The Baptism of Christ: The Axe of Grace

Sunday, January 11, 2026
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 meet John the Baptist this morning, prelude to the moment of Jesus’ baptism. But let’s not bypass John too quickly. His words on repentance make us uneasy; he seems to preach a vengeful, wrathful God. What do we make of his fiery words? What is repentance, anyway?

Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM in our beautiful sanctuary at 200 East Main Street, Endicott. Or, you can join our livestream by clicking on the Youtube Video right here. We would love to walk the Advent journey together.

The Baptism of Christ

The Axe of Grace

Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 3:1-17

Union Presbyterian Church 

January 11, 2026 

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

Liturgist: Barbara Ann Dailey Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube 

Welcome  

Announcements          Barbara Ann Dailey

Prelude Chris Bartlette

“Give Me Jesus,” J.B. Taylor

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

* Call to Worship

In the beginning, darkness covered the deep,

and God said, “Let there be light!”

The voice of the Lord is over the waters!

Do not fear, says the Lord, for I am with you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters!

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, a voice said:

You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters!

* Hymn # 375

“Shall We Gather at the River?”

(Public Domain)

Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Soon we’ll reach the shining river;
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

* Call to New Life

Hear the voice of the one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord!

Rejoice, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (unison)

Merciful God, in baptism you promise forgiveness and new life, making us part of the body of Christ. We confess that we remain preoccupied with ourselves, separated from one another. We cling to destructive habits, hold grudges, and show reluctance to welcome one another. We allow the past to hold us captive.

~silence~

And we pray,

In your loving-kindness, have mercy on us, and free us from our waywardness. Fulfill the promises of our baptism so that we may rise to new life, and live together in grace.

* Words of Assurance

As a voice from heaven said to Jesus, so, in Christ, God speaks to us:

You are my child, my beloved; with you I am well-pleased.

In the name of Christ our hearts are healed, and we are made whole.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

The voice of the Lord is over the waters:

God’s voice is the sound of peace.

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you.

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

Scripture Isaiah 2:1-5

Isaiah shares God’s dream for God’s people: a time of perfect peace and contentment.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, beginning at chapter 2, verse 5.

The word that Isaiah, son of Amoz, envisioned about Judah and Jerusalem.

And it will be in coming days,

the mountain of God’s home

shall be the highest of the mountains,

and shall be elevated above the hills,

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

“Let us go and ascend the mountain of the Holy One of Sinai,

to the home of the God of Jacob [of the line of Rebekah];

that God may teach us God’s ways

and that we may walk God’s paths.”

God shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide justly for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation;

neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob [line of Rebekah]

come, let us walk

in the light of the Holy One of Old!

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube

Music: Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways (Hymn # 164)

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Anthem Choir

“Prepare the Way,” Michael Avolicino

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Prepare the way, the way of the Lord.

Make straight every path, make smooth every road.

Every valley will rise, every mountain made low,

The salvation of God forever made known.

He’ll bring down the proud, how the mighty will fall.

With one breath from God they are nothing at all.

He will lift up the lowly, give power to the weak,

And all brokenhearted, the comfort they seek.

Prepare the way, the way of the Lord.

Make straight every path, make smooth every road.

Every valley will rise, every mountain made low,

The salvation of God forever made known.

Here is your God; he is coming to save,

To hold in his arms all those lost and afraid.

He’ll seek out the hopeless, the lame and the poor.

The ones who have nothing will suffer no more.

Prepare the way, the way of the Lord.

Make straight every path, make smooth every road.

Every valley will rise, every mountain made low,

The salvation of God forever made known.

Scripture Matthew 3:1-17

In those days John the Baptist appeared preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the realm of the heavens is near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Most High;
    make God’s paths straight.’

Now John had for his clothing camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the women and men of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and the whole region of the Jordan and they were baptized in the River Jordan by him, confessing their sins.

Now when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“Indeed, I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me is coming one more powerful than I; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John forbade him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it go now; for this way is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John let it go. Now when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God, she descended like a dove, and came upon him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon “The Axe of Mercy”

* Affirmation of Faith from the Iona Community, Scotland

We believe in God above us,

maker and sustainer of all life,

of sun and moon, of water and earth, of all God’s children.

We believe in God beside us,

Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh,

born of a woman’s womb, servant of the poor.

He was tortured and nailed to a tree.

A man of sorrows, he died forsaken.

He descended into the earth to the place of death.

On the third day he rose from the tomb.

He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present,

and his kingdom will come on earth.

We believe in God within us,

the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire,

life-giving breath of the church,

Spirit of healing and forgiveness,

source of resurrection and of life everlasting.

Amen. 

* Hymn # 377

“I Want to Walk as the Child of the Light,” Kathleen Thomerson

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

I want to walk as a child of the light.

I want to follow Jesus.

God set the stars to give light to the world.

The star of my life is Jesus.

In him there is no darkness at all.

The night and the day are both alike.

The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

I want to see the brightness of God.

I want to look at Jesus.

Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,

And show me the way to the Father.

In him there is no darkness at all.

The night and the day are both alike.

The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

I’m looking for the coming of Christ.

I want to be with Jesus.

When we have run with patience the race,

We shall know the joy of Jesus.

In him there is no darkness at all.

The night and the day are both alike.

The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

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 # 144 (verse 4) “In the Bleak Midwinter” (Public Domain)

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

Call for Offering     

* Doxology # 584 “Glory, Glory, Glory”

Glory, glory, glory,

Glory be to God on high!

Glory, glory, glory,

Glory be to God on high!

And on earth peace to all people

In whom God is well pleased.

And on earth peace to all people

In whom God is well pleased.

* Dedication of Offering 

* Hymn # 301

“Let Us Build a House,” Marty Haugen

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.     

Let us build a house where love can dwell

And all can safely live,

A place where saints and children tell

How hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

Rock of faith and vault of grace;

Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome;

All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak,

And words are strong and true,

Where all God’s children dare to seek

To dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness

And as symbol of God’s grace;

Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome, all are welcome;

All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where love is found

In water, wine, and wheat;

A banquet hall on holy ground

Where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,

Is revealed in time and space;

As we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome;

All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where hands will reach

Beyond the wood and stone

To heal and strengthen, serve and teach,

And live the Word they’ve known.

Here the outcast and the stranger

Bear the image of God’s face;

Let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome, all are welcome;

All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named,

Their songs and visions heard

And loved and treasured, taught and claimed

As words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,

Prayers of faith and songs of grace;

Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome, all are welcome;

All are welcome in this place.

* Benediction 

Postlude Chris Bartlette

“Shine, Jesus, Shine,” Mark Hayes

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

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

Scripture Translations are from A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise noted.

Liturgy taken and/or adapted from the PCUSA Book of Common Worship (2018).

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The Baptism of Christ: The Axe of Grace