St. James Presbyterian Church (USA)
“Serving the Kingdom of God for One Hundred and Thirty Years
in the City of New York."
January 11, 2026
The Baptism of the Lord Sunday (Year A)
“Baptism of the Christ #2” – Daniel Bonnell
Please visit our YouTube or Facebook Page to worship with us.
Order of Service
Prelude RE Oscar Maxwell, III
*Call to Worship RE Andréa Bradford
One: Beloved of God, we gather at the water’s edge, where heaven once leaned close to earth.
All: We come to listen for the voice that still speaks life and blessing.
One: Before the ministry begins, before the path is clear, before we know the next step, God calls us by name.
All: We rise to worship the One who meets us in the water, names us beloved, and sends us forward in grace.
Opening Hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” PH 356
Prayer of Adoration RE Andréa Bradford
Creator God, we praise you for drawing near not from a distance, but from within the waters of our lives. You are the God who moves over the deep, who stirs what has been still too long, who makes a way where fear once ruled. We adore you not for what you demand, but for who you are, a Presence that meets us before we are ready, before we are certain. Receive our praise as we wade in trust and step into the mystery of your grace.
Musical Response “Wade in the Water” Negro Spiritual
Call to Confession (Remain Seated) RE Andréa Bradford
Beloved, the water tells the truth. It reminds us that we are not finished, that we hesitate, that we fear surrender, and that we do not always trust the path God sets before us. Yet this moment is not about shame. It is about honesty, and the grace that meets us when we tell the truth. Come, let us speak plainly before God. Confession
Creator God, we confess that sometimes, standing at the water’s edge, the river feels too wide to cross. The way of the world lulls us toward the shoreline, toward what feels familiar, toward what seems safer, toward what keeps us convinced that nothing waits for us on the other side. It is easier to watch the water than to step into it, easier to stay dry than to trust that you will meet us there. We confess how often we remain on the shore, naming our fear as wisdom, our hesitation as faith, our distance as devotion. Forgive us when we forget that you do your deepest work in the water. Give us the courage to begin, not with certainty, yet with a simple step, to wade in the water with you. Amen.
Silent Confession
Musical Response “Deep River” Negro Spiritual
Assurance of Pardon RE Andréa Bradford
Hear the good news. The God who calls you into the water does not leave you there alone. In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven, your shame is released, and your past no longer defines your future. You are not condemned, you are claimed. You are not measured, you are named. Rejoice, beloved. The water has already done its work.
Musical Response “Oh, Happy Day!” Philip Doddridge
Community Life
Commission “Companion in the Word”
Peace of Christ RE Andréa Bradford
Stepping into the water to be baptized, each step Jesus took was a splash of peace for us all. In Christ, peace has a body. In Christ, peace stands among us and invites us to step forward together. The peace of Christ be with you.
And also, with you.
Let the Children Come “A Baptism of Belonging”
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, gift of Christ and breath of God, come among us now. Open the Scriptures to us and open us to their truth. Give us understanding that leads to life, and wisdom that shapes our hearing. As the Word is read and proclaimed, draw us into clarity, courage, and trust. Amen
Special Music “Order My Steps” Glen Burleigh
Scripture Psalm Psalm 29
First Reading Isaiah 42.1-9
Second Reading Acts 10:34-43
Gospel Matthew 3.13-17
Sermon “With Whom God Is Well Pleased” African Diaspora Cohort
*Congregational Hymn “Down to the River to Pray” American Folk Song
Prayers of and for the People
Offering *Doxology Prayer
*Benediction *Musical Amen
*Musical Amen
Postlude
The End of Worship, the Beginning of Service
This week’s worship is shaped by shared Scripture and many voices. Preaching from the same lectionary texts and a common community study, we will hear four distinct proclamations of the Word from gifted preachers from the Cultivating the Gifts of Preaching program of the Synod of the Covenant, funded by the Lilly Endowment, mentored by pastor, Rev. Derrick McQueen, Ph.D.:
• Ajah Hale
• Mary Lloyd-Seales
• Alice O. McCollum
• Orlando Joseph Totobelosa
Whether you are joining us in person or online, you are invited to come as you are—to listen deeply, to remember your baptism, and to trust the Word that still speaks over us all.
Sermon Companion available
Visit our website to access the Sermon Companion prepared for this Sunday, offering shared Scripture, reflection prompts, to guide the week ahead.
Come worship with us.
Come stand near the water.
Come hear the voice that blesses with peace.
Sermon Companion Guide Insert
Baptism of the Lord — January 11, 2026
How to Use This Companion
This Sermon Companion is offered to support worship by helping listeners remain grounded in the Scriptures proclaimed today. All of today’s preachers prepared from the same shared lectionary texts and community study. As different voices preach, this guide invites worshipers to listen for how each sermon draws from the same Word—spoken through promise, justice, peace, and divine delight.
Opening Focus
On the Baptism of the Lord, the Church gathers at a moment of revelation and commissioning. Jesus steps into the water not to be set apart from others, but to stand among them. The Spirit descends. A voice speaks delight. What unfolds here shapes how we understand justice, belonging, peace, and vocation.
As you listen, hold this posture:
I am not here to master the text, but to be addressed by it.
I trust that God’s Spirit is at work through many voices, not just one.
Shared Lectionary Texts
Isaiah 42:1–9 · Psalm 29 · Acts 10:34–43 · Matthew 3:13–17
Listening Through the Texts
Psalm 29 — The Voice Over the Waters
God’s voice resounds over mighty waters—powerful, majestic, unsettling—yet the psalm ends in blessing and peace. Chaos is not denied; it is held within God’s reign.
Listen for:
How divine power and divine peace belong together.
Isaiah 42:1–9 — Justice Without Crushing
God introduces a servant marked not by force, but by gentleness and faithfulness. Justice is established not through domination, but through care for what is fragile. The servant is given as a covenant and a light, opening eyes and releasing those in darkness.
Listen for:
Where God’s justice heals rather than harms, and where quiet faithfulness carries transforming power.
Acts 10:34–43 — Peace Without Partiality
Peter proclaims that God shows no favoritism. Jesus’ ministry—anointed by the Spirit—moves outward in healing, justice, and welcome. Resurrection leads not to retreat, but to witness.
Listen for:
How baptism leads to a widening circle of peace and testimony.
Matthew 3:13–17 — Delight Before Accomplishment
Jesus enters the Jordan to fulfill righteousness. The Spirit descends. God speaks delight—not after Jesus acts, but as he rises from the water. Identity is affirmed before ministry begins.
Listen for:
What it means to be named beloved before anything is proven.
A Pattern to Notice
Across all four readings, a shared movement emerges:
God chooses and upholds before sending.
Power is expressed through gentleness and justice.
The Spirit anoints for peace, not privilege.
Belovedness is declared before work begins.
As you listen to today’s sermons, notice how each preacher bears witness to this pattern from a different angle.
St. James Presbyterian Church, Harlem, NYC
Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen, Ph.D. ©2026
A Word about our preachers:
Ajah Hales
Ajah Hales is a writer, social thinker, race educator, preacher, and small business owner from East Cleveland, Ohio. Her work spans personal essays, editorial writing, and cultural critique that explore how race, privilege, and power shape culture and lived experience. Known for disarming complexity with wit, Ajah often recalls that when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied, “a dictator.”
Her writing has appeared on Medium, and she has contributed to panels and conversations on writing for social change and cultural justice. Ajah is also actively cultivating the gifts of preaching, serving as a substitute preacher who brings thoughtful reflection and equity-centered insight to worship and public dialogue. An established content and copy writer, she supports organizations and individuals through compelling, justice-rooted storytelling. You can also follow Ajah here @ muckrack.com/ajah-hales
Mary Lloyd-Seals
Mary Lloyd-Seals is a faith leader, educator, and community advocate from Detroit, Michigan, and a longtime servant in the Presbytery of Detroit (PCUSA), where she serves as Moderator of the Presbytery for 2025. A former college professor, account executive, and business owner, Mary brings a breadth of professional experience and relational wisdom to church leadership and public service.
Mary’s spiritual vocation extends into cultivating the gifts of preaching and pastoral presence, supporting worship leadership, discipleship formation, and faithful proclamation that honors both tradition and lived experience. Her leadership is shaped by a conviction that preaching and pastoral care are vital to the church’s witness in Detroit and beyond. Whether mentoring emerging leaders or fostering intercultural connection, Mary brings grounded faith and thoughtful discernment to every table she joins.
Alice O. McCollum
Alice O. McCollum is a retired judge, educator, and community leader from Dayton, Ohio, known for her trailblazing service in the judiciary and her enduring commitment to justice. She was the first Black woman elected to the Dayton Municipal Court and later served for nearly two decades on the Montgomery County Probate Court, overseeing thousands of adoptions and strengthening support for vulnerable families.
Before her forty-two-year judicial career, Alice taught at the University of Dayton Law School and served as Director of the Pre-Law Program at Wilberforce University, bringing her gifts for teaching and mentorship into legal education. Her spiritual vocation includes cultivating the gifts of preaching and pastoral presence, offering wisdom shaped by a lifetime of discerning justice, mercy, and community care. She brings a generous spirit and moral clarity to every space she enters.
Orlando Joseph Totobesola
Orlando Joseph Totobesola is a Madagascar-born and reared entrepreneur, coach, and preacher based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he leads with a focus on faith-centered personal and professional growth. He is the founder of the award-winning BLUE Property Services LLC and supports individuals and organizations seeking to align purpose with practice through principled leadership.
Orlando brings a holistic approach that integrates spiritual formation, life coaching, and community engagement, helping others discover clarity of calling and actionable growth. His spiritual vocation extends into cultivating the gifts of preaching and pastoral presence, supporting worship leadership, discipleship formation, and faithful proclamation grounded in lived experience. Through preaching, teaching, and coaching, Orlando fosters spaces where faith, purpose, and integrity converge.