look at the curtains, they too are made wholly of silk striped with gold. The church vessels too, of every kind, gold and jeweled, are brought out on that day, and indeed, who could either reckon or describe the number and weight of the candles or of the lamps or of the lanterns …”

The nightly procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and back continued for each of the eight days with the morning service taking place at a different location in Jerusalem each day.

Why would the early Church make Epiphany such an elaborate celebration? They were rejoicing in the wonderful message that Jesus is not only a man but God incarnate. The coming of the wise men, the words “This is my beloved Son” at Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ miracles such as turning water into wine all point to this awe inspiring truth. This is the truth that God’s only-begotten Son became flesh and dwelt among us.  This is the truth that God’s only-begotten Son died on the cross and rose again from the dead for our salvation. 

Pastor Quardokus

Epiphany Eve Preview

Epiphany Eve

As We Gather

Epiphany is a time for us to celebrate that Jesus is made known to us as Savior and Lord. He was revealed to the Wise Men as “King of the Jews.” We know Him as King of the Universe, Lord of the Church, and King of Heaven.  He is not only the babe born in Bethlehem but He is the only-begotten Son of God who was given so that believing in Him, you may have eternal life.

Hymn ~ “As with Gladness Men of Old”................................. Page 379

Entrance Hymn ~

     “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure” .......................... Page 533

Hymn of Praise “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” Page 399

(Service Note: This ancient hymn titled “Herodes hostis impie” was written by Coelius Sedulius in about A.D. 450.  Luther published the German translation “Was fuercht'st du, Feind Herodes, sehr?” in one of the first hymnals of the Reformation, Geistliche Lieder in the town of Wittenberg, in 1535.)

Collect of the Day

P ... O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Reading from the Book of Concord -                                  

The Formula of Concord (SD), Article VIII, The Person of Christ, 6

We believe, teach, and confess that God’s Son from eternity has been a particular, distinct, entire, divine person.  Yet He is true, essential, perfect God with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  In the fullness of time He received also the human nature into the unity of His person.  He did not do this in such a way that there are now two persons or two Christs. Christ Jesus is now in one person at the same time true, eternal God, born of the Father from eternity, and a true man, born of the most blessed Virgin Mary.  This is written in Romans 9:5, “from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever.”

Readings from Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading                                           Isaiah 60:1–6

    

  ¹Arise, shine, for your light has come,

 and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

 ²For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

 and thick darkness the peoples;

 but the Lord will arise upon you,

 and his glory will be seen upon you.

 ³And nations shall come to your light,

 and kings to the brightness of your rising.

 ⁴Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

 they all gather together, they come to you;

 your sons shall come from afar,

 and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.

 ⁵Then you shall see and be radiant;

 your heart shall thrill and exult,

 because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

 the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

 ⁶A multitude of camels shall cover you,

 the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

 all those from Sheba shall come.

 They shall bring gold and frankincense,

 and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

Epistle Reading                                                  Ephesians 3:1–12

¹For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—²assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 ⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Verse

P     Alleluia. Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

C   For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel                                                           Matthew 2:1–12

¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

 ⁶“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

 are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

 for from you shall come a ruler

 who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

 ⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

HYMN ~ “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”.............. Page 395

(Service Note: Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608) was a pastor in Germany during the Great Plague, which took the lives of 1,300 of his parishioners during a sixth-month period. In addition to his heroic pastoral ministry during that time of stress and sorrow, he wrote the texts for “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying” and “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright,” known, respectively, as the king and queen of the Lutheran chorales.)

Sermon

They Fell Down and Worshiped Him

Matthew 2:1–12

Offertory ~ “O God of God, O Light of Light” ................. Page 810

Distribution Hymns

“Arise and Shine in Splendor”..................................................... Page 396

“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”....................................................... Page 398

Post-Communion Canticle

“Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning”................ Page 400

Post-Communion Collect.................................................................... Page 166

Benediction................................................................................................. Page 166

Hymn ~ “The People That in Darkness Sat”........................ Page 412