The First Sunday after Epiphany

The Noise and the Whisper

January 11, 2026

Prelude:                      

Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters

Music from The Sacred Harp, 1844
Arranged by Allan Mahnke
Johnny Engelke, clarinet; David Moldenhauer, organ

Music from The Sacred Harp, 1844
Arranged by Allan Mahnke
© 1989 Concordia Publishing House 

Call to Worship

Cathedral of Hope, on this Baptism Sunday,

we come seeking the presence of God:

           We come to offer praise and prayer,

           To listen for the voice of our still-speaking God,

           And to be renewed and refreshed through Word and sacrament.

So rise, Church, in body and spirit, and sing for joy, for God is here!

**Processional Hymn:

At the Font We Start Our Journey

At the font we start our journey, in the living faith baptized;
doubts and fears no longer blind us, by the light of Christ surprised.
Alleluia, alleluia! Hope held out and realized.

At the pulpit we are fashioned by the living tale retold
into witnesses and prophets, by the power of Christ made bold.
Alleluia, alleluia! Faith proclaimed, yet still untold.

At the altar we are nourished with the living gift of bread;
in our breaking it to pieces see the love of Christ outspread.
Alleluia, alleluia! Life embraced, yet freely shed.

At the door we are commissioned, now the living victory's won,
to restore a world divided to the peace of Christ as one. 
Alleluia, alleluia! Living work must still be done.

Words: Jeffrey W. Rowthorn
Music: Henry Purcell, 1680

Welcome and Life of the Church

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Neil:           The same Spirit of God that rested upon Jesus at his baptism, rested on you at your baptism. You are beloved of God. If you haven’t yet experienced baptism, let today be an invitation to you to consider making this a part of your faith story.

Terri:             In baptism, God’s Spirit moves over the water:

water that flows freely to nourish the earth,
water that rolls down in streams of divine justice,
water that satisfies those who thirst for righteousness,
water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and brings new birth.

Dawson:   Today we come to the water to affirm the promises made in our baptism. We give thanks to our Creator who makes all things, we rejoice in Christ whose love for the world never fails, and we delight in the Spirit whose mercies are new each morning.

Neil:              We ask you to renew your commitments to living a baptized life. Please answer these three questions:
Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you renounce evil and turn from the power of sin?

All:             I do.

Terri:             Do you trust in Jesus Christ, and will you strive to live in the ways of Christ?

All:             I do and I will.

Dawson:  Will you pour out your life to nourish the lives of others, both in this church and in the world?

All:             I will.

Neil:              Let us pray. We give thanks to you, God, for life-giving water. At the beginning of time, your Spirit moved over the watery deep, calling forth life. In the time of Noah, you destroyed evil by the water of the flood. You parted the waters of the sea and led your people to the promised land. In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus was baptized by John and anointed by the Spirit. In the waters of our baptism, you give us life that never ends.

All:             Come, Holy Spirit! Move over these waters. Let them be dewdrops of mercy. Let them carry us toward justice. Let them heal us with the power of Jesus. And let these waters make us thirst for the age to come. Amen. 

**I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry

I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. 
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. 
I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; 
in a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.

When you heard the wonder of the word I was there to cheer you on; 
you were raised to praise the living God, to whom you now belong. 
If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, 
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising sun.

In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, 
I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun. 
When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes, 
I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.

I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. 
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.

Words and Music: John Ylvisaker
© 1985 John Ylivsaker

**Sharing of the Peace

Hebrew Lesson:

 I Kings 19:9-13

Our Hebrew Lesson is from the 19^th Chapter of the First Book of Kings. Hear these words:

Then the word of God came to Elijah, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah answered, “I have been very zealous for the God of hosts, for the Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me too.” God said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before God, for God is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before God, but God was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but God was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

May God bless the hearing of these ancient words. Amen.

**Gradual

Speak, O Lord

Choir:          Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of your Holy Word,
Take your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness.

ALL:              That the light of Christ may be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
all your purposes for your glory.

**And by grace we’ll stand on your promises,
and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ‘til your church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.
Come and fill the earth with your glory.

Words and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
© 2005 Thankyou Music/ worshiptogether.com songs

**Gospel Lesson:

Matthew 3:13-17       

One: God be with you.
All:    And also with you.
One: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
All:    Glory to you, O God.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John would have prevented Jesus, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” But Jesus answered, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Immediately after Jesus had been baptized and was coming up from the water, suddenly the heavens opened and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Own, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

One:  This is the Gospel of Hope.

All:     Praise to you, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

Glory to God  

Glory to God in the highest, and to all creation, peace!

O God Almighty, we thank you and give praise to you for your glory.

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you take away our sin;

for you alone are the Holy One; you alone are Most High.

To Jesus Christ, at God’s right hand, and Holy Spirit, evermore

Be blessing and honor and glory; be all blessing and honor and glory.

Amen, Amen, Amen!   

Words adapted from the Latin Mass by Danny Ray
Music: Danny Ray
©1985 Danny Ray

Sermon

The Noise and the Whisper

Offering Call

Offertory

Who Can Satisfy?

Words and Music by Dennis Jernigan
Arranged by Gary Rhodes
Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Who can satisfy my soul like you?
 Who on earth could comfort me and love me like you do?
Who could ever be more faithful, true?
I will trust in you. I will trust in you, my God!

There is a fountain, who is my all, Victorious Warrior and Lord of great and small.
My Rock, my Shelter, my very won; Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne.

Living water rain down your life on me,
cleansing me, refreshing me with life abundantly!
River full of life, I’ll go where you lead.
I will trust in you. I will trust in you, my God!

There is a fountain, who is my all, Victorious Warrior and Lord of great and small.
My Rock, my Shelter, my very won; Blessed Redeemer, who reigns upon the throne.

Who could ever be more faithful, true, Lord Jesus, but you?

Words and Music by Dennis Jernigan
This arrangement by Gary Rhodes
© 1992 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc./Dayspring Music, Inc.

Communion

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration

Invitation

Music during Communion

Praise You

Lord, I come to you today with a simple prayer to pray.
In everything I do, let my life, oh Lord, praise you.
Praise you, praise you; let my life praise you.
Praise you, praise you; let my life, oh Lord, praise you.

Lord, you formed me out of clay. And for your glory I was made.
Use this vessel as you choose. Let my life, oh Lord, praise you.
Praise you, praise you; let my life praise you.
Praise you, praise you; let my life, oh Lord, praise you.
Let my life, oh Lord, praise you.

Words and Music: Wayne and Elizbeth Goodine 
© New Spring Publishing/ASCAP

Seek Ye First

Seek ye first the presence of God and God’s righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, alleluia.

Busquen primero el reino de Dios y su perfecta justicia,
y lo demás añadido será; Allelu, alleluya.

Words and Music: Karen Lafferty
© 1972 Maranatha! Music

Shout to the Lord

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like you;

All of my days I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love.

My Comfort, my Shelter, Tower of refuge and strength,

Let ev’ry breath, all that I am, never cease to worship you.

**Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing,
power and majesty, praises we bring.

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand;

Nothing compares to the promise I have in you!

Words and Music: Darlene Zschech
© 1993 Darlene Zschech/Hillsong Publishing/Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

**Prayer of Thanksgiving 

**Recessional

Go, My Children, with My Blessing

“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”

“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here with tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”

“I, the Lord, will bless and keep you, and give you peace.
I, the Lord, will smile upon you, and give you peace.
I, the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter and Mother.
Go, my children, I will keep you, and give you peace.”

Music: Welsh melody, c. 1784
Words: Jaroslav J. Vajda
© 1983 Concordia Publishing House

**Benediction

Postlude for Dismissal

OneLicense.net License #A-705445 / CCLI License #12333

This is paragraph text. Click it or hit the Manage Text button to change the font, color, size, format, and more. To set up site-wide paragraph and title styles, go to Site Theme.