Baptized We Live
March 19, 2025
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Standing OPENING
For these forty days, we journey with Jesus down the Lenten path. As we gather around the cross, we seek to be renewed in our baptismal call to let the light of Christ's love shine through us.
We come with hearts open to learn.
We will listen to stories of Jesus’ life and of God’s people, because they teach us how God calls us to live in the world.
We come to learn from the stories of God’s ancient people, Christ’s life, and the church.
We will light candles to remind each other of the fullness of Christ’s presence with us in our worship and in our world.
We come to learn how to better see and reflect the light of Christ.
We will receive Christ present in bread and wine and so experience the boundless grace of our Lord.
We come to be made into what we receive, the body of Christ given to the world. We will pray as Jesus taught us and send each other back into daily life with a deeper connection to the life and love of Jesus.
We come to learn how to live more fully in the image of God.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN: ELW 561 Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory Seated
WORD: The Prayer of Saint Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In obedience of angels, In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From everyone who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.
REFLECTION REMEMBERING ST. PATRICK
Standing HYMN: ELW 471 Let us Break Bread Together
PRAYER AND THANSGIVING
You are holy, O God of majesty, and holy is your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. He lived as one of us, and knew our joy, our pain and sorrow, and our death. By his death on the cross you revealed that your love has no limit. By raising him from death you conquered the last enemy, crushed all evil powers, and gave new life to the world. In the waters of baptism we are joined to his life, death, and resurrection, and called to be lights in the world, shining with Christ's light, love and grace.
Letting our light so shine before others that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven, we light our candles.
Pause for the sharing of the light.
Through the beauty of the candle’s light,
we see the brightness of God’s love shining in every darkness.
Through the warmth of the candle’s heat, we feel the strength of God’s love burning through all obstacles.
In the scent of the candle’s wax, we remember the promise that our prayers rise up as incense to God.
In the flavor of the candle’s smoke on our breath, we taste the persistence of God’s love, surviving the flames and taking new form.
In the sound of the candle’s flame crackling, we hear the dance of God’s love, which we are invited to join.
May the light, warmth, scent, flavor, and sound of our candles lead us deeper into the love of God today and always. Amen.
HYMN: ELW 677 This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm goin'-a let it shine... Everywhere I go, I'm goin'-a let it shine... Jesus gave it to me, I'm goin'-a let it shine...
Please extinguish your candles PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts. | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. |It is right to give our thanks and praise.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
AFTER COMMUNION
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen
Let us pray. | Generous Host, you have shared your feast with us and made us new. Send us now to set tables of love and grace in our communities, that your liberating love might nourish the world into freedom, in the name of the crucified one, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
HYMN: ELW 454
Remember and Rejoice
BLESSING
God our tender parent, God the crucified one, God the reconciling Spirit, ☩ bless you now and forever.
Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you. | Thanks be to God. Music & Text copyright permission www.onelicense.net