BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260502T004834UTC-6559VdfiLV@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260502T004834Z DESCRIPTION:We are a small church\, but big on Grace. We gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns\, hearing readings from the bibl e\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at th e Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to worship with us\, we would be honored b y your presence.\nIntroduction\nIn the waters of the Jordan\, Jesus is rev ealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany\, Jesus fulfi lls 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 chi ldren. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who are oppre ssed or in need of God’s healing.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nO God our Fath er\, at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anoin ted him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithf ul to their calling to be your daughters and sons\, and empower us all wit h your Spirit\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord\, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAmen.\n  \nFirst Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 God’s servant is endowed with God’s spirit in order to bring justice to the nations. The servant will not exercise a uthority boisterously or with violence\, nor will weariness ever prevent t he fulfilling of the servant’s task. God’s old promises have been fulfille d\; the servant’s new assignment is to bring light to the nations./p>\n \n Psalm: 29 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. (Ps. 29:3)/p>\n \nSeco nd Reading:  Acts 10:34-43 Peter crosses the sharp religious boundary sepa rating Jews from Gentiles and proclaims the good news of God’s inclusive f orgiveness in Jesus’ name to Cornelius\, a Roman centurion. As a result of Peter’s preaching\, Cornelius and his family become the first Gentiles to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 3:13-17\nBe fore Jesus begins his ministry\, he is baptized by John\, touched by the S pirit\, and identified publicly as God’s child.\n13 Jesus came from Galile e to John at the Jordan\, to be baptized by him.\n14  John would have prev ented him\, saying\, “I need to be baptized by you\, and do you come to me ?”\n15  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.\n16  And when Jesus had been baptized\, just as he came up from the water\, suddenl y the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him.\n17  And a voice from the heavens said\, “This is my Son\, the Beloved\, with whom I am well pleased.”\n \nAfter the Ser mon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Ta ble of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are in vited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm th an resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of Go d’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confid ence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, di sillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end . Come to the table\, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our b lessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with di scomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so th at we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the enviro nments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger an d war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk w ith them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world \, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any nee d.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\; \nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redee mer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahof themountains.org/events/event/623-baptism-of-our-lord-lectionary-1-year-a- worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260111T160000Z DTEND:20260111T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Baptism of Our Lord / Lectionary 1-- Year A - Worship Service - 11: 00 AM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/623-baptism-of-our-lord- lectionary-1-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR