THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
January 12, 2025
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.standrewbythelake.com
Priest-in-Charge: Rev. Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer: Jane Davidson-Neville ([email protected])
Deputy Warden: David Ulbrych
Synod Rep: Billy J. Choi-Gekas
Musicians: Jennifer Wakefield and Jane Davidson-Neville
Musical Selections: Jennifer Wakefield and Alison Hari Singh
Prelude
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE
We give thanks to our Creator for the earth we share with all creatures, and we acknowledge that we are here on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and we seek to live respectfully with each other and with the earth. We pray for healing between our cultures and healing from a sense of settler superiority. We believe that Black Lives Matter and that Every Child Matters. We know that love is love, and we welcome everyone who desires to join us in worship. You are a beloved creation of God, and you are most welcome in this place.
Please stand, as you are able.
Opening Hymn Jesus, Come, for We Invite You (CP #437)
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Almighty God,
All: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Eternal One, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit, keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading
Reader: A Reading from the Book of Acts
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. [ACTS 8:14-17]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 29 A Responsorial Psalm (Psalms for All Seasons #29D)
REFRAIN Your voice, O Lord, is a voice of splendor.
Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice, the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare. And in the temple of the Lord all are crying, "Glory!" REFRAIN
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
The Lord shall give strength to his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. REFRAIN
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Christ Be Our Light (Bernadette Farrell)
Cantor Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." [LUKE 3:15-17, 21-22]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Acclamation (Reprise)
Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today
Homily Rev. Alison Hari Singh
I speak to you in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
If you remember your baptism, please raise your hand.
Of course, many people don’t remember their baptism because they were just an infant when they were baptized. My husband Jeff, for example, was baptized as a baby by a family friend in his grandparent’s bathtub. My mother was baptized in the Sea of Galilee about 20 years ago. My baptism was at the font of a small United Church in SK. I remember it well because I was 13 years old.
From the diversity of ages of these examples, it’s fair to say that there is never a wrong time to be baptized. There are also many ways to be baptized – by sprinkling, like I was, or fully emersed in water. No matter when or how a baptism takes place, it’s the most significant event in a Christian person’s life. In the same way, it was also a big deal for Jesus. Jesus’ baptism didn’t change who he was ontologically – in terms of the nature of his being. Rather, I think the significance of his baptism has to do with the revelation of who he was to those around him. That is, in his baptism, Jesus’ unique messianic identity as the one on whom God’s empowering Spirit rests was revealed, and, furthermore, his baptism affects the intent of all subsequent baptisms, including our own. Let’s explore what this means a little more.
The passage right before our gospel reading today tells us that “the word of God” came to John (Jesus’ cousin) while he was in the wilderness. John was not some prim and proper guy with a day job in Jerusalem. He was a mountain man; a wild man who ate locusts and honey and dressed in a cloak made of camel’s hair. His baptismal message was just as challenging. We’re told that those who were coming to be baptized (folks from all walks of society) heard a “hard word.” John called them a “brood of vipers” for resting on the laurels of their ancestor Abraham, and that an “ax was laying at the root of the tree.” If they didn’t want to be cut down and “thrown into the fire,” they need to repent, be baptized, and bear good fruit.
People would call out to John, “so what should we do?” As we heard a few weeks ago, he tells them very plainly: SHARE! Share your wealth. Share your food. Share your life. Though it was difficult, John’s message was so compelling that even the tax collectors and soldiers (two professions in bed with the Roman Empire and religious elite) were coming to be baptized – to be “washed” so they too could live into this new way of being. John’s message resonated so much that people begin to think he is the Messiah (the anointed one who would save the people from their oppression), but he knows it’s not him: "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Many of us, I suspect, have movie clip visions of what Jesus’ baptism must have been like – the crowd separates as Jesus comes forward to be baptized and then, very dramatically, in front of everyone a thundering voice speaks from the heavens and an apparition, in the form of a dove, descends upon him. However, when we look closely at the way the text unfolds, it becomes clear in Luke’s gospel that Jesus’ baptism didn’t occur the way the movies might have us believe. We’re told that Jesus was one of the many who were baptized by John. He was already in the crowd. John didn’t necessarily know his cousin was the anointed one, and perhaps Jesus didn’t either. It was only after Jesus received John’s baptism, along with everyone else, that the Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove, revealing to everyone else that he was someone special in God’s story. From Luke’s text, we see Jesus was singled out from among the throng after the fact of his baptism as a voice from heaven proclaimed: “you are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” So, what was it about Jesus specifically that God the Father – the eternal Source of all things - pleased with?
I believe that what God was pleased with was two things: Jesus’ obedience to be baptized with the people and his willingness to submit to John’s difficult call. Jesus chose – as an adult, in his case, to follow in the way of the prophetic tradition in which he was raised; the tradition of liberation for the captives that his mother sang throughout his life. And after his baptism, he lived into it – calling the wealthy and powerful to account, healing the sick, eating and drinking with outcasts and sinners, sharing company with women who were despised and rejected for all the same reasons our “modern societies” still denigrate women. There are many Christians who tie baptism closely with merely the remission of sin. But if this is the case, Jesus did not need to be baptized. So, what then does his baptism do? It reveals who he is and his way – the way of the Father, the eternal One – to us.
Baptism might symbolize the forgiveness of sins as a new start in one’s life, but I contend that, at its very core, baptism marks the empowerment of the Spirit in and among us as we enter into life together as the Body of Christ which collectively follows Jesus in a particular way. Baptism is about who we are in Christ, and whose we are: God’s very own. As with Jesus’ at his baptism, we are gathered and sent to live into God’s ministry of transformation, reconciliation, healing and salvation on behalf of the world. So, baptism is not just about personal salvation, individual identity and community belonging, it’s also about being sent out to heal and repair the world (tikkun olam). Just as Jesus was “sent out” after his baptism, we receive the same gifts when we are baptized, including the gift of the Holy Spirit to do all these things, and even greater things, than Jesus.
So, how do we honour our baptism? We live into our baptismal vows. We continue in fellowship with one another – hearing the Scriptures, praying, and breaking bread together. We resist evil in our personal lives and when we err, we repent and return to Jesus’ way of new life. We proclaim Good News to a world filled with so much bad news. We serve others as if we were serving Jesus himself. We call for justice, not just for some, not just for those who see the world the way we do or who look like us, but for every human being. We recognize the fragility of this beautiful planet and do everything we can to sustain its life in perpetuity.
A little secret, every week, I come into this church, and I stand under the top chancel window – just for a moment. Why? Because I know that it’s through the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out the baptismal vows we have taken for ourselves. I encourage you to do the same. Each of our baptisms were and continue to be a big deal! Praise be to the Holy Spirit for sustaining us in this gift, for in living out this gift, God is well-pleased with us – God’s Beloved. Amen.
Silence is kept.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Intercessor: In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes the following calls to action. Concerning education:
10. We call on the federal government to draft new Indigenous education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Indigenous peoples. The new legislation would include a commitment to sufficient funding and would incorporate the following principles:
Intercessor: Remembering these calls to action, let us pray to God, who is made manifest in Jesus Christ.
As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”; empower us and all your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus,
who pierces even the deepest darkness. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As a star rose high into the nighttime sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child;
send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your compassion and truth. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and all our leaders to the ways of justice and peace. May those who belittle and mock be silenced. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Like the Magi who traveled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Saviour’s birth;
we pray for this community, and for everyone who offers their talents in service. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world;
we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We especially pray for Alison, Carol, Michael, Graham, Billy, Wendy, Bella, Jane, Margaret, Peter, Raj, Mary, Gerald, Irene, Leslie, Paul, Nancy, Donna, Enid, Freda, Charlotte and anyone else who is on our hearts, either silently or aloud...Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for those we love and who have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. We remember Alister, Lynne, Helen, Tim, Marjorie, Ann, Gail, Ula, Bob, Rosemary, Mary, Muriel, Mai, Patty, Tricia, Barbara, Stephen and I invite your prayers for any others on your heart either silently or out loud. Give them your peace. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Amen.
The Peace
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Christe Lux Mundi (MV #164)
Christe, lux mundi, qui sequitur te, habebit lumen vitae, lumen vitae.
Translation: Christ, light of the world. Those who follow you will have the light of life; the light of life.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
As you are able, please remain standing for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: Let us pray.
God of life and freedom, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus as the Christ who makes all creation new. Accept all we offer you this day and make us new in him, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, for the gift of a world full of wonder, and for our life which comes from you. By your power you sustain the universe.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: You created us to love you with all our heart, and to love each other as ourselves, but in our actions we rebel against you. In Jesus, your Son, you bring healing to our world and gather us into one great family. Now we watch for the day when he will come again in power to judge this world, that we, without shame or fear, may rejoice to behold his appearing. Therefore, with all who serve you on earth and in heaven, we praise your wonderful name, as we sing,
Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (Book of Praise #718)
Cantor: Holy (Holy), Holy (Holy)
Together: Holy Lord of power and might.
Cantor: Heaven (Heaven), Earth (Earth)
Together: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Cantor: Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest); Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest)
Cantor: Blessed (Blessed), Blessed (Blessed)
Together: is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Cantor: Blessed (Blessed), Blessed (Blessed)
Together: is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Cantor: Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest); Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest)
Celebrant: We give you thanks and praise, loving God, because in sending Jesus, your Son, to us you showed us how much you love us. He cares for the poor and the hungry. He suffers with the sick and the rejected. Betrayed and forsaken, he did not strike back but overcame hatred with love. On the cross he defeated the power of sin and death. By raising him from the dead you show us the power of your love to bring new life to all your people.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: On the night before he gave up his life for us, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you.” After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which is shed for you and for many, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: Gracious God, with this bread and wine we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we offer ourselves to you in him. Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts, that we may know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of bread, and share in the life of the family of your children.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: O God, you call us to be your servants; fill us with the courage and love of Jesus, that all the world may gather in joy at the table of your kingdom. We sing your praise, almighty God, through Jesus, our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
All: God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.
Celebrant: The gifts of God, for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (by Alison Hari Singh)
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Prince of Peace, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Bread of Life, you take away the sin of the world:
Grant us peace. Grant us peace.
Approach the altar following the lead of those ahead of you. If you do not wish to take the wine, you may acknowledge the cup by touching the base of the chalice. If you would like a blessing, as well as, or in place of the bread and wine,
indicate this to the priest.
Communion Music Loving Spirit (CP #657)
The Silence
A long silence is kept for listening and reflection.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Gracious God, lover of all, by this sacrament you make us one family in Christ your Son, one in the sharing of his body and blood, one in the communion of his Spirit. Help us to grow in love for one another and come to the full maturity as the Body of Christ. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Celebrant: Glory to God,
All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant: Be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of your life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Eternal Source, the Incarnate Word, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Closing Hymn When Christ’s Appearing Was Made Known (CP #163, vs. 1-3, 5)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgical Acknowledgements
The Prayers of the People are written by Rev. Rick Morley and adapted for SABTL. Rick is a priest in ECUSA, serving St. David’s Episcopal Church in Devon, PA. For more, see his blog A Garden Path at http://www.rickmorley.com/.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
We have come to our third reading of the 94 Calls to Action of the TRCC. These Calls to Action were published in 2015. There has been little movement by government and other institutions on most of these action points, thus, the status quo remains (see https://yellowheadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/YI-TRC-C2A-2023-Special-Report-compressed.pdf). Please note: language has changed over the last nine years. Use of the term “Aboriginal” has been updated with the term “Indigenous” which is a term of self-identification for many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Turtle Island and across the world. St. Andrew’s will hear these calls once again so that we might live in right relations with the Indigenous peoples of this land.
Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation
On Jan. 26th, the clergy at St. Andrew’s will be offering the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist. This sacrament will continue to be offered on the fourth Sunday of the month in the new year.
Making Church
Due to Michael’s injury St. Andrew’s one-year parish outreach and growth project “Making Church” will be taking a hiatus so that Michael can focus on his recovery. If you would like to send Michael a positive word, you can contact him at: [email protected].
Facebook Page for St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Come and visit and contribute to the St. Andrew by-the-Lake Facebook page. Search for: St. Andrews by-the-Lake Church (make sure you don’t get St. Andrews Golf Course). Look on the page for “Follow”. Click on that. You will then receive notices, pictures of your community, and a place for discussion. Any questions? Email Laura Cooper [email protected].
COVID19 Guidelines
Ferry Schedule
The winter schedule is now in effect. Boats are no longer running to Centre Island. Here’s a link to the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/ferry.
The church van continues to pick up passengers at 9:45 am on Sunday mornings at the Ward’s Island ferry dock.
Supporting St. Andrew’s
January 12, 2025
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.standrewbythelake.com
Priest-in-Charge: Rev. Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer: Jane Davidson-Neville ([email protected])
Deputy Warden: David Ulbrych
Synod Rep: Billy J. Choi-Gekas
Musicians: Jennifer Wakefield and Jane Davidson-Neville
Musical Selections: Jennifer Wakefield and Alison Hari Singh
Prelude
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE
We give thanks to our Creator for the earth we share with all creatures, and we acknowledge that we are here on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and we seek to live respectfully with each other and with the earth. We pray for healing between our cultures and healing from a sense of settler superiority. We believe that Black Lives Matter and that Every Child Matters. We know that love is love, and we welcome everyone who desires to join us in worship. You are a beloved creation of God, and you are most welcome in this place.
Please stand, as you are able.
Opening Hymn Jesus, Come, for We Invite You (CP #437)
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Almighty God,
All: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Eternal One, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit, keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading
Reader: A Reading from the Book of Acts
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. [ACTS 8:14-17]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 29 A Responsorial Psalm (Psalms for All Seasons #29D)
REFRAIN Your voice, O Lord, is a voice of splendor.
Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice, the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. REFRAIN
The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare. And in the temple of the Lord all are crying, "Glory!" REFRAIN
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
The Lord shall give strength to his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. REFRAIN
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Christ Be Our Light (Bernadette Farrell)
Cantor Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." [LUKE 3:15-17, 21-22]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Acclamation (Reprise)
Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today
Homily Rev. Alison Hari Singh
I speak to you in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
If you remember your baptism, please raise your hand.
Of course, many people don’t remember their baptism because they were just an infant when they were baptized. My husband Jeff, for example, was baptized as a baby by a family friend in his grandparent’s bathtub. My mother was baptized in the Sea of Galilee about 20 years ago. My baptism was at the font of a small United Church in SK. I remember it well because I was 13 years old.
From the diversity of ages of these examples, it’s fair to say that there is never a wrong time to be baptized. There are also many ways to be baptized – by sprinkling, like I was, or fully emersed in water. No matter when or how a baptism takes place, it’s the most significant event in a Christian person’s life. In the same way, it was also a big deal for Jesus. Jesus’ baptism didn’t change who he was ontologically – in terms of the nature of his being. Rather, I think the significance of his baptism has to do with the revelation of who he was to those around him. That is, in his baptism, Jesus’ unique messianic identity as the one on whom God’s empowering Spirit rests was revealed, and, furthermore, his baptism affects the intent of all subsequent baptisms, including our own. Let’s explore what this means a little more.
The passage right before our gospel reading today tells us that “the word of God” came to John (Jesus’ cousin) while he was in the wilderness. John was not some prim and proper guy with a day job in Jerusalem. He was a mountain man; a wild man who ate locusts and honey and dressed in a cloak made of camel’s hair. His baptismal message was just as challenging. We’re told that those who were coming to be baptized (folks from all walks of society) heard a “hard word.” John called them a “brood of vipers” for resting on the laurels of their ancestor Abraham, and that an “ax was laying at the root of the tree.” If they didn’t want to be cut down and “thrown into the fire,” they need to repent, be baptized, and bear good fruit.
People would call out to John, “so what should we do?” As we heard a few weeks ago, he tells them very plainly: SHARE! Share your wealth. Share your food. Share your life. Though it was difficult, John’s message was so compelling that even the tax collectors and soldiers (two professions in bed with the Roman Empire and religious elite) were coming to be baptized – to be “washed” so they too could live into this new way of being. John’s message resonated so much that people begin to think he is the Messiah (the anointed one who would save the people from their oppression), but he knows it’s not him: "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Many of us, I suspect, have movie clip visions of what Jesus’ baptism must have been like – the crowd separates as Jesus comes forward to be baptized and then, very dramatically, in front of everyone a thundering voice speaks from the heavens and an apparition, in the form of a dove, descends upon him. However, when we look closely at the way the text unfolds, it becomes clear in Luke’s gospel that Jesus’ baptism didn’t occur the way the movies might have us believe. We’re told that Jesus was one of the many who were baptized by John. He was already in the crowd. John didn’t necessarily know his cousin was the anointed one, and perhaps Jesus didn’t either. It was only after Jesus received John’s baptism, along with everyone else, that the Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove, revealing to everyone else that he was someone special in God’s story. From Luke’s text, we see Jesus was singled out from among the throng after the fact of his baptism as a voice from heaven proclaimed: “you are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” So, what was it about Jesus specifically that God the Father – the eternal Source of all things - pleased with?
I believe that what God was pleased with was two things: Jesus’ obedience to be baptized with the people and his willingness to submit to John’s difficult call. Jesus chose – as an adult, in his case, to follow in the way of the prophetic tradition in which he was raised; the tradition of liberation for the captives that his mother sang throughout his life. And after his baptism, he lived into it – calling the wealthy and powerful to account, healing the sick, eating and drinking with outcasts and sinners, sharing company with women who were despised and rejected for all the same reasons our “modern societies” still denigrate women. There are many Christians who tie baptism closely with merely the remission of sin. But if this is the case, Jesus did not need to be baptized. So, what then does his baptism do? It reveals who he is and his way – the way of the Father, the eternal One – to us.
Baptism might symbolize the forgiveness of sins as a new start in one’s life, but I contend that, at its very core, baptism marks the empowerment of the Spirit in and among us as we enter into life together as the Body of Christ which collectively follows Jesus in a particular way. Baptism is about who we are in Christ, and whose we are: God’s very own. As with Jesus’ at his baptism, we are gathered and sent to live into God’s ministry of transformation, reconciliation, healing and salvation on behalf of the world. So, baptism is not just about personal salvation, individual identity and community belonging, it’s also about being sent out to heal and repair the world (tikkun olam). Just as Jesus was “sent out” after his baptism, we receive the same gifts when we are baptized, including the gift of the Holy Spirit to do all these things, and even greater things, than Jesus.
So, how do we honour our baptism? We live into our baptismal vows. We continue in fellowship with one another – hearing the Scriptures, praying, and breaking bread together. We resist evil in our personal lives and when we err, we repent and return to Jesus’ way of new life. We proclaim Good News to a world filled with so much bad news. We serve others as if we were serving Jesus himself. We call for justice, not just for some, not just for those who see the world the way we do or who look like us, but for every human being. We recognize the fragility of this beautiful planet and do everything we can to sustain its life in perpetuity.
A little secret, every week, I come into this church, and I stand under the top chancel window – just for a moment. Why? Because I know that it’s through the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out the baptismal vows we have taken for ourselves. I encourage you to do the same. Each of our baptisms were and continue to be a big deal! Praise be to the Holy Spirit for sustaining us in this gift, for in living out this gift, God is well-pleased with us – God’s Beloved. Amen.
Silence is kept.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Intercessor: In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes the following calls to action. Concerning education:
10. We call on the federal government to draft new Indigenous education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Indigenous peoples. The new legislation would include a commitment to sufficient funding and would incorporate the following principles:
- Providing sufficient funding to close identified educational achievement gaps within one generation.
- Improving education attainment levels and success rates.
- Developing culturally appropriate curricula.
Intercessor: Remembering these calls to action, let us pray to God, who is made manifest in Jesus Christ.
As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”; empower us and all your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus,
who pierces even the deepest darkness. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As a star rose high into the nighttime sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child;
send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your compassion and truth. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and all our leaders to the ways of justice and peace. May those who belittle and mock be silenced. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Like the Magi who traveled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Saviour’s birth;
we pray for this community, and for everyone who offers their talents in service. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world;
we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We especially pray for Alison, Carol, Michael, Graham, Billy, Wendy, Bella, Jane, Margaret, Peter, Raj, Mary, Gerald, Irene, Leslie, Paul, Nancy, Donna, Enid, Freda, Charlotte and anyone else who is on our hearts, either silently or aloud...Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for those we love and who have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. We remember Alister, Lynne, Helen, Tim, Marjorie, Ann, Gail, Ula, Bob, Rosemary, Mary, Muriel, Mai, Patty, Tricia, Barbara, Stephen and I invite your prayers for any others on your heart either silently or out loud. Give them your peace. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Amen.
The Peace
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Christe Lux Mundi (MV #164)
Christe, lux mundi, qui sequitur te, habebit lumen vitae, lumen vitae.
Translation: Christ, light of the world. Those who follow you will have the light of life; the light of life.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
As you are able, please remain standing for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: Let us pray.
God of life and freedom, we celebrate the revelation of Jesus as the Christ who makes all creation new. Accept all we offer you this day and make us new in him, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, for the gift of a world full of wonder, and for our life which comes from you. By your power you sustain the universe.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: You created us to love you with all our heart, and to love each other as ourselves, but in our actions we rebel against you. In Jesus, your Son, you bring healing to our world and gather us into one great family. Now we watch for the day when he will come again in power to judge this world, that we, without shame or fear, may rejoice to behold his appearing. Therefore, with all who serve you on earth and in heaven, we praise your wonderful name, as we sing,
Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (Book of Praise #718)
Cantor: Holy (Holy), Holy (Holy)
Together: Holy Lord of power and might.
Cantor: Heaven (Heaven), Earth (Earth)
Together: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Cantor: Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest); Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest)
Cantor: Blessed (Blessed), Blessed (Blessed)
Together: is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Cantor: Blessed (Blessed), Blessed (Blessed)
Together: is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Cantor: Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest); Hosanna in the highest (Hosanna in the highest)
Celebrant: We give you thanks and praise, loving God, because in sending Jesus, your Son, to us you showed us how much you love us. He cares for the poor and the hungry. He suffers with the sick and the rejected. Betrayed and forsaken, he did not strike back but overcame hatred with love. On the cross he defeated the power of sin and death. By raising him from the dead you show us the power of your love to bring new life to all your people.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: On the night before he gave up his life for us, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you.” After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which is shed for you and for many, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: Gracious God, with this bread and wine we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we offer ourselves to you in him. Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts, that we may know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of bread, and share in the life of the family of your children.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever.
Celebrant: O God, you call us to be your servants; fill us with the courage and love of Jesus, that all the world may gather in joy at the table of your kingdom. We sing your praise, almighty God, through Jesus, our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
People: Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
All: God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.
Celebrant: The gifts of God, for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (by Alison Hari Singh)
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Prince of Peace, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Bread of Life, you take away the sin of the world:
Grant us peace. Grant us peace.
Approach the altar following the lead of those ahead of you. If you do not wish to take the wine, you may acknowledge the cup by touching the base of the chalice. If you would like a blessing, as well as, or in place of the bread and wine,
indicate this to the priest.
Communion Music Loving Spirit (CP #657)
The Silence
A long silence is kept for listening and reflection.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Gracious God, lover of all, by this sacrament you make us one family in Christ your Son, one in the sharing of his body and blood, one in the communion of his Spirit. Help us to grow in love for one another and come to the full maturity as the Body of Christ. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Celebrant: Glory to God,
All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant: Be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of your life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Eternal Source, the Incarnate Word, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Closing Hymn When Christ’s Appearing Was Made Known (CP #163, vs. 1-3, 5)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgical Acknowledgements
The Prayers of the People are written by Rev. Rick Morley and adapted for SABTL. Rick is a priest in ECUSA, serving St. David’s Episcopal Church in Devon, PA. For more, see his blog A Garden Path at http://www.rickmorley.com/.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
We have come to our third reading of the 94 Calls to Action of the TRCC. These Calls to Action were published in 2015. There has been little movement by government and other institutions on most of these action points, thus, the status quo remains (see https://yellowheadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/YI-TRC-C2A-2023-Special-Report-compressed.pdf). Please note: language has changed over the last nine years. Use of the term “Aboriginal” has been updated with the term “Indigenous” which is a term of self-identification for many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Turtle Island and across the world. St. Andrew’s will hear these calls once again so that we might live in right relations with the Indigenous peoples of this land.
Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation
On Jan. 26th, the clergy at St. Andrew’s will be offering the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist. This sacrament will continue to be offered on the fourth Sunday of the month in the new year.
Making Church
Due to Michael’s injury St. Andrew’s one-year parish outreach and growth project “Making Church” will be taking a hiatus so that Michael can focus on his recovery. If you would like to send Michael a positive word, you can contact him at: [email protected].
Facebook Page for St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Come and visit and contribute to the St. Andrew by-the-Lake Facebook page. Search for: St. Andrews by-the-Lake Church (make sure you don’t get St. Andrews Golf Course). Look on the page for “Follow”. Click on that. You will then receive notices, pictures of your community, and a place for discussion. Any questions? Email Laura Cooper [email protected].
COVID19 Guidelines
- Masking is optional
- You may sit where you are comfortable – please allow space to those who desire it
- Use hand sanitizer before and after taking the Eucharist (note: intinction – dipping the bread in the wine – is not permitted by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto)
Ferry Schedule
The winter schedule is now in effect. Boats are no longer running to Centre Island. Here’s a link to the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/ferry.
The church van continues to pick up passengers at 9:45 am on Sunday mornings at the Ward’s Island ferry dock.
Supporting St. Andrew’s
- The collection plate – located on the table at the back; envelops are available for one-time and regular offerings
- E-Transfer – email: [email protected]
- PAR - Pre-Authorized Remittance. You direct your bank to deposit your donation into the church account on the 20th of each month. To set up PAR contact Jane Davidson-Neville at [email protected].
- Canada Helps – Visit the church website www.standrewbythelake.com and click on the Donate button or click on the QR code below.
- Bring a friend