INTRODUCTION

In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany, Jesus fulfills all righteousness and becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice and be a light to the nations. In the waters of baptism we too are washed by the Word, anointed by the Spirit, and named God’s beloved children. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who are oppressed or in need of God’s healing.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

PRELUDE    Baptized in Water

* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity,   one God, the Creator of heaven and earth,

the Word who spoke life into being, the Wind stirring the waters. Amen.

Let us turn in confession to the one who knows us completely.

Mighty God, lover of justice, you call us to life in community, but we have served our own interests at the expense of our neighbors. We have sown deceit where honesty was needed. We say the right words, but our hearts are far from you. Turn us to seek your face. Knit us together and give us the mind of Christ, that we may do justice, love mercy,

and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

The former things have passed away, and new things God now declares:

Like a spring of water that never fails, God covers you in the righteousness of Christ, and forgives your sin in   Jesus’ name. May the Spirit give you strength to live for others, and bless you with the gift of peace.

Amen.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God our Father, at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful to their calling to be your daughters and sons, and empower us all with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

* GATHERING SONG   Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized (ELW 304)

FIRST READING: Isaiah 42:1-9

 1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

  my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

 I have put my spirit upon him;

  he will bring forth justice to the nations.

 2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice

  or make it heard in the street;

 3 a bruised reed he will not break,

  and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

  he will faithfully bring forth justice.

 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed

  until he has established justice in the earth,

  and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

 5 Thus says God, the LORD,

  who created the heavens and stretched them out,

  who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

 who gives breath to the people upon it

  and spirit to those who walk in it:

 6 I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;

  I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

 I have given you as a covenant to the people,

  a light to the nations,

  7 to open the eyes that are blind,

 to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

  from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 8 I am the LORD; that is my name;

  my glory I give to no other,

  nor my praise to idols.

 9 See, the former things have come to pass,

  and new things I now declare;

 before they spring forth,

  I tell you of them.

PSALM: Psalm 29

 1 Ascribe to the | LORD, you gods,

  ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory | due God’s name;

  worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of | glory thunders;

  the LORD is upon the | mighty waters.

 4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice;

  the voice of the LORD is a | voice of splendor. 

 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the | cedar trees;

  the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

 6 the LORD makes Lebanon skip | like a calf,

  and Mount Hermon like a | young wild ox.

 7 The voice | of the LORD

  bursts forth in | lightning flashes.

 8 The voice of the LORD | shakes the wilderness;

  the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

 9 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare.

  And in the temple of the LORD all are | crying, “Glory!”

 10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood;

  the LORD sits enthroned as king forevermore.

 11 O LORD, give strength | to your people;

  give them, O LORD, the blessings of peace. 

SECOND READING: Acts 10:34-43

34 Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

GOSPEL Matthew 3:13-17

The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

13 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me ” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION Pastor Wende Bleam

* HYMN OF THE DAY As with Gladness Men of Old (ELW 302)

* NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,

   the Father, the Almighty,

   maker of heaven and earth,

   of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

   the only Son of God,

   eternally begotten of the Father,

   God from God, Light from Light,

   true God from true God,

   begotten, not made,

   of one Being with the Father;

   through him all things were made.

   For us and for our salvation

       he came down from heaven,

       was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

       and became truly human.

       For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

       he suffered death and was buried.

       On the third day he rose again

       in accordance with the scriptures;

       he ascended into heaven

       and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

       He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

       and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

   who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*

   who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

   who has spoken through the prophets.

   We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

   We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

   We look for the resurrection of the dead,

       and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

As God’s beloved children united in Christ, let us pray for the church, the whole human community, and the well-being of the earth, our home.

Steadfast God, give courage to your servant church. Heal our divisions and unite us in mission. Uphold our lay leaders, missionaries, pastors, and bishops, and all who proclaim hope in a broken world. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Restoring God, cleanse the life-giving waters of rivers, seas, and springs. Create in us an urgent desire to preserve the beauty and bounty of your good creation. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Righteous God, you guide the nations. Reconcile warring enemies and end cycles of violent retribution. Defend the rights of prisoners, detainees, and all who flee from persecution. Sustain international aid workers and peacemakers. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Compassionate God, you care for all in distress. Provide safety and support for those seeking asylum or in need of shelter. Be near to the dying, and comfort all who are grieving or ill. We pray especially for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, The Family of Mary Stagner, Bill and Pam, the family of Tiona, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Derek, Chris, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts.  We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit.  Grant them healing and wholeness. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Loving God, awaken the gifts of the Spirit in this congregation, that we may serve Christ by loving one another, our neighbors, and our enemies. We pray for travelers and those who are homebound. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Promising God, in baptism we die and rise with Christ. We give thanks for those who have gone before us, and we trust that we will join them in your everlasting peace. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Confident that the Holy Spirit receives our prayers and answers us, we commend all for whom we pray to God’s loving-kindness made known to us in Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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,

   but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

   and the power, and the glory,

   forever and ever. Amen.

   

*BLESSING

May the triune God,

who has put a new song in your mouth

and tuned your heart for praise

  bless you now and forever.

Amen.

* SENDING SONG Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (ELW 310)

DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Do justice. Love mercy. Thanks be to God.

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of January by the St. Johns Current Fund.  

Sponsors are needed for the ETERNAL CANDLE for the following months in 2026: January, July, September and December.  The cost is now $27.

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende know.

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  

Our Financial Response  (November) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,263.55

Offering last month        $   4,167.14

Budget required to date (12 months)        $  87,162.60

Total received to date        $  65,130.68

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (12 months)        $   4,800.00

Total received to date        $   4,800.00

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.