Join us for Sunday Service and Sunday School @ 10 am.

Rev. Stuart Jackson will lead the service on this Sunday.

Following is a brief outline of the sermon for Sunday.

The First Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of Jesus

Although many of us start packing up our Christmas decorations once the gifts have been opened and the turkey bones made into soup. But the Church Year includes the Twelve Days of Christmas (Dec. 25 to Jan. 5). The Day of Epiphany (Jan. 6) is when we read about the visit of the Magi. The word “epiphany” means “revelation” or “manifestation.”

So this Sunday provides a transition to the Season after Epiphany. The scripture readings for this season invite us to reflect on the ways in which God is revealed or manifested to us, through the lives of the people of Israel, and through the life and ministry of Jesus. The First Sunday after Epiphany is also known as “The Baptism of Jesus.”

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 (God’s Chosen Servant)

The prophet Isaiah was active some 7 centuries before Jesus. Many biblical scholars divide the Book of Isaiah into three sections, each covering a period before (First Isaiah), during (Second Isaiah) and after (Third Isaiah) the Exile in Babylon.

This week’s passage comes from the middle section, which features several passages about the Suffering Servant. Although Christians often understand this phrase as a description of Jesus, the prophet was speaking of the nation of Israel as God’s faithful servant.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17 (The Baptism of Jesus)

John the Baptist caused quite a stir in the wilderness of Judea, where he called for repentance and baptism in the Jordan River. His fierce preaching shook up the religious establishment. His message appealed most to those who were on the fringes of society. According to Matthew’s Gospel, “People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.” (Matthew 3:5-6)

In this week’s passage following these verses, Jesus comes to be baptised by John. He spends 40 days in the wilderness being tempted (Matthew 4:1-11), and then begins his ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:12-17).

Through these readings, God’s Spirit-filled voice is heard above the chaos of daily living, revealing God’s power to bring change in us and in our world. This accompanying Spirit plants God’s purpose in our lives, and reminds us that we are God’s beloved children. What does it mean to you to know that you are loved as God’s child and also called to be God’s faithful servant? How are we called to share the good news of the gospel?