January 10th 2021

You may find it helpful to print out this page before the service begins. Scroll to the bottom for the Printer version.

The Youtube Live Link will begin at 10:00am:-      

Click here to join in.

We will be enoying 'Virtual Coffee' after the service.

Please have your device microphone and camera switched on if you want to be seen and heard. Then click here to download the ZOOM software (it's free) put the kettle on and join in.

Sunday 10^th January 2021          Epiphany Season          The Baptism of Christ

Welcome

Leader: Lord, open our lips

All: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise

Leader: Your light springs up for the righteous

All:  And all the peoples have seen your glory.

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
king of the nations,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the earth.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All: Blessed be God for ever.

Jubilate – A Song of Joy

O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth; 
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.

Know that the Lord is God; 
it is he that has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; 
give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, 
and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.

Psalm 100

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Leader: A welcome to our You Tube service and notices.

Please join us for coffee on Zoom immediately after this service (click on the Second link on this service at the top of the page)

Zoom Family Church is at 9.30am via a private link please see our website for how to join.

There will be Messy Church 2.30 pm on January 31st, please contact Liz Collins or Juliette Jago for the Zoom link and to arrange delivery of an activity pack.

Our churches are closed for communal worship until further notice due to the stricter lockdown measures announced by the UK Government this week.

Please remember, if you are entering a church building for any reason,  it is now mandatory to wear a face covering.

Online services will continue

Foodbank – give food donations at local collection points or online donations

To find out how to donate please go to our Foodbank page.

Zoom Home Groups – Wed 8-9.30pm. and Thurs 7pm   Please speak to Rev. Trevor Kemp (after 11.01.21) for details of both groups.

Zoom coffee mornings weekdays 10.30 (link on Virtual Church Hall tab)

Zoom Night Prayer (Compline) 9.00pm Mon-Fri via website

A time for reflection and confession

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.

Reading 1 NRSV

1 Samuel 16.1-3,13

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ 

Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord, sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.  

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed. But the Lord said to Samuel. ‘Do not on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadah, and made him pass before Samuel. He said ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one,’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one. Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these. Samuel said to Jesse, “’Are all of your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him ; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’  He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy; and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one’.  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Song (said together, pausing at the ♦ )

The Spirit of God fills the whole world. 

I will take you from the nations, ♦
and gather you from all the countries.

I will sprinkle clean water upon you, ♦
and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness.

A new heart I will give you, ♦
and put a new spirit within you,

And I will remove from your body the heart of stone ♦
and give you a heart of flesh.

You shall be my people, ♦
and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 36.24-26, 28b

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

The Spirit of God fills the whole world. 

Reading 2   NRSV

John 1.29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

Reflection from the Vicarage

Now let us pray together

Time to pray

Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit:
grant to us, who are born again

by water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. 
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

Believing the promises of God,
as our Saviour taught us, so we 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

Leader: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

All: Let the whole earth tremble before him

Leader: Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is King

All: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

Tell out his salvation from day to day.

All: Let the whole earth tremble before him

Leader: Declare his glory among the nations

And his wonders among all peoples

All: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

Let the whole earth tremble before him

From Psalm 96

All: May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
Amen.

Blessing:

May God the Father,

Who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son

To come among us in great humility,

Open your eyes to look for his coming

Amen

May God the Son,

Give you grace to love in the light of his coming

As redeemer and judge

Amen

May God the Holy Spirit

Free you from sin

And make you holy

and bring you to Eternal life

Amen

And the blessing of God almighty

The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

Be among you and remain with you and all

those you love and pray for today and always.

Amen

All: We go into the world to walk in God’s light

To rejoice in God’s love and to reflect God’s Glory. Amen

Join us for coffee (bring your own) straight after the service via the Zoom link

© Archbishops Council 2000