Epiphany 1 Yr B
BeloveD
Chalking of the Doors
Epiphany marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of "chalking the doors." Chalk of any color is used to write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 24.
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi—Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar—who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: "May Christ bless the house." The "+" signs represent the cross, and the "20" at the beginning and the "24" at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.he chalking of the doors is a centuries-old practice throughout the world, though it appears to be someone less well-known in the United Sates. It is, however, an easy tradition to adopt, and a great practice whereby we dedicate our year to God from its very outset, asking His blessing on our homes and on all who live, work or visit them there.
Introduction
"The Beloved." As Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends on him AND a voice from heaven declares him "The Beloved." Imagine being on the riverside when the baptism occurred. Imagine your wonder at hearing those words. Now imagine your awe if you were called "The Beloved". Dear ones, you are. God calls you that too. Baptism for many begins with a family commitment that you seal with your confirmation. At your baptism, the Holy Spirit descends on you ("sealed with the Holy Spirit") and you are officially adopted as "his own" forever. Just imagine! Feel free to leave a comment.
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. . . . 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.”
sermons4kids: John baptized people who repented. He did it in the river Jordan. They were baptized to show the world that God had forgiven their sins. This was a new beginning for them. Even Jesus himself went to John the Baptist and was baptized by him.
Scripture: January 7, 2024—First Sunday after the Epiphany—Genesis 1:1-5 (image); Psalm 29 (image); Acts 19:1-7 (image); and Mark 1:4-11 (image). A visual and oral journey.
Collect: 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.
Reflection: What is the difference between baptism with water alone (John’s baptism; see Acts 19:3, Mark 1:8) and baptism with the Holy Spirit (baptism into Jesus; see Acts 19:4–5, Mark 1:8)? Why is it still important to use water in baptism? What does water mean in your daily life? What difference does the Holy Spirit make in baptism? What difference does the Holy Spirit make in your daily life?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Eye Candy:
“Testify to the Light” (1902) by Jan Richardson;
“Nativity” by He Qi;
“The shepherds went to see the baby” (1998) by Dinah Roe Kendall;
"Baptism of Christ" by Capella Palatina di Palermo;
"Baptism of Jesus" by He Qi;
"Angels and Landscape of the Baptism of Christ" by Leonardo da Vinci
Ear Worm:
“For unto us a child is born” by Handel (London Symphony Orchestra);
“Bethlehem“ by Claude-Michel Schönberg in Martin Guerre ;
“When love was born“ by Mark Schultz;
"Down to the river to pray", of course from "O Brother, Where art thou?"
"The River Jordan", from "The Shack";
"Spirit of the living god", Vertical church
Brain Food:
"Christ climbed down", 1958 poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti;
“The joy—and ambiguity—of Christmas” by Bruce Epperly;
"Living in the shadow of the manger", a worship guide;
"Thou art my beloved . . ."”Love tore the heavens open and spoke. If Jesus hadn't comprehended the fullness of his being before that moment, with the help of John the Baptist at the Jordan River, he understands now. And, as Gregory of Nyssa says, all these things are a figure (typos) of ourselves. The Voice tears open the heavens to declare us Beloved.
So let us celebrate this feast accordingly (meditation one) and acknowledge, too, Christ's thirst, that is, his longing in love for us (meditation two). And let us be love for one another (meditation three).
"Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him." (Gregory of Nazianzus) Amen!
"Happy New Year" by Neil Chappell
Parables:
“Men of honor” (2000, R), struggles of African-American in face of prejudice, obstacles to succeed, Review;
“Brubaker” (1980, R), prison reform, Review;
"There will be blood" (2007, R), baptism as family event or distinction among participants, Review;
"Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring" (2001, PG-13), Frodo is called to leave his home to accomplish a very big task, Mr. Frodo is called to “destroy the evil one”, note elf-queen Galadriel drawing water for reflection, Review 1, Review 2;
“Shipping News” (2001, R), "ripening of a weak-willed man after he is nourished by a place and some special people”, “we face up to the things we fear because we can’t go around them”, about how a difficult childhood affects one's adulthood, Review
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide); Group activities; Snacks; Kid video.
For children: Activity; Bulletin games; Craft.
For middlers: Activity; Bulletin games; Craft.
For youth: Notice in the Acts lesson that the folks at Ephesis had been baptized by John to repent but Paul baptized them in Jesus' name. Once these Ephesian disciples are baptized properly . . . and Paul lays hands on them, the Holy Spirit is activated in them, and they’re off and prophesying. Would that it were so easy today! Notice too in the Old Testament lesson that there was nothing, then "Big Bang" there was everything. Looks like God can create something from nothing (Surprise!). Look around and find the wonder of that creation. Then look in the mirror. What's there?
(excerpted from “Wild goose on the loose” from the Stewardship of Life website.Feel free to comment.
Stepping in the Mud
The mud of human evil
is very deep,
it stinks forcefully,
it is full of dangerous gases,
and there was Jesus,
in front of John,
asking to be allowed
to bend down in that mud.
And John,
no wonder,
hesitated.
But he, Jesus,
he went down,
and when he came up,
the mud still streaming . . .
HEAVEN OPENED,
and a voice was heart . . .
[and] a new Spirit
a new life
and a new heart
were announced,
glory, glory, alleluia.
He was bathed in light . . .
drowned in God's voice . . .
full of spirit;
but what about the mud,
was he going to forget it?
. . . [No]
because once he got the spirit,
that Spirit drove him . . .
to do his work
in this world,
to struggle with evil in us, . . .
in this world,
in order to overcome it.
~Joseph Donders
From Imaging the Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource. Copyright © 1996 by United Church Press, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, page 118.
Today is one of four occasions in the year designated by the Prayer Book as a baptismal day. (The other three are Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints’ Day.) Each of the four days has its particular theme, which enhances our understanding of one aspect of the primary Christian sacrament, Holy Baptism.
On this First Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. Jesus’ baptism was for all the Gospel writers and in the apostolic preaching of the Gospel, the event that initiated the redemptive ministry of the Messiah. It was in that event that Jesus was revealed as Messiah (Christ). God designated him as the beloved son and he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. We administer Holy Baptism today in the context of this theme.
In Holy Baptism, each Christian is adopted as the child of God. Each Christian becomes a “messianic” person, anointed by the Holy Spirit. We do not simply become passive recipients of the benefits of Christ; we are “christed” or christened. We become sharers in his life and in his redemptive ministry.
Those baptized today and anointed with Chrism are received “into the household of God.” They join with that household in confessing “the faith of Christ crucified,” proclaiming his resurrection and sharing in his eternal priesthood—the priesthood that is enacted sacramentally in Eucharist and daily in lives of self-giving love toward one another and toward the world.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.