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Have you ever felt insufficient, illequipped, incompetent, or outnumbered? Instead of hiding from our weaknesses, this study will help us all to find the Godgiven strength to face our fears and do what God is calling us to do, to see God in a much bigger way, and tap into His power and presence in a fresh way. Leader: Brothers and Sisters, the extravagant love of God has called us together. People: For long before we were even aware of it, God knew us. He had already chosen us to be part of His family – children of God! Leader: And having chosen us, He called us; and having called us, He justified us; and having justified us, He gave us His glory! People: What extravagant love is this! So come, let’s worship God together! Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom 508 WORDS: Anders Frostenson, 1960; trans. by Fred Haan, 1972 (Heb. 11) 1. Faith, while trees are still in blossom, plans the picking of the fruit; © Ansgar Film & Bokproduktion trans. © 1976 Hope Publishing Co. faith can feel the thrill of harvest when the buds begin to sprout. 2. Long before the dawn is breaking, faith anticipates the sun. Faith is eager for the daylight, for the work that must be done. 3. Long before the rains were coming, Noah went and build an ark. Abraham, the lonely migrant, saw the light beyond the dark. 4. Faith, uplifted, tamed the water of the undivided sea, and the people of the Hebrews found the path that made them free. 5. Faith believes that God is faithful: God will be what God will be! Faith accepts the call, responding, “I am willing, Lord, send me.” God our Father, in Your love You welcome us as Your children, through Your care You have shaped the universe, with Your mercy You hear our prayers. Hear us, Your children, as we come before You to worship. Accept these prayers, accept our worship, accept us, through Your love. Amen. Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674; adapt. by Gilbert H. Vieira, 1978 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! 94 Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! I present Kevin O’Brien Jr. for baptism. I present Carolyn Tamayo who comes to this community from another congregation. To all candidates Pastor: On behalf of the whole church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? Candidate: I do. Pastor: Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in this grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord? Candidate: I do. To Parents and Sponsors Pastor: Parents, this child is a gift from God. You do not own your child, God does. God has redeemed God’s children through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and has given us new birth in baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor: This is indeed God’s child, but God has entrusted you to raise him. When you consider all that you will invest in future years to raise this child, remember that the most important investment will be in his faith. Pastor: Will you nurture your child in Christ’s holy church, that by your teaching and example he may be guided to accept God’s grace for himself, to profess his faith openly, and to lead a Christian life? Parents and Sponsors: We will. To those becoming members Pastor: According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s witness in the world? Candidate: I will. Pastor: As members of Christ’s universal church, will you be loyal to Christ through the United Methodist Church and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries? Candidate: I will. To the Congregation Pastor: Do you as Christ’s body, the church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ? Congregation: We do. Pastor: Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include these persons now before you in your care? Congregation: With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life. Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory. Pastor: Kevin, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Congregation: Amen. Pastor: Carolyn, the Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Pastor: Members of the household of God, I commend these persons to your love and care. Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love. Congregation: We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the United Methodist Church, Congregation: we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Hear my prayer and touch my heart for you are God Hear my prayer and touch my heart For you are God THE LORD’S PRAYER 895 FROM THE RITUAL OF THE FORMER METHODIST CHURCH Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Freely, Freely WORDS: Carol Owens, 1972 (Mt. 10:8; 28:18-20) 1. God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name, I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name, © 1972 Communiqué Music, Inc. 389 and in Jesus’ name I come to you, to share his love as he told me to. Refrain He said, “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name, and because you believe, others will know that I live.” 2. All power is given in Jesus’ name, in earth and heaven in Jesus’ name, and in Jesus’ name I come to you, to share his power as he told me to. Refrain He said, “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name, and because you believe, others will know that I live.” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. -Individual DNA -Unique fingerprints -Issued Identifiers – name, Social Security #, phone numbers, addresses -Cultural Classifications – nationality, race, religion, gender -Societal Characterizations– family, career, position, title -Identity by Posessions– homes, cars, country clubs, adult toys, bank accounts -Inner Identity– natural gifts, strengths, capabilities, intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual character -Sensory Preference– taste, touch, smell, sight Before we belonged to anyone else, before we had any other identity, we belonged to God. Hate sin Strive for Righteousness Love others Praise and Thanksgiving Be to God 604 WORDS: H. Francis Yardley, 1982 (Lk. 3:21-22) 1. Praise and thanksgiving be to God our maker, source of all blessing, prodigal creator. © 1982 H. Francis Yardley Baptized and made your own, now we come before you, while we adore you. 2. Not our own holiness nor that we have striven brings us the peace which you, O Christ, have given. Baptized and set apart, strengthen us, O Savior, with grace and favor. 3. Come, Holy Spirit, come in visitation; you are the truth, our hope, our salvation. Baptize with joy and power, give, O Dove descending, life never ending. 4. Praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one Lord, one faith, one source of every merit. Here now renew your church through this water given; grant peace from heaven. Pass It On WORDS: Kurt Kaiser, 1969 572 1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing. © 1969 Communiqué Music, Inc. That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it; you spread his love to everyone; you want to pass it on.