Epiphany-1 (Yr B) Jan 10, 2021

 

Prelude

“I Come, the Great Redeemer Cries,

To Do Thy Will, O Lord”

George Oldroyd

 

 

 

The Word of God

 

Celebrant         Blessed be the one, holy,                and living God.

People               Glory to God for ever                 and ever.

 

 

 

 

Collect For Purity

 

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

(BCP p.356)

 

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Collect of the Day

 

Celebrant          The Lord be with you.

People               And also with you

Celebrant         Let us pray.

 

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

 

  

 

 

 

A Reading from the Book of Genesis 1:1-5

 

 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

 

The Word of the Lord.

 

People   Thanks be to God

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 29 

 

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *

    worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3  The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

    the God of glory thunders; *

    the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4  The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *

    the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

5  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *

    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6  He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *

    and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7  The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;

    the voice of the Lord shakes the  wilderness; *

    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8  The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *

    and strips the forests bare.

9  And in the temple of the Lord *

     all are crying, “Glory!”

10  The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *

      the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11  The Lord shall give strength to his people; *

      the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

 

 

 

 

 

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7

 

 

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”  They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”  On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—altogether there were about twelve of them.

 

     The Word of the Lord.

 

People    Thanks be to God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrant          The Holy Gospel of Our  Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 1:4-11

 

People        Glory to you,  Lord Christ.

 

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.”

I

 

The Sermon

 

The Epiphany Season is marked by three great events in our Lord’s earthly life.  First is the visit from the Magi, the three kings, when Almighty God placed a star in the East to tell the world that His Son had been born.  This was a special gift to the whole world, not just to the Jewish nation.  The Gentiles were the ones who saw the Star, understood its significance and came to worship the newborn king.  The second great event is the one we hear about today in the Gospel according to St. Mark.  An event of this significance, which began our Lord formal ministry among us, one would think that many verses and much time would be spent on this event, yet St. Mark uses three short verses to convey this event.  The third event is our Lord’s first miracle at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee.  But let us look for a moment at our Lord’s Baptism.  In our baptismal rite, there are many important words said.  “Do you promise to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”  “Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?”  I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  These and many other words are summed up in the words at the end of the Baptismal rite, “We welcome you in to the Household of God…”  There are also significant action that are a part of the Baptism, pouring of water, the sign of the cross placed upon the candidate’s forehead with Holy Oil, and the lighting of a candle.  All of these are a part of the Baptismal rite, but with our Lord’s Baptism, there is no mention about the words said, or the promises made.  There is no mention about godparents, no sign of the cross, no baptismal candle.  Mark relates only two facts concerning our Lord’s Baptism, there was a vision and there was a voice.  The vision was the opening of the heavens.  But there was no mention of golden shafts of light zeroing in on Jesus; there was only the appearance of a bird – a simple dove at that.  Then the voice, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”  A vision and a voice.  “Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens open up and God’s Spirit descended like a dove on him.”  The only place in the entire Bible that God’s Spirit is identified with a dove is at the Baptism of Jesus.  Yet for 2,000 years the descending dove has been the Church’s symbol of the Holy Spirit.  This alone should tell us something about the importance of this vision.  But the vision was God’s very own presence, the immediacy of God presence in the world.  The dove’s vision tells us that God was in the middle of this important event.  And here God is telling Jesus, telling us, telling the world, that this carpenter from Nazareth of Galilee is the Son of God.  Baptism is far more than a religious ritual, it is a sacrament of the Church, an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace.  When a candidate is presented for Baptism, supported by those around them – sponsors, godparents, parents, friends, God is in the midst of them.  How do we know?  Because God has promised to be with us just like He was present at Jesus’ Baptism.  The voice reminds us of the words of Isaiah, when he said, “I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”  It is no easy task to bring forth justice in the world, or to work for an end to human suffering, or to bring peace where there is hatred and discord.  Yet that is the ministry which was given to Jesus by His Heavenly Father; it is also the mission that is laid upon every person who is washed in the waters of Baptism.  Justice does not happen naturally.  Peace is elusive when conflicts of human wills and desires are involved.  Human suffering is easier to ignore because of its pain.  But these are the areas of life that Jesus ministered to, and because we share in His Baptism, we also are called to minister, to do something.  We are to bring healing, reconciliation, and change.  We are to bring an end to injustice and oppression.  We are to care for the hungry and homeless.  We are to work to make peace a reality.  It seems like an overwhelming task.  Yet God accepts us just the way we are – at a time when we are small, helpless, and crying – at a time when we cannot even begin to understand our new life in Christ.  But God tells us that once the waters of baptism have flowed over our head, we are not alone, but God is with us, to help us, to strengthen us, to guide us.  Baptism is about life, because baptism is an entrance into the life of Jesus Christ and into the life of Christ’s Church.  Baptism marks us as God’s own.  Remember the words, “You are marked as Christ’s own forever.”      

 

 

 

Meditation

“What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright”

Franklin Ashdown

 

 

 

The Nicene Creed

(BCP p. 358)

 

We believe in one God

      the Father, the Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,                     

      eternally begotten of the Father,

          God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

 For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate

from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

    For our sake he was crucified

          under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

  On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand

of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father    and the Son.

    With the Father and the Son he is

worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and

   apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

Prayers of the People

 

In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church in Aoteroa,

New Zealand and Polynesia.

 

In the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for Holy Trinity in Cincinnati, St. James in

Zanesville, and St Paul’s in Chillicothe.

 

In our Parish cycle of prayer, we pray for Ruby Webster; Gary, Mary-Anna, and Stephanie Welch; and Carol Williamson.

 

 

 

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

 

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially those on our Parish Prayer List (N), give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

Celebrant      Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

(from A New Zealand Prayer Book, page 560)

 

 

 

The Peace

 

Celebrant          The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People                And also with you

 

 

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Celebrant          As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

 

Our Father in heaven,

              hallowed be your Name,

              your kingdom come,

              your will be done,

                   on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

 as we forgive those

      who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen.

 

 

 

Act of Spiritual Communion

 

Blessed Jesus,

With your faithful people at every altar of your church where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I offer my praise and thanksgiving.  Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.  Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you.  May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and the life to come.  Amen.

 

 

 Blessing

 

 

Dismissal

 

The congregation is dismissed.

 

 

People Thanks be to God.

 

 

 

     Postlude

“Epilogue on ‘As With Gladness’”

William H. Harris

 

 

 

 

 

For today’s announcements, click HERE.

 

To read a copy of the December 17 Vestry Minutes, click HERE

 

———–

 

St. Mark’s Vestry

 

Senior Warden: Gary Welch

Junior Warden: Katherine Wagner

Treasurer: Don Nancarrow

Secretary: Dave Reuter

 

Vestry Members:

Carol Nancarrow, Tracey Swartz

Susan Kendall

Kendall Rubino, Jenna Walch

 

St. Mark’s Staff

Transitional Priest in Charge The Rev. Dr. John Agbaje

Parish Administrator Katherine Wagner

Music Director Donna Larsen

Sexton Douglas Plummer

Webmaster Dave Reuter

 

 

Look for us…

 

On the web:  www.StMarksDayton.org

Facebook:  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio

Instagram:  stmarksdayton

 

 

 

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