Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
-Matthew 3:13-17
Our daughter-in-law gave birth to our fourth grandchild three months ago. For nine months, we watched and lived with her as her body changed and grew, and we all wondered what this child would be like. The couple refused to reveal a name. Her belly was a great mystery developing, a package of love to be delivered into our family. When Gabriel Bruce did arrive, we were all overjoyed to meet this child. Even now, at three months, we have seen his personality begin to reveal itself.
Baptism is a great revealing. We speak of it as a birth and a bath, a bath washing away sin, and a birth into a new life. A question we have all asked is, “Why is Jesus’ baptism a pattern for our own when Jesus never sinned?” Perhaps the “bath “part of baptism isn’t seen in Jesus’ baptism, but the birth certainly is. Following baptism, Jesus begins public ministry. In baptism, Jesus is revealed as the Christ, the anointed one sent into the world, the son of God. In our baptisms, we are recognized as children of God. It is not so much that we make children of God, that’s God’s work. We recognize, catch up with the divine in the waters of baptism.
Jesus’ public ministry began after baptism. How many of us also need to move into public ministry in ways that perhaps we have not thought of?
The Rev. Paul Moore
Priest at St. Paul’s (email)
In Epiphany We Trace, All the Glory of His Grace
With the First Sunday in Advent, we begin one of two major cycles of the Church year: Advent-Christmas-Epiphany (the Incarnation Cycle). In our liturgies, seasonal changes in scripture readings, liturgical texts, music and practice, along with colors and ornamentation, reveal each season’s meaning within the overall shape of the cycle of which it is a part.
Advent means “arrival” and “coming.” At Christmas, God’s promise of salvation is revealed in the birth of Jesus. Epiphany means “appearance, manifestation.” We hear stories of God revealed in Jesus, God in a human being made manifest. The season begins with the visit of the magi to the manger on the Feast of Epiphany and the baptism of Jesus on the first Sunday after. It ends with the vision of Jesus transfigured on the mountaintop, shot through with the glory of his divinity. Epiphany is a season of growing revelation and realization of what Advent points to and Christmas makes reality…
-The Rev. Janet Campbell
Click here to read the full article on the Diocesan website.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vestry Meetings
The next Vestry meeting is January 13, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Annual Meeting
Our Parish Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, January 19, 2020 following the 9:30 a.m. Bilingual worship service. Your reports are due TOMORROW, January 10, 2020 via email here.
Thank you for all you do!
This Sunday!
Celebration of the Baptism of our Lord: Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Also, our Faith Community Nurses will have a free blood pressure check on Sunday, January 12 during coffee hour here at St. Paul’s.
Choir – TODAY!
Choir practice for the month of January 2020 is on the 9th and 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
You’re the best type – Give Blood!
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) in the Parish Hall here at St. Paul’s. For information and to sign up contact Bloodworks NW at 1-800-398-7888 or go to bloodworksnw.org. Give someone a better tomorrow, donate blood today!
Serving This Sunday: January 9, 2020
8:00 a.m. Baptism of Our Lord
Officiant: Darcy Wells
9:30 a.m. Baptism of Our Lord
Presider: The Reverend Paul Moore
Music Director: Pam Pryor
Musician: David Sloat
E.M.: Andy Schuh
E.V.: Mary Ann Taylor
Greeters: Ray DeBoer, Penny Worrell
Lectors: Alec & Sandy McDougall
*Coffee Hour: Marilyn Allen
Counters: Sharon Johnson, Carol Boss
Sound: Ben Worrell
E.M. is Eucharistic Minister.
E.V. is Eucharistic Visitor.
* Sign-up sheet is in the Parish Hall.