January 8, 2021 - Epiphany Devotion - The Baptism of Our Lord
This Sunday, January 10 – 9:30 a.m.
The Baptism Of Our Lord
"The Bright New Light!"
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.
We hope you join us for worship! We look forward to seeing you soon!
You can access the bulletin for this Sunday, January 10, here.
You can access children's activity sheets for this Sunday, January 10, 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 services in January 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!
(As we celebrate the Baptism Of Our Lord, this song touches us and invites us to renew our baptism as well. Our song this week comes with two links: A solo artist and a choral arrangement; enjoy!)
refrain:
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
vs. 1
See that host all dressed in white,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
The leader looks like the Isra’lite,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
(refrain)
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.””
Light. Light reveals things to us.
A new day. How best to find our way, how best to get where we are going. Light helps us see things, find things we either did not notice or had lost along the way. Light shows us the dirt, what needs cleaning.
As we share the season of Epiphany, we trust the same Bright New Light the wise men discovered. Jesus is the brightest newest Light; The Light of the world!
An epiphany is a new revelation, a new insight, a new truth.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord this Sunday, let us remember our own baptism. Let us come in new ways, and wade in the water, in God’s water, each and every day:
The One who created the heavens and the earth, is forever creating new life in each of us!
The One who separated the waters in the beginning, is forever separating us from sin and death!
The One who divided the waters for Moses and the people, is forever clearing the way for us!
The One who shepherds us beside still waters, is forever calming whatever is turbulent for us!
The One who changed water into wine, is forever changing what was, into what is!
The One who provided Living Water at a well, knows just how empty we can feel, and fills us! The One who troubled the water, continues to stir up our hearts!
The same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus, has come upon us, too!
Our heavenly Father looks upon us as His very own, too, and is so well pleased!
In the baptism of Jesus, we see Jesus is The Bright New Light. In our baptism, as we share the same baptism Jesus shared, we see a bright new light in our lives. In our baptism, trust and celebrate this new revelation and truth: The Bright New Light is giving us life, showing us who we are, Whose we are, where we are going, what our calling is, filling us with The Holy Spirit!
Let us pray: Almighty and loving God, at the baptism of Jesus your grace was made known in The Light of your beloved Son, and you filled him with the Holy Spirit. Give us a new epiphany, as you reveal The Bright New Light of Jesus Christ, in the power and priceless gifts for daily living, given in baptism. Let our lights shine as we follow the Light of the world, trusting the gifts of forgiveness, hope, purpose, and life everlasting. In the light and grace of Jesus, we pray. Amen.