First Sunday after Epiphany
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
Thus says the Lord,
he who created you, Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
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 baptised into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Saviour; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Luke.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for 1st Sunday after Epiphany 2025
Take my lips O Lord and speak through them this day. Take our minds O Lord and think through them this day. Take our hearts O Lord and love through them this day. <Amen>
I have been asked some interesting questions recently and here is one I would like to dwell upon today. “Why do you often say brothers and sisters when you talking to people in your sermons?” <PAUSE>
That’s a really great question and particularly in light of today’s gospel, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, which is all about Jesus and people being baptised.
You see, each of us belongs to the same family of Jesus, in fact that we are brothers and sisters of Jesus? Listen to the words of Paul as he writes to the Hebrews, “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” (Heb 2:11).
Today we hear about the Baptism of Our Lord. Baptism is the Sacrament on which our faith is founded and which grafts us as a living member into the family of Christ.
Yet a question stirs within many people these days: “Is Baptism really necessary to live as Christians and follow Jesus?”
Well, let me quote from St Paul again, “in Baptism, we were buried with Jesus into death, so that as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4).
Baptism is an act that touches the depths of our existence. A baptised child and an unbaptised child are not the same. A person who is baptised and a person who is not baptised are not the same.
We, by Baptism, are immersed in that inexhaustible source of life which is the death and resurrection of Jesus, the greatest act of love in all of history; and thanks to this love we can live a new life, no longer at the mercy of evil and of death, but in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters.
Let us NEVER forget this great gift of baptism.
Baptism unites us as the family of Christ - we become brothers and sisters in Christ.
Brothers and sisters - Baptism changes us.
Brothers and sisters - Baptism gives us a new and glorious hope.
Brothers and sisters - Baptism empowers us to bring God’s redeeming love to all.
Brothers and sisters - Baptism gives us a share in the Church’s mission to the world. As we reflect upon the Baptism of the Lord today, let us ask him to renew in us the grace of our own baptism and to make us, with all our brothers and sisters, true children of God and living members of his body.
By our baptism we are all, in a special way, called and loved, and I pray that we will all be the reflection of Jesus, which will enlighten this world.
On this day, as we remember the Baptism of Jesus, let us ponder about what the gift of our baptism means for us.
Are we using this amazing gift from God to transform lives?
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our plea is, “hear our prayer”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Mighty God, Lord of life, we thank You for the moments which have pointed towards the mystery of baptism: especially Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, when you opened the door of heaven to proclaim him to be Your beloved son and sent the Holy Spirit down upon him. Amen.
<Longer pause for personal reflection>
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Everlasting God we raise before you all baptised Christians throughout the world. We pray that we all may be given the grace, courage and perseverance to faithfully keep the promises that we have made.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God we pray for peace and integrity in all negotiations in international relations. Hear the cries of the people of the world who have never known peace; bring healing to those suffering from the violence of terrorism and comfort those mourning the dead.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we give thanks for the presence of Christ in our homes and in our lives. Guide us in all our relationships with family and neighbours, and bless those who have guided and enriched our own lives.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit. May their pain be eased and may they find the strength to endure. Comfort them with Your presence and help them to hold on to the knowledge that Your son understood the truth of human suffering.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, we pray for those who are dying and those who have already completed their life here on earth; may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, as we remember our re-birth in Christ, remind us of the things that are truly important and worthwhile. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, and one day at a time.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
