Greeting
Leader: John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.
Congregation: Almighty Father, repentance does not come easy to us.
Leader: Jesus came after John, is more powerful than John, and baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Beloved Jesus, use your power to transform us.
Leader: At Jesus' baptism, the heavens were torn apart, the Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus, and God's voice was heard coming from above.
Congregation: Holy Spirit, make us pleasing to our Father.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Holy God, whom Jesus pleases, like the droves of people who sought John in the wilderness, we are an unholy people who are not pleasing in your sight.We have much to confess. Even now our repentanc…