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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Epiphany 1 Yr C
Introduction
Introduction
"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." These are such comforting words. Yes, I know, "my Son" is Jesus. But I also know that I am God's child too. So these words apply to me as well. God is pleased with me—in Genesis, I read that God created and was "well pleased" with everything he created; in Psalm 139, I read that I am "wonderfully made"; in Romans, I read that I am a co-heir with Christ. What more could I want? Well, yes, I'm still me and still have "wants" but I regularly try to remind myself of these things so I can push my "wants" aside and rest in the knowledge that I am God's child. Your thoughts are welcome.
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
sermons4kids: “Jesus is God’s one-and-only Son, so we must put our faith in Him alone and watch out for fake teachers.”
Scripture: January 9, 2022—Isaiah 43:1-7 (image); Psalm 29 (image); Acts 8:14-17 (image); and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (image).
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: How may I live in the power of the Holy Spirit this day? What in my life is like chaff that the Holy Spirit burns away in order for me to live as a free and faithful child of God?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Images enhancing
the scripture
Baptism of Christ, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/baptism-of-christ
“The Baptism of Jesus Christ” by Pheoris West [scroll to the bottom of the page]
Baptism of Christ (1427) by Ghiberti
Baptism of Christ (1472-75) by Da Vinci & del Verrochio
Baptism of Christ (1991) by James Janknegt
Baptism of Christ (1608) by El Greco
Music founded
in the scripture
“This is my beloved Son“, sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
“This is my beloved Son” by Pepper Choplin
“Behold the Lamb of God” by Handel
Other voices
about the scripture
“Commentary on baptism of Jesus from Luke“ by David Guzik from Enduring Word website
Holy One,
untamed
by the names
I give you,
in the silence
name me,
that I may know
who I am,
hear the truth
you have put into me,
trust the love
you have for me,
which you call me to live out
with my sisters and brothers
in your human family.
© Ted Loder
by: Madeleine L'Engle
Yes, of course. On many days I doubted. My faith grew out of doubt. The child was good but other babies have been good. He shouted when he was hungry, like any child, for food. One simply does not think of the Messiah cutting teeth, eating, and eliminating.
He springs, full-grown, in the great Isaiah—God, servant, king. And I was waiting, remembering in my heart the very things that caused my doubt: the angel's first appearing to me and then to Joseph; shepherds, kings, the flight to Egypt.
Remembering was fearing; doubt helped. I had to face it all as true the day John baptized him. Then he knew.
© Madeleine L'Engle
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“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
“O brother, where art thou?” (2000, PG-13), “zany and hilarious bluegrass version of Homer’s Odyssey”, 3 escaped convicts in search of a treasure, comedic presentation with prayer episodes, baptism in the river scene, Review 1, Review 2
“Pushing Tin“, (1999, R), “impressive spiritual finality”, Review
I've been thinking a lot about hymns lately—ones from our early church (in plainsong), ones from our fellowship times (think converted beer songs), ones from traditional and non-traditional worship services. All are beautiful and have value for me so each week I'm going to present information about one hymn. If you'd like to read about one hymn in particular, let me know. Happy to find and know its history.
"I want to walk as a child of the light." Kathleen Jamerson (b 1934) crafted the words and the music in 1966. And it was an immediate hit! People were adopting it and singing it. It was described as "folk-like" and an uplifting hymn. I recall a music workshop I attended led by Eric Routley. Our signature piece was his arrangement of "I want to walk". What a wonderful experience. There were 150 voices (at least), and Routley's arrangement was grand. It began simply (as does Jamerson's hymn) but for the last verse, modulated up several notes and sopranos were giddy to be singing a wonderfully inspired descant. But that's not all. The surprise ending: after singing the last word, all voices harmonized on the word "Shine!" at our best full volume and held it until we felt it!
Sadly, over time, many who sing this hymn have lost its joy—some presentations are like music boxes, some are slow and plodding. Go listen to some on YouTube. More importantly, go sing it, with vigor and spirit, the way Ms Jamerson intended. SHINE!
Kathleen Jamerson
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide); group activities; snack, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft.
For youth: Sunday's gospel is another of those "wish I could have seen that" stories of Jesus' life: John baptises Jesus, the heavens open, and a voice calls Jesus his son and "The beloved". How startling must it have been! Even so, do you know who else is the beloved? Go look in the mirror. God has called you too as his beloved. And what does he do for his beloved? It's all spelled out in Isaiah 43:1-7. Notice this means all the beloveds. Comments welcome.
On Epiphany, the theme is the manifestation, or showing forth, of Christ to the Gentiles in the account of the Wise Men. Light is the primary symbol, with the Star of Bethlehem as the sign that Christ, the light of the world, has come. On the following Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. This is one of the four days of the year which the Book of Common Prayer designates as baptismal days. (The other three are Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints’ Day.) Even if there is no one to be baptized that day, we reaffirm our Baptismal Covenant as we rejoice that Christ, who was manifested as Son of God in his Baptism, is now made manifest in us, his church, through our Baptism.
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.
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