SERMONS, READINGS & ORDERS OF SERVICE
Each week the readings for the current week will appear here. Previous sermons are stored here.
The Order of Service for this week can be downloaded and printed by clicking here.
You will need a bowl of water to hand!
FIRST READING
Genesis 1.1–5
In the beginning
when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void
and darkness covered the face of the deep,
while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
Then God said, Let there be light’; and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good;
and God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
SECOND READING
Acts 19.1–7
While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul passed through the in land regions and came to Ephesus,
where he found some disciples.
He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’
They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’
Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’
They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’
Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied –
altogether there were about twelve of them.
GOSPEL
Mark 1.4–11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
And people from the whole Judean countryside
and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him,
and were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins.
Now John was clothed with camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist,
and he ate locusts and wild honey.
He proclaimed,
‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;
I am not worthy to stoop down
and untie the thong of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
And just as he was coming up out of the water,
he saw the heavens torn apart
and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
And a voice came from heaven,
‘You are my Son, the Beloved;
with you I am well pleased.’
Psalm 29
Afferte Domino.
Praise the Lord you mighty ones : praise his glory and power.
Praise the Lord’s glorious Name : bow down before him in holy worship.
The Lord’s voice is over the waters : the God of glory thunders and it is he that commands the oceans.
The voice of the Lord is a glorious voice, full of majesty : the voice of the Lord breaks the cedar-trees of Lebanon.
He makes the hills of Lebanon skip like a calf : and Sirion to dance like a unicorn.
The voice of the Lord : splits the flame into forks of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness shake : even the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to bring forth young : and lays bare the darkest forests.
In his palace all is glory; He was enthroned before the flood : the Lord reigns as King for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people : may the Lord bless his people with peace.