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This Week at First

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10:30 AM Traditional

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This Sunday is Groundhog Day! The day a groundhog predicts the weather. It is also the day guest speaker, Phil DeIvernois, reflects on the themes of light and shadows and recounts the Bible story of Mary and Joseph bringing their baby, Jesus, to the Temple where they encounter Simeon and Anna and hear a shocking prediction.


See you Sunday.




Isaiah: 9: 2-6


2 [a] The people who walked in darkness    

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—    

on them light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation,    

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you    

as with joy at the harvest,    

as people exult when dividing plunder.

4 For the yoke of their burden,    

and the bar across their shoulders,    

the rod of their oppressor,    

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors    

and all the garments rolled in blood    

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For a child has been born for us,    

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;    

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 



Luke 2:22-36


Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),  24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

 

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;[a] this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[b]  27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[c] came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,  28 Simeon[d] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

 

29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant[e] in peace,    according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,31     which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles    and for glory to your people Israel.”

 

33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.  34 Then Simeon[f] blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed  35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

 

36 There was also a prophet, Anna[g] the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,  

 












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10:30am Service:



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We all have habits and things we do on a recurring basis; some are good and some not so good! Jesus also has some good habits. This week, we will look at one of them recorded in Luke 4:14-21. We will also look back to Nehemiah’s time as we read selected verses from the 8th chapter of the book that bears his name (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 7a, 7c, & 8-10). “A Good Habit” will be the theme of the day.


See you Sunday.


Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim


Luke 4:14-21


The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.  15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

 

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,  17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

 

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,    because he has anointed me        to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives    and recovery of sight to the blind,        to let the oppressed go free,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  



Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 7a, 7c, & 8-10


 8 1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.  2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.  3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.  


 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.  


7 Also the Levites,[a] helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places.


 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

 

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.  10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  











9am Service:




10:30am Service:




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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.










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