WORSHIP RESOURCES
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Baptism of the Lord (Ordinary Time)
Acts 19:1-7
Covenant with God and Community
Additional Scriptures
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Mark 1:4-11; Doctrine and Covenants 164:3a-b
Prelude
Welcoming Hymn
“God Who Cares for All Creation”
CCS 14
Sing this in a three-part round OR add keyboard accompaniment found at
CCS 198 to sing as a congregational hymn.
OR “O for a World” CCS 379
Welcome, Joys, and Concerns
Call to Worship
The Call to Worship is a call to be our authentic selves as we stand before God and with each other. We are called to be the light, to be baptized with and sustained by the Holy Spirit. We try to deceive nobody, but stand together, vulnerable, speaking the name of Jesus the Christ to separate light from the darkness.
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-5
Opening Hymn
“All Creatures of Our God and King” CCS 98
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Hevenu shalom alaychem/La paz esté con nosotros” CCS 311
Rehearse the Spanish and/or Hebrew pronunciation first. To begin, sing at a very slow pace. Repeat the song several times, increasing the speed each time.
Invocation
Response
Dwelling in the Word: Acts 19:1-7
- As you listen to the scripture, what is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impresses on you? Meditate in silence.
- Listen to the scripture again. What do you feel? What specific situation in your life today relates to what you heard? Write down a prayer or pray quietly in silence.
- Listen to the scripture for the last time. What is God’s personal invitation to you from the scripture passage? During the silence, write down what the Lord may be saying to you or offer a prayer of thanks, or simply rest quietly in the Spirit’s presence.
Sharing in the Spoken Word
Based on Acts 19: 1-7
Prayer for Peace
Light the Peace Candle.
Reading Readers can be in the room or online participants.
Reader 1: I know what it’s like to stumble in the dark.
Reader 2: I know what it’s like to be invisible.
Reader 3: I know what it’s like to be unforgiven.
Presider: Who will care? Who will change themselves so they can change the world?
Reader 1: I stumble in the dark. I’ve learned to be ashamed of who I am. Where do I belong?
Reader 2: I’m invisible. I’ve learned to slink away. Where do I belong?
Reader 3: I won’t be forgiven. I know my need is too much for people. Where do I belong?
Congregation: Is there hope? Is hope real?
Presider: Light illuminates the dark. Light makes us visible. The Son forgives the unforgivable. The dream is real. That you don’t matter is a lie.
Congregation: We stand with you. We will not turn away. You are at home here.
We Sing Our Peace Prayer
“For Everyone Born"
CCS 285
OR “We Meet as Friends at Table"
CCS 532
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Communion Scripture: Mark 14:12-26
Communion Talk
Preparation for Communion
“In the Singing”
CCS 519
OR “I Come with Joy, a Child of God"
CCS 533
Invitation to Communion
All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others might have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.
Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine
For guidelines on the Lord’s Supper, including online participation, go to CofChrist.org/our-ministry-tools.
Disciples’ Generous Response
Generosity Hymn
“Open My Heart”
CCS 171
OR “Teach Me, God, to Wonder”
CCS 176
Statement
We are committed to being a cornerstone of peace. Giving our tithes helps us build the peaceable kingdom in such a way that extends beyond the borders of our own sacred space. It is an expression of love and discipline that promotes the worth of all persons and embraces the worth of all creation.
During this time of Disciples’ Generous Response, we focus on aligning our heart with God’s heart. Our offerings are more than meeting budgets or funding mission. We can tangibly express our gratitude to God through our offerings, who is the giver of all.
Oblation
The first Sunday of the month focuses on the Disciples’ Generous Response on Abolish Poverty, End Suffering, which includes oblation ministry.
As we share our mission tithes either by placing money in the plates or through eTithing, use this time to thank God for the many gifts received in life. Our hearts grow aligned with God’s when we gratefully receive and faithfully respond by living Christ’s mission.
If your congregation is meeting online, remind participants they can give through CofChrist.org/give or through eTithing at eTithing.org (consider showing these URLs on screen).
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Closing Hymn
“Make Us, O God, a Church That Shares"
CCS 657
OR “Your Cause Be Mine”
CCS 639
OR “Bwana Awabariki/May God Grant You a Blessing”
CCS 660
Sing several times. Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
Benediction
Sending Forth
Doctrine and Covenants 164:3a-b
Postlude
SERMON AND CLASS HELPS
Year B—Letters
First Sunday after the Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord (Ordinary Time)
Acts 19:1–7
Exploring the Scripture
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? From today’s text, we discover the importance of the Holy Spirit in disciples’ lives. We learn the gift of the Holy Spirit helps us live as disciples every day. Paul illustrates this by talking about baptism, laying on of hands, and speaking in tongues.
Our story takes place in Ephesus, a Greek city in ancient Asia Minor (now in Turkey). Ephesus was one of the best places in ancient times to meet people! Ephesus was one of the four major cities and the main trading center in the whole of Asia Minor.
To better understand what was happening, we need to read the preceding verses (Acts 18:24–28). There we meet Apollos, a North African from Alexandra (now Egypt), one of the largest Jewish communities in the ancient world. Luke, the writer of Acts, introduces us to Apollos, “an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John” (vv. 24–25).
Apollos and his friends meet Priscilla and Aquila, wife and husband, at the synagogue. They help these new friends develop their understanding of the Way of God. They help them see the big picture of God’s mission through Jesus and how the Holy Spirit is critical in this work. Apollos then leaves to go to another city, but his friends stay in Ephesus.
Now Paul, who is on his third missionary journey, comes to Ephesus. He encounters a dozen of Apollos’ friends. Paul is surprised they had not heard of the Holy Spirit, so he baptizes and lays his hands on them to receive the Spirit. They then spoke in tongues and prophesied. In Greek culture at that time, they believed it was necessary to visit a shrine once a year to allow a good spirit to be within you. Speaking in tongues was proof that one was filled with a good spirit. Paul proclaims the Holy Spirit is available for everyone and is needed to understand what God is doing.
Rather than interpret this text to define baptism and under whose name one should be baptized, we should elevate the importance of baptism as an essential step in one’s life as a disciple as a means of repentance and radical change of focus. We also celebrate the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to speak and act in new ways to live the life we have chosen.
What does it mean for us to be a disciple of Jesus today? We can achieve far more than we can imagine or dream is possible. We can say we need the Holy Spirit to help form us spiritually as we live Christ’s mission. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us and enables us to transform the world.
Central Ideas
- The Holy Spirit is critical for us as we follow Jesus Christ.
- Baptism is an essential step in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
- The gift of the Holy Spirit helps us live the radical life of the disciple.
- Through spiritual formation we are shaped to engage in Christ’s mission.
- The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us.
Questions for the Speaker
- What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- In what ways has your baptism shaped your life?
- How have you seen the Holy Spirit help shape you or your congregation so you can better understand and engage in Christ’s mission?
- Where has the Holy Spirit popped up in your neighborhood? Who will be the Priscilla and Aquilas who will help share with new friends they meet?
SACRED SPACE: A RESOURCE FOR SMALL-GROUP MINISTRY
Year B Letters
First Sunday after Epiphany,
Baptism of the Lord
Acts 19:1–7 NRSVUE
Gathering
Welcome
The season after Epiphany includes the weeks between Epiphany and Transfiguration Sunday. This first Sunday after Epiphany is the Sunday when the Baptism of the Lord is observed.
Prayer for Peace
Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.
God of liberation, we come before you thankful, so very grateful for the birth and baptism of Jesus. Just as you called Jesus by name into the waters of baptism, you call each of us, too. From north, south, east, and west, all around the world you call your beloved.
And in being called, we are freed to live fully into your divine vision of peace for the world. The task is great, and our community is, too. Together we ache for peace in every corner of our world. Empower us to go, to act, knowing that you will be with us as we strive for peace in our schools, neighborhoods, and communities. May we be bold, demanding peace in places we previously thought impossible, knowing you already are in those places, waiting for us. We pray for peace, and now we work for peace. In the name of Jesus, our example of peace. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Walking in the Light
During Epiphany and the season after Epiphany, our spiritual practice will be Walking in the Light. Take a few moments to quiet yourself. When you feel a sense of calm, begin by imagining you are walking on a path of light. As we pray, visualize the light surrounding you as you walk. As the prayer continues, offer the gift of light to those close to you, to friends and acquaintances, to those you dislike or with whom you are in conflict, and to your community at-large.
As you hear each sentence, offer the gift of light to those mentioned.
May my loved ones be embraced in God’s light (pause).
May my family walk in the light of Christ (pause).
May my friend receive the gift of love and light (pause).
May my acquaintances sense the presence of light through our interactions (pause).
May the one with whom I am in conflict be surrounded by the light of Christ (pause).
May my community be blessed by the eternal light of God’s love and grace (pause).
Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayer invite people to share the thoughts, emotions, or images they experienced through Walking in the Light.
Sharing Around the Table
Acts 19:1–7 NRSVUE
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.
Apollos was a North African from Alexandra (now Egypt). He spoke with and taught about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. Apollos and his friends met Priscilla and Aquila, wife and husband, at the synagogue. They helped these new friends develop their understanding of God’s mission through Jesus. Apollos then went to another city, but his friends stayed in Ephesus.
Paul then came to Ephesus and encountered a dozen of Apollos’s friends. Paul was surprised that they had not heard of the Holy Spirit, so he baptized them and laid his hands on them to receive the Spirit. They then spoke in tongues and prophesied. In the Greek culture at that time, there was the belief that it was necessary to visit a shrine once a year, which would allow a good spirit to be within you. Speaking in tongues was proof that one was filled with a good spirit. Paul proclaimed the Holy Spirit was available for everyone and was needed for understanding what God was doing.
The importance of this passage is that baptism is an essential step in one’s life as a disciple. It is a means of repentance and signifies a radical change of focus in one’s life. We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to speak and act in new ways to live the life we have chosen.
Questions
- What was most significant about your baptism or confirmation?
- As you align yourself more closely with Jesus, the peaceful One, what changes are occurring in your life?
- How has the presence of the Holy Spirit impacted your life?
Sending
Generosity Statement
Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.
—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a
The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.
The offering prayer for Epiphany is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:
Revealing God, may we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen.
Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn
Community of Christ Sings 154, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come”
Closing Prayer
Optional Additions Depending on Group
- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
- Thoughts for Children