September 29, 2019 – Rev. John & Katie Callaway Preaching - Celebration of Baptism

"In baptism, we are identified as beloved children of God, and our adoption into the sprawling, beautiful, dysfunctional family of the church is celebrated by whoever happens to be standing on the shoreline with a hair dryer and deviled eggs...The good news is you are a beloved child of God; the bad news is you don't get to choose your siblings."  - Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday

We Praise Go

Chiming of the Hour 

 †Prelude                      Prelude on ENGELBERG                  James Pethel
                                Rev. James Richardson, organist

Welcome and Call to Worship                        Rev. John Callaway

Invocation                                                        Rev. Katie Callaway 

†Hymn 495             We Know That Christ Is Raised             Engelberg                                 

Please stand at the entrance of the processional cross.

Dwayne Bell, crucifer

Marcus Lawrence, banner bearer

The Celebration of Christian Baptism

Introductory Statement

Profession of Faith                             Jennifer Fox-Jarmond, reader

Unison Blessing

We thank God for your faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We happily welcome you into the Church of Jesus Christ, and into the membership of this congregation. We will do the work of Christ together—cooperatively, compassionately, and courageously. We praise God for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We witness your baptism, in the name of God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of Jacqueline Dion

Prayer of Blessing

Piano Solo                      The Lord’s Prayer            Albert Hay Malotte

*Affirmation of Faith   

We thank God for the gift of creation called forth by the words, "Let there be…” Before the world had shape and form, God's Spirit moved over the waters. Out of the waters of the deep, God brought forth the earth to sustain all life. 

In the time of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, God's people Israel passed through the Red Sea waters from slavery to freedom and crossed the flowing Jordan to enter the promised land. In the fullness of time, God sent Jesus Christ who was nurtured in the water of Mary’s womb. Jesus was baptized by John in the water of the Jordan, became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well, washed the feet of the disciples, and sent them forth to baptize all nations by water and the Holy Spirit. It is this God in whom we find life, meaning, love, and affirmation. We place our faith and hope in God, the Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, who uses water to renew and to give life to all of us, God's beloved children. 

*Gloria Patri No. 579 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; 

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen. Amen. 

We Proclaim God’s Word

First Lesson            Genesis 1:1-10       Heather Valentine, lay reader

†Children’s Time                                  Revs. John and Katie Callaway 

All children are invited to the front of the sanctuary. 

Second Lesson                 Luke 3:21-22

Homily                             Dear Jacqueline              Rev. Katie Callaway

Anthem                 We Are Baptized in Christ Jesus      Robert A. Hobby 

                                Adult Choir and Music Makers 

We are baptized in Christ, we are baptized in his death;

That as Christ is raised victorious, we might live a brand new life.

And if we have been united in a dreadful death like his,
We will all be reunited, for he lives.
In the water and the witness, in the breaking of the bread,
In the waiting arms of Jesus who is risen from the dead,

God has made a new beginning from the ashes of our past;
In the losing and the winning we hold fast.
Glory be to God the Father, glory be to Christ the Son, 

Glory to the Holy Spirit, ever three and ever one;
As it was in the beginning, glory now resounds again
In a song that has no ending. Amen.

(The anthem combines tunes by William B. Bradbury and John C. Ylvisaker and texts by Anna B. Warner and John C. Ylvisaker)

Special appreciation is expressed to Bill and Dianne Gardner for their assistance with this morning’s anthem.

Third Lesson                     John 14:8-14

Homily                      Dear First Baptist Church     Rev. John Callaway

We Respond to the Word 

*Hymn 498              Child of Blessing, Child of Promise             KINGDOM 

 Call to Prayer                                                         Rev. John Callaway

 Silent Prayers

 Pastoral Prayer

 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin 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. 

Offertory Sentence

Receiving of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory                         Jesus and the Children        Gilbert M. Martin 

 *Presentation and Doxology No. 591               OLD HUNDREDTH

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise Christ, all people here below; 

Praise Holy Spirit evermore;

Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*Offertory Prayer

*Invitation to Christian Discipleship 

We Go Into the World

*Hymn 443                O Christ, the Great Foundation                  AURELIA

Events in the Life of the Church

Pastoral Benediction

Choral Response             Accept, O Lord              Clement Scholefield

Accept, O Lord, our dedication
To fill with love the growing mind,

That in this church and congregation

The young a faith for life may find. 

(The text is by Fred Kaan)

Postlude                              Trumpet Tune                   Michael McCabe

First Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia. 
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SAVANNAH 
Katie Callaway, Co-Pastor — katie@fbc-sav.org 
John Callaway, Co-Pastor — john@fbc-sav.org 
James Richardson, Organist Emeritus — james@fbc-sav.org 
223 Bull Street facing Chippewa Square 
912-234-2671 Education Building located at 102 W. McDonough 

For more information about our church visit fbc-sav.org.