Opening litany for "Baptism of our Lord" Sunday

Opening Hymn: Morning has Broken

Pastor: We gather as God's community around the waters of new life. The word of God comes to us through the prophet Ezekiel: "I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean."

Congregation: "I will give you a new heart. I will put my spirit within you. You shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God."

Pastor: In the sacrament of Holy Baptism we are set free from the power of sin and death and are joined to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as God's faithful people have always gathered in the name of God, we gather at the waters of life and remember the strong name of our God who creates life, Jesus who calls us to new life, and the Holy Spirit who sustains life! Here we are reborn children of God and welcomed into the family of believers, the Body of Christ, the church.

Congregation: Through baptism, we are ushered into the family of God where we find forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life.

Pastor: You are all called to a life of active grace by participating as sojourners at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church where we are inspired by God’s love to Praise, Nurture and Serve. As we gather in this community we come together to Praise God in worship, song and prayer, delight in the diversity of all of God’s children, support one another through the love of Christ, gather to grow through God’s grace and reach out, serve, and incite miracles. Will you live out these signs of the Kingdom in your life? If so, please respond, "We will!"   (Note: this is our church's mission statement followed by our action statements and you should modify this for your own setting)

Congregation: "We will!" And we give thanks for the gift of new life. We welcome one another and commit ourselves to growing in faith with each other. After Jesus was baptized, as he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Child, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life." Today, God reminds us of that claim on our lives as the Children of God. We have been marked by love and set apart for a life of service in this world. We pledge ourselves to be faithful friends and fellow sojourners as we journey together in this adventure called life.

Pastor: Let us remember our promise to one another

Congregation: We welcome you to the Lord’s family; we receive you as fellow members of the Body of Christ and worker with us in the Kingdom of God. We are the collective voice of God saying, you are our sisters and brothers, whom we love; with you we are well pleased, and with you we will journey through life together in Christ. We will always welcome you as a fellow sojourner as we live out God’s calling for our lives through our combined ministries at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.  

Worship Song

I was there to Hear Your Borning Cry