Baptism of Christ: We Trust Our Belovedness

Sunday, January 12, 2025
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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We reach the end of our series, “How does a weary world rejoice,” with the answer: We trust our belovedness. We witness the baptism of Jesus by his cousin John in the Jordan River, and ponder how affirming—or not affirming—our belovedness affects our lives and our faith.

You can join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship is live-streamed; videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are invited! You are always welcome!

How Does a Weary World Rejoice?

Epiphany 1: The Baptism of the Lord

We Trust Our Belovedness

Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Union Presbyterian Church

January 12, 2025

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Cathie Makowka Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Welcome

Announcements Cathie Makowka

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Trust,” Roger Summers

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship

There are some days when we need the reminder:

we belong to God.

The world can be a harsh place.

We often need that reminder.

Then let us care for one another.

Let us speak the truth we each need to hear.

We belong to God.

We are God’s beloved.

We belong to God.

We are God’s beloved.

Let us worship the God who knows our names.

Let us worship the God who calls us beloved. Amen.

* Hymn # 356 PH

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

(Public Domain)

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love!

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

* Call to New Life

Our scripture passage for today tells the story of Jesus being baptized. The gospel of Luke tells us that the sky opened up and the voice of God was heard saying, “You are my Son, whom I love, with whom I am well-pleased.”

But is that the only time God said words like that? The promise of scripture is that God delights in you. God created you. God loves you with the same passion that we hear God express in today’s scripture.

So trusting in that good news, trusting that we are beloved, let us go to God in prayer.

For we know that the one who listens, listens with love.

What greater gift could there be?

Let us pray…

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Loving God, from the very beginning you breathed life into us and called us good. Somewhere along the way, we replaced “good” with “not enough.” Somewhere along the way, we turned the volume up on that phrase and began to doubt our own self-worth.

[Silent Prayer]

And we pray,

Forgive us, God, for this is not what you taught us. When the world tells us we are not enough, you call us beloved. Show us how to return to that truth. Show us how to let go of our weariness and rest in that good news. Amen.

* Words of Assurance

Family of faith, God’s grace and understanding are deeper and wider than we could possibly imagine. Join me in saying these words of grace.

Our story begins with belovedness.

Even if we lose our way, even if we stumble and fall,

God never stops breaking through the clouds to claim us.

We are known. We are forgiven. We are beloved.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

Let the truth of God’s love for creation seep into our bones.

May we hear God’s echoes of “beloved” deep within ourselves.

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Isaiah 43:1-7

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, beginning at chapter 43, verse 1.

But now thus says the Lord,
    he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in my sight
    and honored and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you;

I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
    and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
    and my daughters from the end of the earth—

everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Be Not Afraid,” Bob Dufford

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Anthem Choir

“Do Not Fear, For You Are Mine,” David Lantz III

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you.

When you pass through the rivers,

They will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

You will not be burned.

When you walk through the flames,

They will not consume you.

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not fear, I have redeemed you.

Do not fear, for I have called you by name,

And you are mine.

When you walk through the shadows,

I will be with you.

When you walk in the darkness,

I will bring the light of day.

When you fall to your knees,

I will lift you up.

When you feel all alone,

I’ll be there to love you.

(Sung twice:)

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not fear, I have redeemed you.

Do not fear, for I have called you by name,

And you are mine.

Do not fear, for I have called you by name,

And you are mine.

Scripture Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (NRSVUE)

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke, beginning at chapter 3, verse 15.

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “We Trust Our Belovedness”

* Statement of Faith from A Sanctified Art

I believe that the God I see in scripture is a God of love.

I believe that God created me and delights in that creation.

I believe the psalmist who says,
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139)

I believe that, just as God calls Jesus “beloved,”

God extends this same term of endearment to us.

I believe that no matter our earthly challenges,

nothing could strip me of that sacred title.

I could fail every test, miss every goal, drop every ball,

and I would still be God’s beloved.

Therefore, I cling to this promise like a rock in a storm.

I anchor myself with this good news,

because I know where I belong.

I am a child of God.

I am beloved.

I strive to live in that love.

Amen.

* Hymn # 72 PH

“When Jesus Came to Jordan,” Fred Pratt Green

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

When Jesus came to Jordan
To be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon.
But as God's Holy One.

He came to share repentance
With all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence
With which good news begins.

He came to share temptation,
Our utmost woe and loss;
For us and our salvation
To die upon the cross.

So when the Dove descended
On him, the Holy One,
The hidden years had ended,
The age of grace begun.

Prayers of the People   

The Lord’s Prayer   

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

Prayer Response # 489 W & R

“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying,” Ken Medema

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Send us love, send us power, send us grace.

Call for Offering

* Doxology # 48 W & R (verse 1)

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

(Public Domain)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

* Prayer of Dedication

* Hymn #308 PH

“O Sing a Song of Bethlehem”

(Public Domain)

O sing a song of Bethlehem,
Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them
From angels in the air:
The light that shone on Bethlehem
Fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth
The angels sing alway.

O sing a song of Nazareth,
Of sunny days of joy,
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath,
And of the sinless Boy;
For now the flowers of Nazareth
In every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear Name
On all the winds that blow.

O sing a song of Galilee,
Of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him who walked upon the sea
And bade the waves be still:
For though, like waves on Galilee,
Dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s word,
Falls peace upon the soul.

O sing a song of Calvary,
Its glory and dismay;
Of Him who hung upon the tree,
And took our sins away:
For He who died on Calvary
Is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored,
Is mighty now to save.

* Benediction

Family of faith,

as you leave this place,

you go into a weary world—

so speak tenderly.

Do the good that is yours to do.

Choose connection.

Hold onto hope.

And remember

that Christ took on flesh for you.

You are God’s beloved.

So go rejoicing.

Thanks be to God!

Amen.

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Here I Am, Lord,” Joel Raney

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal

Words for Worship taken and/ or adapted from How Does a Weary World Rejoice, Words for Worship Advent-Baptism of Christ Sunday, Rev. Sara (Are) Speed, A Sanctified Art, 2023.