New Richmond United Methodist Church
January 12, 2025 - Pastor Harry Zurasky
Feast of the Baptism of our Lord
Prelude Becky
Welcome, Announcements & God Sightings
Pastor Harry
Preparing Our Spirit Choir
Rejoyce, Ye Pure in Heart, page 160 5th vs.
Opening Unison Prayer (please stand) Eternal Heavenly Father, today we recall the baptism of Jesus. You revealed him to be your Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Keep al who are born of water and the Spirit faithful to their calling as your people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. Alleluia Amen.
Opening Praise - Page 393 Spirit of the Living God
Responsive Reading:
Leader: When we pass through the cleansing water of baptism and wade into the troubled waters of our lives, God declares:
People: I will be with you.
Leader: When we go through the fires that refine us and the fires that threaten our livelihoods, God declares:
People: I will be with you.
Leader: Even when we travel to the far corners of the earth or down into the depths of our souls, God declares:
People: I will be with you.
Leader: So come, let us worship God whose love never fails, whose presence never leaves, whose mercies never end.
All: Praise be to God who, in the form of Jesus, waded into the waters of baptism to prove His love and solidarity with us! To your glory, Amen.
Opening Praise Page 420
Breathe on Me Breath of of God
remain standing
Choral Anthem Amid The Cold of Winter
Scripture Lesson Acts: 8:14 - 17 Pastor Harry
Luke 3:15 - 17, 21 - 22
Message Pastor Harry
Message Pastor Harry
Response to the Message Page 347 Spirit Song
remain standing
Joys & Concerns & Lords's Prayer Pastor Harry
Offering, Offertory and Doxology Pastor Harry
Congregational Closing Song
Go Now and Pass It On
remain standing - see green handout in pew
Closing Blessing (remain standing)
Announcements
Pastor Harry and Ann are on vacation Jan 15th through the 22nd. John Arthur is our guest speaker on Jan 19th and 26th.
Thank you to Laurie, Joyce, Linda, Heather, Doug and Judy for undecorating the church yesterday.
Today is Friendship Sunday - there are refreshments and fellowship downstairs after the service.
Prayers for our neighbors: Bill and Judy Becky's friend, Dorthy, Colton McCurdy, Wayne Rogers, Vickie Tomer, Michelle and Mark Feely, Linda's sister, the Wanda Proper family, Betty Tomer, Beverly Nutter, Carl's Sister, Joyce's sister, Mary, the Gary Zurasky family, Dorothy, Charlies and Doris Beck, the Kim Turner family, Vivian West, Susie Flint, Ron Judy's Cousn, The Barb Flint family, Gail Fees, Linda, Ann's sister, Tammy Keeno, Finley Metzler, Don Smock, Jonathan Young and Hunter, Bruce, Becky's brother, Ken & Susie's son, John's co-worker, Susie Flint's brother, Betty Danforth Stephanie McCarl Farrell, Lenny's neighbor, Deb Parkin, Linda's brother in law, Trey - Gail Fees friend, Alex Longberry, Kade, Bev and jason Peterman, John Arthur's brother Bob, Food For Thought, the Ukraine War, Isreali War, Hurricane Relief and the homeless and hungry in our community.
We livestream the worship service to Facebook on Sunday's
Pastor Harry's contact info is 814 671-8310 and Ann's is 814 673-2302
Email: hzurasky123@gmail.com
Our wi-fi password is: church-has-wifi
Communion is the 2nd Sun of every month
Our home mission offering is the 3rd Sun of the month
Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant
Introduction
All standing in body and/or spirit.
Sisters and brothers in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God's Spirit has been poured out upon the water,
water poured over and immersing us,
water that flows freely for all who will receive it,
water from the streams of God's saving power and justice,
water that brings hope to all who thirst for righteousness,
water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and offers new birth.
Today we come to the waters,
to renew our commitments
in each other's presence
to Christ who raised us,
the Spirit who has birthed us,
and the Creator who is making all things new.
Renunciation of sin and Profession of Faith
And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?
We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
Reject the evil powers of this world,
and repent of our sin!
Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?
We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, his body on earth?
We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, put our whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as our Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races!
Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?
We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world.
Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church as we put our trust in God, the Father Almighty, in Jesus Christ, his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
Thanksgiving Over the Water
The Spirit of the Lord is with us.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Let us pray.
Almighty God, the live you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die.
Your justice never fails.
Your mercy is everlasting.
Your healing river flows.
Your Spirit blows where you will.
We cannot stop you, God!
But sometimes we try.
we try to block the flow,
we redirect the winds of the Spirit,
or we walk so far away from the life-giving Stream
that we do not hear its sound,
and we forget its power.
We parch ourselves.
We are dry and thirsty, O God.
Come, refresh us!
The pastor offers gestures of calling upon the Holy Spirit to come upon the people and the water. The people are invited to offer the same gesture as they respond.
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon these waters.
Come upon these waters.
Let these waters be on us drops of your mercy.
Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.
Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus.
Let these waters make us long for your coming reign.
Most Holy God, Abba, Father!
Glory to you!
Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord!
Glory to you!
Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness!
Glory to you!
Eternal God, One in Three and Three and One!
All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!
All who are baptized and have renewed their vows are invited to come to the front to use the water as a sign of refreshing. As each uses the water, another says to her or him:
Remember that you are baptized and rejoice!
New Richmond United Methodist Church
29776 PA-77
Guys Mills, PA. 16327
