Confirmation worship leadership

Sat Jan 13 16:42:56 PST 2024

Hi, all -

Sorry for the lateness of this email!

Here's what's happening tomorrow. Please arrive no later than 9:45. The
plan is for:

   - Maddie to join me for the Thanksgiving for baptism (will be from the
   font near the back of the church)
   - Neal to read the first reading
   - Frances to lead the Psalm
   - Max leading the prayers
   - Josie will serve as the acolyte and crucifer

Readings are below.

Please let me know if you're not able to be here. Thanks so much!

Peace,
Janet

Thanksgiving for Baptism

Pastor: Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and mighty,

You are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring,

You are the fire of rebirth.

Maddie: Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers and streams.

Honor to you for cloud and rain, for dew and snow.

Your waters are below us, around us, above us: our life is born in you.

You are the fountain of resurrection.

Praise to you for your saving waters:

Pastor: Noah and the animals survive the flood,

Hagar discovers your well.

The Israelites escape through the sea, and they drink from your gushing
rock.

Naaman washes his leprosy away,

And the Samaritan woman will never be thirsty again.

Maddie: At this font, holy God, we pray:

*Praise to you for the water of baptism*

*And for your Word that saves us in this water.*

*Breathe your Spirit into all of us gathered here and into all creation.*

*Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears.*

*Wash away the sin within us and drown the evil around us. *

*Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ, our Savior,*

*Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.*

*Amen.*

The First Reading                                                    1
Samuel 3:1-12, 19-20

Neal: A reading from the book of 1 Samuel.

1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the
Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could
not see, was lying down in his room; 3the lamp of God had not yet gone out,
and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God
was. 4Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5and
ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did
not call; lie down again.” So Samuel went and lay down. 6The Lord called
again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for
you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7Now
Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been
revealed to him. 8The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up
and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli
perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel,
“Go, lie down; and if the Lord calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for
your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11Then the Lord
said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make
both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12On that day I will fulfill
against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to
end.

19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall
to the ground. 20And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was
a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

Neal: The Epiphany of God.                             *Thanks be to God.*

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, read responsively

Frances: 1LORD, you have searched me out; O LORD, you have known me.

*2**You know my sitting down and my rising up;* *you discern my thoughts
from afar.*

3You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my
ways. 4Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O LORD, know it
altogether.

*5**You encompass me, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to
it….*

13For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my
mother's womb.

*14**I will thank you because I am marvelously made;* *your works are
wonderful, and I know it well.*

15My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and
woven in the depths of the earth.

*16**Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;* *all of them
were written in your book;* *my days were fashioned before they came to be.*

17How deep I find your thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them!

18If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to
count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

*1**LORD, you have searched me out; O LORD, you have known me.*

The Prayers of the People

Max: As we commemorate the revelation of Christ, we pray for God’s blessing
on the church, the world, and all of creation.

*A brief silence.*

Encourage the ministry and mission of the church, God of truth. Let the
leaders of your church be trustworthy and accountable stewards, that all
its resources and outreach bring hope and healing to communities. God of
grace, *receive our prayer.*

Delight in the goodness of your creation, God of fig trees and fertile
soil. Heal areas of the world harmed by human greed. Restore those
recovering from natural disaster. Protect our forests and waterways and all
the creatures that live in them. God of grace, *receive our prayer.*

Call the leaders of every neighborhood and nation to serve faithfully, God
of wisdom. Give them visions of justice and unity. Lead them to action that
promotes equitable partnership and uplifts those on the margins of society.
God of grace, *receive our prayer.*

Hold in your care any who suffer and struggle, God of compassion. Be
present with any who are oppressed, victims of racism or cultural bias, and
all who long for respite or restoration. God of grace, *receive our prayer.*

Give this congregation the anticipation and excitement of Samuel, so
inspired and empowered to do your work in the world, God of unity. Make us
faithful as we build communities of inclusion and mutual care. God of
grace, *receive our prayer.*

Trusting God who raises us in spirit and truth, we remember all who have
died and are at peace among the saints especially the Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. whose faithful advocacy for peace and justice continues to
embolden the church. God of grace, *receive our prayer.*

Trusting in the Spirit, we offer these prayers and the silent prayers of
our hearts in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  *Amen.*
Janet Katari (she/her)
Pastor, Christ Church, Lutheran, San Francisco
seniorpastor at christchurchlutheran.org
415-215-1576
Justice, therefore, represents the peace of God. This peace is freedom from
the violence that distorts the human person. It is the elimination, in
other words, of systems, constructs, and all actualities of violence. God's
peace thus requires a radical restructuring of a political, social, and
economic order that is sustained by and thus creates 'crucified classes of
people.' *Kelly Brown Douglas, Stand Your Ground, p. 195*
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