The first Sunday after Epiphany gives us a “God’s-eye-view” of Jesus. We get a sense of the person and calling of Jesus from a divine perspective, and the message is clear, in Christ God partners with us, and invites us to partner with God. The possibilities that this theme presents for worship are very exciting.
READINGS:
Isaiah 43:1-17: A prophecy of God’s rescue of Israel that was predicted and fulfilled, and that reveals that God is Israel’s true Saviour.
Psalm 29: A song in praise of God and God’s mighty voice.
Acts 8:14-17: The Samaritan believers receive the Holy Spirit at the apostle’s laying on of hands.
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22: John predicts the coming of the One who will baptise in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is baptised and God’s voice proclaims his divine Sonship.
REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The readings this week speak two profound and transformational truths: 1. God is actively involved in the world, and in the lives of people, to save and empower; 2. Even as God enters our experience, God also transforms it by offering us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As a result of these two actions of God, we know that God partners with us in our struggles and God invites us to partner with God in the work of salvation and liberation.
CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: This era in history finds the world facing huge, inter-related crises. Symptomatic or one-dimensional approaches have been shown and recognised to be ineffectual and the need for inter-disciplinary, systemic and collaborative approaches is clear. Increasingly, though, people of all disciplines are recognising that there is also a need for Divine partnership – an active drawing on God’s creative, inspiring and empowering Spirit – to address the challenges we face. The celebration of the Baptism of Jesus is an ideal opportunity to open ourselves to the Spirit that Jesus offers, and to reaffirm our commitment to God’s call to be participants in God’s saving work.
LOCAL APPLICATION: In every community, in every life, there is a need for resources that are beyond our human capacity. Maintaining faithful marriages, keeping families strong, resisting the siren call of greed, addiction, immediate gratification, expediency and personal satisfaction, and making a contribution to the needy around us, all require more of us than we are capable of giving on our own. However, even as God calls us to live with integrity and wholeness, God enters our world and gives us God’s Spirit to help us to do it. Jesus’ act of being baptised is the assurance of his commitment to partner with us, and is the invitation for us to participate in the work of God’s reign.
RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
God Speaks
Partnering With God
God’s Ability
Hymns:
To God Be The Glory
A Charge To Keep I Have
Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine
May The Words Of My Mouth (Link to YouTube video)
More Love, More Power (Link to YouTube video)
Spirit Of The Living God (Link to YouTube video)
Breathe (Link to YouTube video)
Video:
The Baptism Of Our Lord (From TheWorkOfThePeople.com)
Images:
Here’s a list of links to images from The Text This Week
