January 22, 2021 - Epiphany Devotion - The Third Sunday After Epiphany
As we follow the latest information and recommendations regarding gatherings, please join us in doing everything possible for the health of one and all! Please stay home, if you do not feel well, if you or someone close to you has been exposed, if you or someone close to you has been tested. We will keep you informed with further updates!
Thanks be to God for those who have given their time and leadership as we worship in our sanctuary, and as we together do everything possible to honor, serve, & care for one and all!
You will find more details below, including signing up for worship, signing up to volunteer, what to expect, and children's activity sheets. You can also access these details on our website and on our Facebook page!
Worship each Sunday will be a 30-minute service including live music by our worship leaders, a children's message, and a message from Pastor Jamie. Holy Communion will be offered as the service ends. If you prefer, if your timing is better, from 10:15-10:30 a.m., you are invited to drive up to the curb of the sidewalk in front of the building, and receive Holy Communion in your vehicle.
Each Sunday we will make every attempt to live stream the service for you at 9:30 a.m., available on our Facebook Page.
We hope you join us for worship! We look forward to seeing you soon!
You can access a mobile friendly bulletin for this Sunday, January 24, here.
You can access a printable version of the bulletin for this Sunday, January 24, here.
You can access children's activity sheets for this Sunday, January 24, here.
You can sign up to attend worship in January here.
You can access details and what to expect as we share worship here.
You can access the signupgenius and ways to assist our January services here.
You can give online to share your generosity and support here.
Access the bulletin for this week here, on our website, or on our Facebook page!
Join us next Sunday, January 31,
The Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
"The Bright New Teacher!"
vs. 1
Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown?
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?
vs. 2
Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed Jesus.”
Leaders. Oh, how we need them. Oh, how we wish there were more of them. Oh, how we wish we could trust them. Oh, how we wish we believed they would be faithful.
Leading is not easy. Following is not easy either. Who do you follow these days? Who do you trust? What keeps you from dropping what you are doing that you would follow?
It has been said, `the best leaders have the best followers.’ It has also been said, `the best leaders, began by being the best followers!’
How are you at following? How are you at following Jesus?
The Bright New Leader comes to us ...
Personally summoning us; inviting one and all, to come and follow!
Putting his whole self in!
That we might know The WayA
Sending us, leaving ourselves behind, even when we are not sure how or where to go!
Calling us to drop what we are doing!
To take action, now, no waiting!
Empowering each and every step!
To believe it, and to see it!
Gracing us to make history!
This is how God leads, this is what God does, this is how God is God!
In our Gospel today, Jesus, as The Bright New Leader comes to the first disciples, he summons them, to come and follow, to never be the same; they follow, they follow immediately, they follow taking action, they follow believing.
As we follow The One who first comes to us, who calls us to follow, let us trust, let us surrender, let us boldly answer the call, believing what we have seen, believing it before we ever see it, believing The Kingdom of God has come near, has faithfully come to us; to keep us faithful, to lead us, to save us, to grace us, in The Bright New Light of Jesus Christ!
Let us pray: Almighty and loving God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom, to summon us, to come and follow, to call us by name, to never be the same, as you lead us anew in The Bright New Light. By your Holy Spirit, give us a new epiphany to see this is only the beginning to so much more, as you come to us, as you break into our daily lives, as you grace us to drop what we are doing and to follow you anew. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.