January 8, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On January 6th we celebrated the great feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany is a Greek word that means "manifestation" or "appearance". The season of Epiphany celebrates the many ways that Christ manifests the love of God. This Sunday we recall the baptism of Jesus when his identity as the Beloved of God was proclaimed.

THEME FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

The Gospel records the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Jesus has a heavenly apparition in which he hears, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Jesus, the Beloved of God, makes this experience the foundation of his teaching. He teaches that all people, especially the marginalized, are beloved of God. In the Collect we pray: "Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen."

The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Creation: "In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5) This passage may have been chosen to suggest that Jesus is the new light come into the world.

Psalm 29 celebrates the power of God manifested in a thunder storm: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon the mighty waters.The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon; He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire; the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare ... The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore."

The reading from Acts recounts Paul's teaching about baptism: Paul said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:1-7)

The Gospel passage from Mark announces the beginning of Jesus' ministry through his manifestation as Beloved of God in his baptism by John in the Jordan River: "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."' (Mark 1:4-11)

Please join us for worship this weekend: Saturday at 5:00 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am and 6:00 pm. On

 

Sincerely, David A. Killian Rector

For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here. Please note that the we are now using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) reading. For Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, click here.

worship services for

The First Sunday after the Epiphany
January 10-11, 2009
Saturday, January 10 at 5:00 pm - Sermon: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer
Sunday, January 11, at 10:30 am - Sermon: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer
Sunday, January 11, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Leslie K. Sterling

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