Opening Songs: "I Know Whom I Have Believed"
and "The River" (Music Team)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3
Hymnal #398: “I Come to the Garden Alone” (Music Team)
Offering & Response: Hymnal #572: “Praise God!”
Prayers of God’s Children / The Lord's Prayer
Hymnal #313: “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" (Music Team)
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-11
Message: “Water and Blood and Spirit”
Pastor Stanley also shared: John 1:28-34, John 4:13-14,
John 3:1-8, Mark 16:16, Acts 8:36-39 and Rev. 7:9-14
Hymnal #386: "Lord Jesus I Long to Be Perfectly Whole"
End of service
Our service this week focused on Baptism, please note . . .
In the early church of Paul's day, immersion was the usual form of baptism, that is, new Christians were completely 'buried" in water. They understood baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water symbolized resurrection to a new life with Christ. If we think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin. We can consciously choose to treat desires and temptations of the old nature as if they were dead. Then we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Jesus. Amen! Also note: after our service, we all went to Luscher Park where Jeannette Fairbanks was baptized. It was great that her extended family was there as well.
Congratulations Jeannette!