Epiphany Season
“Baptism of our Lord”
January 12, 2025

Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.

As We Gather
This Sunday celebrates the Baptism of Jesus, His ordination and installation into the Public Ministry for which He had come into the world.  His Mission was to bring to light God’s offer of forgiveness, new life, and hope for all of eternity to all who receive by faith His Son. The celebration of Jesus’ Baptism is a good opportunity for us also to celebrate our own. Our Baptism joins us together with Jesus, calls us to walk with Him by faith, bestows God’s forgiveness, new life here on earth, and hereafter in God’s new heaven and new earth. It also bestows God’s deposit of His Holy Spirit so we can already begin living that new life.
 
Furthermore it “ordains” us for a special purpose in life . . . to join with Christ in letting the light of God’s grace shine out into the world, bringing hope to many!  As has been our custom at St. John’s, we invite those who have been baptized in the last year to come forward and light their baptismal candles in remembrance of their Baptism. It’s a good time for us all to remember our Baptisms, thank God for His many gifts to us through this Sacrament, and recommit ourselves to letting our lights shine brightly!

 

 

Epiphany Sunday
“Christ for All”

January 5, 2025

Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.

As We Gather
The coming of the magi to worship the child Jesus is a picture of the nations coming to faith in the Savior.  It is also a picture of the purpose of His coming and the goal of His mission.  Jesus came not just for the Israelites, and not just for us who have come to faith.  He came for all the world, for all nations, for all peoples.  How is He calling us to participate in that mission today?
We will celebrate Holy Communion at this service.