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This Week at First

Live Services

9 AM Contemporary

10:30 AM Traditional


Human Relations Sunday: On this day, before the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, we will look at new beginnings. Our scriptures will be taken from Isaiah 62:1-5, where Israel is called on by God to make a new beginning of faithfulness to the Lord. We will also read John 2:1-11, where Jesus begins a new chapter in his ministry by performing his first miracle. What new thing does God want of us, who are God’s children? The message will be titled “A New Beginning.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

Isaiah 62:1-5


The Vindication and Salvation of Zion

62 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,    and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,until her vindication shines out like the dawn,    and her salvation like a burning torch.2 The nations shall see your vindication,    and all the kings your glory;and you shall be called by a new name    that the mouth of the Lord will give.3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,    and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,[a]    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;[b]but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,[c]    and your land Married;[d]for the Lord delights in you,    and your land shall be married.5 For as a young man marries a young woman,    so shall your builder[e] marry you,and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,    so shall your God rejoice over you.

 

 

John 2:1-11


The Wedding at Cana

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”  5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.  7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.  8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.  9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom  10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”  11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.


 











Baptism of the Lord Sunday: This Sunday will be a follow up to last week’s Covenant Service. Our readings will include the story of John baptizing Jesus, which marked a new beginning, a time when his somewhat ordinary life was about to end, and he would begin his public ministry. Using both Acts 8:14-17 and Luke 3:15-18, 21-22 the message will be titled “Called to Serve.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

Acts 8:14-17


14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit  16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come[a] upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).  17 Then Peter and John[b] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  


 

Luke 3:15-18, 21-22


15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a]  16 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[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.  17 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.”

 

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.  


 









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Epiphany Sunday: This Sunday marks both an end and a beginning. It will be the 12th and last day of Christmas, but we will celebrate it as Epiphany and the start of a new season. We will use the day to examine our past and prepare for something new as we once again use the Wesleyan Covenant service and celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Our message will be based on Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12 and titled “Shining the Light.”


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


 

Isaiah 60:1-6


The Ingathering of the Dispersed

60 Arise, shine; for your light has come,    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.2 For darkness shall cover the earth,    and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you,    and his glory will appear over you.3 Nations shall come to your light,    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

 

4 Lift up your eyes and look around;    they all gather together, they come to you;your sons shall come from far away,    and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.5 Then you shall see and be radiant;    your heart shall thrill and rejoice,[a]because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,    the wealth of the nations shall come to you.6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,    the young camels of Midian and Ephah;    all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense,    and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

 



 

Matthew 2:1-12


The Visit of the Wise Men

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem,  2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.”  3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;  4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born.  5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

 

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler    who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’”

 

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”  9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy.  11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.



 









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