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| Opening Responses | |
| . | |
| Reader | In the beginning when God created
the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. |
| ALL | AT THE VERY DAWN OF CREATION GOD'S SPIRIT BREATHED ON THE WATERS, MAKING THEM THE WELLSPRING OF ALL HOLINESS. |
| . | |
| Reader | In the days of Noah God cleansed the world with the waters of the flood. Noah and his family lived - and not all who died were guilty. |
| ALL | SETTING A RAINBOW IN THE SKY GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH HUMANITY AND MADE THE FLOOD A SIGN OF THE WATERS OF BAPTISM THAT MAKE AN END TO SIN AND OFFER A NEW BEGINNING OF HOLINESS. |
| . | |
| Reader | Pharaoh ordered the death of male
Hebrew children but his mother hid Moses among reeds and Pharaoh's daughter drew him so safety from the water. |
| ALL | AND MOSES LED GOD'S PEOPLE THROUGH
THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA TO BE AN IMAGE OF GOD'S HOLY PEOPLE SET FREE FROM SIN BY BAPTISM. |
| . | |
| Reader | In the waters of the Jordan Jesus was baptised by John and anointed with the Spirit |
| ALL | THE POWER OF WATER MADE KNOWN
THROUGH THE AGES - A PARADOX: A BRINGER OF DEATH - BUT ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE. |
| . | |
| Scripture Reading: Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22 | |
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| Closing Responses | |
| . | |
| Reader | Jesus made water holy by his
baptism in the Jordan. Our baptism made our sinful nature new and gave us rebirth. |
| ALL | IN BAPTISM WE DIED WITH CHRIST AND LIVE IN THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE UNITED WITH HIM. |
| . | |
| Reader | Through water, we became part of a
story with roots deep in human history. |
| ALL | FROM THE MOMENT WHEN GOD TAMED THE
WATERS, AND LED THE HEBREW PEOPLE THROUGH THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA. WATER - A SIGN OF NEW LIFE. |
| . | |
| Reader | Through the waters of tsunami, the world
was
shaken and feelings of our common humanity reawakened. |
| ALL | MAY THE WORLD CONTINUE TO GROW IN
AWARENESS OF THE LIFE AND PLANET WE SHARE, AND THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE LEAD TO A SUSTAINED CHANGE OF HEART AND SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE IN NEED. |
| . | |
| Reader | And may we who have been called
through the waters of baptism live our lives in daily witness to the God of love: asking his blessing upon us and our world today and every day. |
| ALL | THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. |
| Reader | And until we meet again |
| ALL | MAY GOD HOLD US IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND, |
| AMEN. | |
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© 2005 Wellspring |
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