After Jesus is baptized in the gospel reading for today,.he hears God's voice proclaim, "You are my son, the Beloved..." When we join together at the table in a few moments, we will probably not see heaven opened, but if you listen carefully, you will hear the voice of God saying, "You are my children, my beloved." and the voice of Jesus adding, "Today I call you my friends." Let us pray.
God who loves us all as dear children, we thank you for our older brother Jesus who came to teach us what a life given to you looked like. We thank you that Jesus gave himself, in life and death, to bridge the gap between you and us. We thank you for these symbols, the bread and cup, that remind us of how much he gave. As we take the bread and cup, fill us again with your Spirit that we may carry the Good News of your love into our world and that, through us, the world will see you. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.