Livestream at 8:30am
Bulletin for the service

Prayer of the Day
Holy God, heavenly Father, in the waters of the flood you saved the chosen, and in the wilderness of temptation you protected your Son from sin. Renew us in the gift of baptism. May your holy angels be with us, that the wicked foe may have no power over us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture readings
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

Sermon

"At Work in the Wild"
Mark 1:9-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22
Jesus’ baptism does not conclude with family photos or a cake reception. Instead, the same Spirit that descended like a dove now immediately drives Jesus into the wilderness. There, he is tempted by Satan for forty days. The transition is jarring, but so is baptism. While Jesus did not need baptism in the way that we do, the effect of his baptism shows what baptism does to us. Baptism shakes us loose from deathly lethargy. Enlivened by the Spirit, we are sent into the wild places to work against the evil that works against God. While the work is hard, the victory is already won. Jesus has stared down Satan in the wilderness and on the cross. Jesus journeys now with us. There’s nothing wrong with cake or photos, but the Spirit calls us to work. Baptized into Christ, we are sent into the wilderness to witness to the Kingdom of God.

Hymns

 In our prayers we remember Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois.