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This Week at First

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10:30 AM Traditional

January 12th: Called to Serve

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    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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    January 5th: Shining the Light

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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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      December 29th: Timeless Lessons

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        First Sunday of Christmas: As we continue celebrating the Christmas season, we will read about a 12-year-old boy who was curious about God, the temple, and religion in general. He listened, asked questions, and learned. As we read Colossians 3:12-17 and Luke 2:41-52, we should realize we too should listen, ask questions, and learn about God, the place of worship, and our religion. Our message will be “Timeless Lessons.”


        See you Sunday.


        Grace and Peace,

        Pastor Jim


        Colossians 3:12-17


        12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ[b] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[c]  17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.




        Luke 2:41-52


        The Boy Jesus in the Temple

        41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 When his parents[a] saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[b]  50 But they did not understand what he said to them.  51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

         

        52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,[c] and in divine and human favor.











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