P a g e | 1

First Sunday after Epiphany

10 January 2016

The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to thank Rev Margaret Whyte, retired Minister

previously of Pollokshaws Parish Church, Glasgow, for her thoughts on the first Sunday after

Epiphany.

Contents

Isaiah 43: 1-7 ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Psalm 29 ................................................................................................................................................. 2

Acts 8: 14-17 ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22 ................................................................................................................................. 4

Introduction to the Scripture ................................................................................................................ 5

Time with Children ............................................................................................................................... 16

Sermon Ideas ....................................................................................................................................... 18

Additional Resources ...........................................................................................................................26

P a g e | 2

Helping people prepare for reading the Bible in worship can make a

real difference. Overcoming nerves, reading in ways suitable to the

text, speaking clearly etc.

You may wish to email these three links to the people reading Scripture on Sunday to support them

in their involvement in worship: Managing your nerves; Creative readings; Worship at the Lectern

Bible Readings

For this first Sunday after Epiphany the theme uniting all the Readings is: the holy, transcendent

God, the creator and redeemer of Israel God’s chosen people, has come again to redeem every

man woman and child, in Jesus Christ, and can work through them by God’s Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 43: 1-7

This passage forms the concluding part of a longer poem beginning in 42: 5. The unknown

prophet of Israel's Babylonian exile, called Deutero or Second Isaiah, writes this poetic promise

of the return of the exiles to their homeland in Judea. Like all prophets, he spoke for Yahweh,

giving their scattered people the great hope that despite there being seemingly insurmountable

obstacles, God would bring them back. Isaiah reiterates the concrete faith based on their

experience of Yahweh's ancient covenant with Israel as Yahweh's chosen people. It is a

dominant theme throughout their history of oppression and suffering, that Yahweh would

intervene and redeem them.

As Christians we rely on the grace of God in Jesus Christ as the source of redemption, rather than

the covenant of Yahweh with Israel as this prophecy promises.

Psalm 29

This psalm starts out benignly with heavenly beings (perhaps angels) encouraged to bow down

and give the praise and adoration that God is due. However, when the Lord appears, it is not as a

nice benign deity, but as a God of power and might who rules the wind and waves. Even a few

crashes of thunder and flashes of lightening can make us sit up and take notice. A storm in full

flood as the Psalmist so vividly describes with the sea whipped up, the wind strong enough to

bring down the giant cedar trees, shake the mighty oaks, strip the trees of their covering, and

P a g e | 3 even make the mountains and the desert appear to move under his feet, is a storm of terrifying

proportions.

Unlike the Psalmist, we may understand the meteorology causing such wild weather. Yet to be in

the midst of such a storm still brings out primeval fears in all of us, and can still evoke childish

fears stoked by superstition, that it is the voice of an angry God threatening his creation, when

even his voice can command such power.

Yet the Psalm ends with assurance and reassurance. This omnipotent, powerful God can share

part of this power, giving strength to his people. God is the generous and loving God who also

brings peace – shalom, peace with God, the whole created realm and his loving creation,

humankind. The one who brings mighty storms can also bring peace The one who can control

the whole of creation can also guarantee strength power and peace. The one who can control all

this is also in charge of history.

Acts 8: 14-17

There is a lot of background to this wee pericope which unfortunately may point to the rivalries

and troubles that affected the early church. After the death of Stephen, many of Jesus’ followers

fled Jerusalem, preaching everywhere they went. We are told Philip, like the martyred Stephen,

was not an apostle, but a deacon in the newly formed church. In Samaria he preached and

Baptised with great success.

Despite the laying on of the hands of the apostles before his journey, there seems to have been

an element of uncertainty, perhaps jealousy of his success. And so Peter and John are sent to

find out about the efficacy of his conversions. Maybe Philip called for their help as there was no

evidence of his converts having received the Holy Spirit. We can only conjecture. The people

who heard Philip and were impressed by his message and miracles may have confused his

miracles as similar to the magic of Simon. And Peter and John are sent to trouble shoot. Why,

though, if the deacons were chosen because “they were full of faith and the Holy Spirit” could

only the apostles themselves dispense the Holy Spirit?

Commentators say this is reflecting a later period (perhaps early 2nd century) when apostolic

confirmation had become the sole preserve of the episcopacy. The laying on of hands by the

P a g e | 4 apostles shows a development in the sacramental theology of the church, and that it becomes

the prerogative of the Apostolic Bishop, confirming converts with the Holy Spirit. Judaism and

John the Baptist had practised baptism as acts of purification, symbols of turning away from

sins. Christian Baptism however was the sacramental act where the Holy Spirit filled the

candidate.

This passage may also point to the known rivalry between Peter and Paul as Acts is at great pains

to present Peter as having the same mission to the Gentiles as Paul and that Peter had a much

wider ministry than just in Jerusalem.

It may also reflect the problem the church had with Gnosticism in Samaria, blamed on Simon

Magus referred to by Justin Martyr and Iranaeus around the middle of the second century.

Whatever the complicated background this pericope placed where it is actually detracts from

the whole success of Philip’s ministry which was substantial. However the main theme as in all of

the readings is the gift of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised, effectively working through his

followers.

Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

In contrast to the other gospels, Luke tacks on Jesus’ baptism to the end of the story of John the

Baptist and gives a very brief rendering of Jesus’ baptism. Though brief, the details are the same

– at Jesus’ Baptism, the Spirit descended on him as a dove, and Jesus is given the reassuring

benediction from God. “You are my own dear son. I am pleased with you.”

In Judaism, as was said earlier, baptism was offered to converts as a means of cleansing and

purification. Ritual cleansing was completed by the priests and Levites. John too called for

repentance from past wrongs and Baptism was the outward sign of the internal process of

purification and the decision to turn from the past to a new life. And The One who had no need

of cleansing, felt the need to receive this from John; firstly to align himself with all humanity and

secondly as a special act of commitment. The moment had come for Jesus to begin his ministry.

Perhaps he saw this Baptism by John as an act of personal commitment, turning from his old life

to the new life on his journey with God. God confirms this move with his blessing.

P a g e | 5 The vision of the dove symbolised the gift of the Holy Spirit, something only Jesus experiences in

Luke's account. Some commentators think that Luke described it this way to emphasise Jesus'

absolute divinity in a manner corresponding to his conception. I’m not quite sure of that myself,

however these wonderful words of assurance from Jesus’ heavenly father, give divine approval

to the direction the man Jesus had chosen as a human being.

John the Baptist said that Jesus would “baptise with the Holy Spirit” but in John’s no nonsense

approach this also has implications of judgment. This was important for the early Church where

Luke’s Gentile audience would have made a very public and sometimes a very costly decision to

undergo Christian Baptism.

The descent of the Spirit and divine blessing on Jesus after his baptism reassures Jesus, those

early converts so long ago and ourselves, of the real and eternal significance of deciding for

Christ.

Introduction to the Scripture

3rd after Christmas 10 January 2010 - The Baptism of Christ - Year C

CH4 212 Morning has broken...

CH4 321 Come and join the celebration

CH4 302 It was on a starry night

CH4 191 Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you

CH4 336 Christ is our light

CH4 303 It came upon the midnight clear

CH4 345 Halle, halle, hallelujah…

CH4 334 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

CH4 319 Of the Father’s love begotten…

CH4 459 Crown him with many crowns…

Despite being 10th January, I would still have a couple of Christmas Carols.

P a g e | 6 Choir,

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us today as we sing your praises, bend us mould us, remake

us in your image.

Call to worship.

God says to each one of us.

“You are my children, my beloved, I am very pleased with you.” Today as we gather together for

worship, let us respond to our loving God with the offering of our hearts.

Opening prayer suggestions (Personally adapted)

Our God who created the heavens and stretched them out, We praise you!

You fashioned the earth and all that lives here, We praise you!

Listen, for the Lord who created you says, “Do not be afraid,

For I have redeemed you. I have called you by name –

You are mine. You are precious to me.

I love you. I honour you. I am with you.

I was the one who taught you how to walk on the earth.

I was the one who took you in my arms;

I lifted you like a little child to my cheek.”

(Silence)

Listen, Lord, it is your people who say: We are your children,

The creatures of your care, The bearers of your image.

Renew your spirit within us, for we are your beloved as you are our well beloved God

This day, We will walk by your light, Live by your spirit,

And follow your son. In whose name we pray saying… Our father… Amen

P a g e | 7 Gracious and loving God –

you call to us across deep waters and dark places.

Yours is the light which guides us

and the voice which we follow.

We pray that you would open up your heavens

and send your Spirit upon us.

As we worship you

let us hear your voice once again.

May those without hope be encouraged

and those who are sad be given new joy.

You want us to learn more about your love for us,

and we want your help

to make our lives less selfish

and more loving.

And so we come to Church

to listen to what you have to say to us,

to ask your forgiveness,

to give you thanks for what you do for us

and to share with you the hopes you have given us through Jesus.

Amen

Morning has broken, like a new morning,

we praise you for each new day, year and moment,

blessing you that the sun rises each new day

with promise and hope,

likewise our year stretches out unknown, unfamiliar,

but your known and familiar hand

will go with us into each new situation.

We praise you for your love for us new every day,

for your affirmation and assurance of grace

P a g e | 8 that helps put us back on our feet again,

when the world has beaten us down.

Forgive us when we take that grace for granted or stupidly ignore it.

Assure us now, that you are with us,

that you love us stupid though we are,

renew your spirit within us,

for we are your beloved

as you are our well-loved and loving God.

Amen

Intercessions (Personally adapted)

Beloved, Not will become, not will grow into, not has potential but simply beloved.

Just as God called Jesus beloved,

whoever we are, whatever we do, wherever we go,

God will find a way to assure us that we are beloved.

We might as well get used to the idea

and consider ourselves and those around us as beloved of God.

Yet what a way to live, a way to love, a way to grow – beloved of God.

O God, your love has surrounded us

from before the time we were conceived,

your love and your care for us has been, is,

and will ever be, a part of you because of your promise to yourself,

and to Christ Jesus your Son, and to us that it would be so.

So often, O God we seek your love

as if it was somehow lost to us - as if we had to win your approval,

or worse - is if we had to find you –

as if you had wandered from us rather than we from you.

Yet when we pause for a moment,

as we pause now, we know that your love is still here,

P a g e | 9 present to us, present for us,

and that all we have to do is embrace you

with our heart and our mind, and you will flood our souls...

We thank you Father God, we thank you;

and we pray for the blessings of new beginnings within your love.

We pray for the blessing of being able to go forward with a hug,

he blessing of knowing that there is someone to turn to,

the blessing of trusting that one's daily needs will be met,

the blessing of companionship and assurance,

the blessing of scripture and the indwelling Spirit,

the blessing of truth and compassion, upon everyone.

Listen as we name people we know to you in our hearts

and as we remember those less well known to us,

or unknown - those in positions of authority

and those in lands of hunger and need

and those afflicted in body, soul, or spirit.

We pray for a blessing on our church facing a new future,

a seemingly uncertain future if it was without your guidance, blessing and assurance.

But we know that you walk with us down each road we take,

that we already have the assurance of your love

and the way becomes clear as we put or trust and confidence in you our God and Father.

Send us out into your world

with love to those who know no love.

Send us to bring joy to those who need it most.

Send us with peace to those who know only anger and hatred.

Send us with forbearance to those who test our patience.

Send us with Goodness so that people see more of you.

P a g e | 10 God of all faithfulness and hope,

use our gifts, our money and our time as we bring you the worship of our hearts.

These things we praise you for,

these things we thank you for,

these things we ask for,

in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen

O God, You have blessed our lives

by revealing Your love for us in Jesus - Your beloved Son.

We offer these gifts as tangible expressions of our joy and gratitude,

and pray that through them and our witness and service –

others may come to recognise and experience

Your presence in the world.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Father in Heaven, you sent your Son to be baptised among sinners,

and to seek and save the lost.

May we, who have been baptised in His name,

never turn away from the world,

but reach out in the power of your love to rescue the wayward

and to draw them to you and to the healing that you provide...

Lord of the Nations - Eternal King - we pray for the world today –

and especially for those who suffer this day....

We pray for the lost and those who are living in darkness –

that they may be touched by your Spirit

and led into the light that casts out all darkness

and heals the wounds that are caused by their sin or the sins of others...

We pray for those who are hungry

and those who have no home to call their own.

P a g e | 11 We remember too those who are victims of war

and the power of human greed, apathy, and hatred...

We pray for those who are sick, that there may be healing;

and for those who are dying that they may know your comfort...

Almighty God Lord of all creation,

We thank you for creating the world and for preserving it.

We thank you for the regular return of day and night

and of the seasons and for the dependability of nature and of time.

We thank you for the mystery of life and growth;

the fullness we have while others struggle to feed themselves;

the fullness we have in Christ.

We thank you for the mystery of our life and growth made new and splendid in him.

Our God, in the beauty of the world around us

we see the reflection of your eternal glory.

May we show our gratitude by our efforts to conserve the vitality of this earth,

by holding in reverence all life

and by our concerns for a fair distribution of the earth’s resources.

Let all be nurtured and cherished and grow in goodness and faith.

Help us to keep our faith and life deeply rooted in you and your grace and love.

We thank you for memory which enables us to appreciate the past

and to build on the experience of history and of people of faith.

For imagination which admits us to a wider world than we could otherwise know

and for foresight, by which we plan for the future.

And for the love of the good news and love and new life we find in Jesus,

which we want to share with others.

P a g e | 12 But we confess that we litter your wondrous creation

with so many sordid and ugly things of our own making.

And we often let you down in neglecting the Gospel and our neighbour.

Forgive our foolish ways, and help us that we may have a better understanding

of creation and a deeper reverence for all you have made.

We pray for the children of your love.

For those who suffer pain, for those whose minds are disturbed,

for those who are worried about something or someone.

For those who are satisfied with less than the life for which they were made.

We pray for our families, we pray for our work,

we pray for the places where we play and relax.

We pray for our community our country, for our church.

And we pray for ourselves,

…Silence…

Make us willing always to put others first

and the grace never to forget you and all your love towards us.

Accept our gifts with our gratitude and may our lives from day to day show your glory.

Benediction

Go out into the world, with this sure and certain hope…

God is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending,

God’s blessing is with you all, now and forever more.

P a g e | 13 Meditation (Scripture union)

Lord of the years, we ask your blessing on this New Year.

In the opportunities to come, may you be our guide.

In the disappointments to come, may you be our comfort.

And may Jesus the light of the World lead us to peace and salvation now and always,

Amen.

Lord of the years, this New Year Time we dedicate not only our offerings to you but our lives.

Use them, use each one of us for your love’s sake.

The Kingdom of God has invaded our world.

The future is here in part.

If we look around we can see where God is at work and ruling.

There are signs that God’s kingdom is present in the world.

They give us hope that the kingdom is here in part now,

and that it will come in all its fullness.

Where are they?

What are they?

How and where is God at work?

In our prayers let us close our eyes and travel with me

as I guide you on a journey that might help you to clarify some answers to these questions.

Imagine that you are in your home.

Look around.

Imagine the people there, those you love,

and those you love still but who are away from home now,

imagine those who come to the door,

the letters and cards that have come through the letterbox recently.

Can you see signs of hope there?

P a g e | 14 Perhaps you see acts of kindness, love in action, thoughtfulness, people facing problems and not

hiding from them, people laughing, enjoying each other’s company.

As you think of a sign of hope, quietly thank God for it.

Now go to the front door, open it and move into the street or onto your landing.

Walk out into your community.

Where are the signs of hope – of help and care, of friendships that cross races, ages and

genders, of groups working to alleviate pain and suffering, of campaigning groups working for

justice and peace in your community, of people giving time and skills voluntarily for the sake of

others?

Thank God for each of the signs of goodness that you identify…

In your imagination return home and turn on the television news.

Imagine the world stage and the signs of hope that you might see there – of goodness

triumphing over evil, of someone drying another’s tears, of the rebuilding of homes and hopes,

of negotiation triumphing over violence, of people giving up their own comfortable ways of

living so that others might be more secure, of people losing their lives so that others might live.

Thank you God for each sign of hope that you identify.

Now switch off the television.

Imagine that in front of you is a mug.

Pick it up.

It is half full, not with coffee but with the signs of hope that you have identified,

Thank God for them and remember them.

God is at work in his world. He is here and we have hope.

Then think about why the mug is half empty.

We could remake our journey looking for signs of hopelessness, but we don’t need to because

we are only too aware of the non-peace within and around us. Our mug is not yet full because

P a g e | 15 we live in a troubled world. That waits for the Second coming of the messiah. We wait for him

with hope and in faith.

With such hope we know that one day our cup will be full. Christ will come and there will be a

new heaven and a new earth, hallelujah.

But until then we pray that God will help us to make the cup of hopefulness fuller, to fill it day by

day with our own hopefulness, our own love, our own efforts to make the world a better place

for others.

In addition to the above prayers, prepared by our contributor, other prayers may be

found in Living Stones which is the theme for this year’s Pray Now. It was also the

theme for Heart and Soul 2015. Living Stones is available from St Andrew Press.

P a g e | 16 Time with Children

I wish it could be Christmas every day - recycling Trees, paper, cards – recycle Christmas message

so that it is Christmas every day.

Packaging (Christian Pastoral Aid Society adapted)

Children, do you still get pocket money in return for doing jobs around the house. Does any child

have the chore, the responsibility for taking out the rubbish, to the bin. When I was small it was

my brother’s job, it was all he did, and we used to fight about it because he always wriggled out

of it.

But in my house we seem to put out more rubbish than we bring in to the house. Carrier bags

from the supermarket come in the door, but twice as much rubbish seems to go out the other

end.

Some of the Rubbish from Christmas time.

The packaging some parcels is so nice don’t want to open them, sometimes fight and a struggle

to get into them. Sometimes so disappointed with what is inside that you’d rather have the

packaging.

Packaging is to protect what’s inside.

Packaging is to attract you to buy.

WE are often too quick to judge things and people by their appearance by the clothes they wear,

by the colour of their skin. Wrong of course it is what is inside a person that is important – it is

what is inside a persons’ heart.

And only God can see that; it doesn’t matter what you look like to God, it is what is in your heart

that is important.

Christmas time is just a memory to us now, packaging all in the bin, the important bit, the toy the

game, the smelly stuff is still around, it is not the packaging of Christmas that is important, we’ve

sorted that out.

That is true of life too; we must sort out what is important and get rid of the rest.

P a g e | 17 God sent his love wrapped up in the packaging of a little child. He sent his son wrapped up in the

packaging of a human being. That is what is important

Focus on Baptism

Gather children round the font ask them what it is, what it is for, what Baptism means, or if

children are not forthcoming explain.

Today, the adults will be learning about Jesus when he was baptised. At our baptism God renews

the promise that has been with there ever since we were born. God loves us and promises to be

with us forever. God never breaks his promise, ever. God never forgets.

In Baptism God promises to be with us always - for our whole lives. God will be with us and help

us to walk where we should go - and when we are not sure what to do - if we hold on tight to

him - if we close our eyes - and we pray - we can feel him trying to lead us and we can do what

we promise to do in baptism - which is to walk with him wherever he goes. At our baptism God

promises to always be with us.

P a g e | 18 Sermon Ideas

Below are a couple of sermons I have preached previously. Other ideas would be about getting

back to basics after the distractions of Christmas. What does it mean to be a Christian? Do we act

as though we have the Spirit of God, the risen Christ within us?

Who is Jesus? Do we accept the baby and reject the man like so many others do, celebrating

Christmas and ignoring the rest of the Christmas message? Who do people say that Jesus is, in

the way they wondered if John might be the Messiah? Is he the Messiah, the son of God,

Prophet, teacher, revolutionary, Socialist, dreamer, magician, worker of miracles, etc. Is he only

the teacher and dreamer or is he the Son of God? Who is Jesus for you!

10 January 2016 - Baptism of Christ - 3rd Sunday after Christmas.

We know today that Christmas is well and truly past with the disappearance of trees and

decorations from Church and from home. But did you hear about the man who celebrates

Christmas Day every day? He loves Christmas so much and loves that special warm Christmas

feeling, that he celebrates it every day of the year, with the whole caboodle of Christmas Dinner,

Tree, and trimmings, presents, everything.

He’s eaten hundreds of Turkeys and Christmas Puddings and thousands of Brussels sprouts; and

sent himself thousands of Christmas Cards. He has even designed for himself a Christmas

funeral, no matter what time of the year he eventually dies. But the good news is that he’s

cutting back because of the Credit Crunch. Instead of posting Christmas Cards to himself from

now on, he’s just going to give himself the cards – every day!!!

What struck me most – was that though he loves Christmas, and loves celebrating what he calls

the real Christmas, there was no mention of what we call the real Christmas, what Christmas is

really all about and why we have Christmas in the first place. It is of course, that God came down

to earth in the form of a tiny baby calling his name Jesus the saviour of the world. Emmanuel,

God is with us. That is the real meaning of Christmas.

Even though many of us feel glad to get back to normal, many of us can also identify with this

man wanting to keep hold of that special Christmas feeling.

P a g e | 19 For example the atmosphere in this church on Christmas Eve was one I have never experienced

anywhere else and I would really want to hang on to that special closeness to God that I felt on

that night, all year round, every day of the year.

Yet these high moments of our faith, are transient, even annual celebrations especially like

birthdays and anniversaries, the high exciting moments of life, are past all too quickly and the

descent into normality can prove somewhat depressing. Perhaps, because we pour so much into

it, such preparations, such excitement, and it all passes so quickly,

So it is normal to want to hold on to the specialness of Christmas; to not let it go yet. The magic,

the mystery, the goodness and the utter goodwill; we don’t want to let go of it, perhaps because

things seem so very bleak at this moment. I was driving through Shawlands and saw there was a

Christmas banner at the cross still in place. It reads “Peace on earth” and I nearly wept when I

thought of the suffering and death around the world. When will there be peace on earth?

Yet Christmas takes us to a spiritual high, which for many is not matched even by Easter! But

spiritual highs are probably even more transient than other highs of Birthdays etc.

Today we think of Jesus being Baptised in the Jordan by John; a real high moment of his journey

which is just beginning, a moment of adoption and assurance that God is with him and that his

time has come. What a sensational feeling that must have been. But it didn’t last as he is

propelled out into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Spiritual high moments are real. Someone once said – it was either Tom Allan or George Mcleod,

that at Christmas “heaven stoops down to earth;” but not only at Christmas. At Christmas we

proclaim and we mean it - that God came among us and God came among us to stay.

Such experiences of God come unexpectedly and mostly unasked for and I’m afraid it must be

confessed, they are so fleeting that those not tuned into the spirit are likely to miss them

entirely.

Remember only the shepherds heard the angels; only the Magi saw the star. But the tidings they

heard from God were true. The word of God has been made flesh in the form of Jesus Christ and

nothing can ever be the same again. Thank goodness they were listening and believed.

P a g e | 20 Spiritual high moments are real – but for the ordinary Christian they might not happen all that

often. And that is probably a good thing, because we ordinary Christian folk couldn’t cope too

well with another John the Baptist, complete with sandals and locusts. If our church was ruled

by a modern day giant like Paul, our churches would either be bursting at the seams, or emptier;

simply because Paul demands a Christianity that is far too hard for many of us. He makes

demands that ordinary people are not always prepared to or able to meet.

And although many of us might think in passing that it would be wonderful to have a really

spectacular revelation, then I think we haven’t really understood the cost and the pain. Look

how it drove John and Paul, who had no time for anyone and anything but the spirit and the

message which drove them.

But perhaps just once we would like a similar experience. And though not like Paul and John we

each have had our moments with God – in a conversion experience dramatically, or quietly in

worship; when a hymn has struck a chord; or in private devotions, something from scripture has

jumped out at you – and you know this was God’s message for you

– God speaking directly to you, or in crisis moments or in moments of dark bereavement God has

drawn very near or you felt raised up to heaven itself and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt

that God is with you.

I received a letter from a husband and wife telling me of an experience they had had. I

conducted their only child’s funeral service, with just the three of us to mourn him.

They went back up home, taking the ashes of their son with them, comforted as they said, that

they were bringing him back home and he would be ever present with them. They arrived in the

dark, and began to unload their bags from the car, very aware of the outside light that despite

having been changed repeatedly over a 3 year period, had always refused to work.

And as the case containing their sons remains was lifted from the car, suddenly after three years

of darkness, the light shone out brightly as if to welcome him home.

The parents were ecstatic over what was for them a wonderful spiritual experience, a miracle

and confirmation that Jesus the light of the world was letting them know of his presence and

that their son was now in his care.

P a g e | 21 But it wasn’t only the light illuminating for their son, but the night was so silent and unusually

calm which is a far cry from the normal winter’s weather where they lived, where the wind is

constant, ferocious and cold. The peace and calm were so profound and apparent that it was as

though those parents stood in a vacuum where peace and tranquillity existed, outside the

normal world.

This experience gave them enormous comfort, increased their faith and is something that can

now never be taken from them, even if nothing like it ever happens again. They truly believe it

was God giving them this heavenly experience to comfort them and to let them know that their

child was safe and truly in God’s hands.

And so high moments do come. As I speak you will be remembering your own moments. They

are not to be wasted, but to be held on to, like Mary we must treasure these things in our hearts,

For their remembrance will provide light for the dark days and encouragement in the spiritually

dry times.

Remember how the people of Israel, in the very darkest times of their history, recalled God’s

presence and protection when they were led from slavery. And they still do so today.

In the normal run of things, spiritual high moments are not all that common, and for most of the

time we are facing life’s challenges and coping with the ordinariness of things when nothing

particular seems to be happening. Perhaps the strength of the Christian faith and the growth in

grace, lies in persistence and in hanging on by our finger tips.

Jesus at the high moment of his Baptism when he heard God speak and the spirit descend on

him, was given the inspiration and the grace to last through difficulties and dangers until the last

on the cross.

No wonder though we want to cling on to that Christmas experience, for nothing touches our

hearts like the love of God made manifest in that little child. Well it’s only another 350 or so days

to go. May the remembrance of Christ’s nativity see us all through this year that lies before us.

P a g e | 22 Sermon

I sat down to watch the mystery drama The Bletchly Circle on Monday night, only to have

forgotten that it is a series and not a complete episode – like Foyle’s War or Poirot.

So that when it came up “to be continued next week,” I was so disappointed, because I wanted

to know now what happened, I didn’t want to have to wait another week to find out. Writers

and film makers love to keep us holding on, gasping for more, eager to come back next week for

the next or the final instalment.

Well with the Gospel writers it is the other way around. I always moan at this time of year that I

find it very hard that immediately after Christmas, when we have barely had time to enjoy the

birth of Jesus, and all that means for us, that suddenly he is a grown man and being Baptised.

I would always want to hold on to Christmas a little longer, a lot longer; to hold on to that baby a

bit longer. Last Sunday we were celebrating the Wise Men bowing low, recognising a king in this

baby in a humble manger and now a week later Jesus is all grown up and beginning his ministry.

It is as if the Gospel writers want to get to the end quickly.

So here we are not even 3 weeks after Christmas; our chocolates still not all eaten and Jesus is a

grown up man of 30 or so and the Gospel writers just can’t wait to get on with the story, to get

to the end and what a glorious ending it is on Easter Morn.

Yet when we think about it the Baptism of Jesus is a really good passage for a New Year only 10

days old. For after Christmas, after the birth at Bethlehem, there is another birth, a re-birth, a

new beginning in the life of Jesus, as there is with us - it is the beginning marked by baptism,

marked by the acceptance of us within the love of God, and of our own calling to do God's will

and to minister to others.

When Jesus had been baptised, 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, "you are my own dear Son - Beloved Son in the King James translation,

with whom I am pleased".

P a g e | 23 It is a very personal message for that 30 year old young man."You are my own dear Son, I am

pleased with you". And what powerful words of affirmation these are. What a way to begin a

new stage of one's life, affirmed, assured, belonging, beloved.

Before Jesus has told a single story, before he has healed a single person, before he has caused a

moment of controversy, before he has any following, God says to him, I’m very pleased with you.

Before Jesus deserves these profound words of love, God says to him, I’m very pleased with you.

It goes without saying that this is a significant moment in Jesus' ministry, a significant moment in

Jesus' life as a whole; a moment that supported him and strengthened and comforted him

through the next 3 years, all the way to death on the cross.

Incredibly significant as it is for Jesus - if we apply the meaning of this moment to ourselves as

God means us to do, it is significant for us. Before Jesus has earned this praise, he has it. And it is

ours too, free and for nothing. How amazing is that? Amazing Grace.

What a word to carry with us into the light of a new day, a new year.

You are my beloved. You bring me great pleasure – you have come through the water that

makes new beginnings. The old life is gone, the new life with God stretches out before you.

Here is a story called THE ANGEL’S NEW YEAR GIFT BY EMILIE POULSSON

Two little boys were playing one day when an Angel suddenly appeared and said: "I have been

sent to give you New Year presents." He handed each child a package, and in an instant was

gone.

Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure

and white as snow.

A while later the Angel came again to the boys. "I have brought you each another book and will

take the first ones back to the Father who sent them to you."

"May I keep mine a little longer?" asked Philip. "I'd like to paint something on the last leaf that

lies open." "No," said the Angel; "I must take it just as it is."

P a g e | 24 "I wish that I could look through mine just once," said Carl; "I have only seen one page at a time,

for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place

each day."

"You shall look at your book," said the Angel, "and Philip, at his.”

The boys looked in surprise. Could these be the same books given to them a year ago? Where

were the clean, white pages?

Some pages were decorated with gorgeous colours and still others with a rainbow of dazzling

brightness. Yet even on the most beautiful of the pages there were ugly blots and scratches too.

Carl and Philip looked at the Angel. "Who did this?" they asked. The Angel, smiling at the two

little boys said,

"See, Philip, rainbow colours blossomed on this page when you let the baby have your toys; and

this pretty bird, that looks as if it were singing with all its might, is there because you tried to be

kind, instead of quarrelling." "But what made these blots?" asked Philip.

"Well," said the Angel sadly; "All these blots and scratches that look so ugly, in both in your

books, were made when you were naughty. Each brilliant thing in your books came on its pages

when you were good."

"Oh, if we could only have the books again!" said Carl and Philip.

"That cannot be," said the Angel. "They must now go back to the Father, but I have brought

each of you a new one. Perhaps you can make these more beautiful than the other books."

So saying, he vanished, but each boy held in his hand a new book open at the first page, entitled,

"For the New Year."

It’s a dated little story which could be an alarming one, except for one thing – the unconditional

grace and mercy of God. Though there are bits of last year and our past lives we would like to

forget, God has already blotted them out. A new year lies before us with a new clean sheet. How

will we fill it this year?

It is the cornerstone of grace; the hallmark of Godly love, that each one of us can receive this

grace, this affirmation, this love without deserving it or earning it. Each new day God renews his

P a g e | 25 loves for us, each new day he speaks to us tender words about who we are and what we have

done and what we can do.

God's love always remains unconditional - it always affirms us, it always nurtures us and always

should bring from within us a like-minded love and a desire to do better.

Since the day that Jesus was baptised at the river Jordan, we know of God's unconditional love

for us. WE can celebrate the priceless value that God has placed on us, A God who says to us as

he said to our Lord, “You are my daughter, you are my son, my well loved ones, my beloved.

With you I am well pleased.”

The Baptism of Jesus is the starting point of the ministry of Jesus and the starting point for a

series about him which we will follow all down the long road to Calvary and the glory of the

Easter morning. Tune in next week to hear the next thrilling instalment.

P a g e | 26 Additional Resources

Resourcing Mission

Resourcing Mission is host to Starters for Sunday and other key mission resources for download and purchase. Online booking is available for Mission & Discipleship events. Please check back regularly, as new items are being added all the time. If there is something you’d like to see on this new site, please contact us via the website.

Prayer Resources

These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you might look for in prayers. Living Stones is available from St Andrew Press.

Music Resources

The hymns mentioned in this material are ideas of specific hymns you might choose for this week’s themes. However, for some excellent articles on church music and ideas for new music resources, please check out our online music pages Different Voices.

Preaching Resources

These materials are designed to be a starting point for what you might preach this Sunday. Preachers Perspectives is a resource where we have asked twelve preachers to share the insights they

have gathered through their experiences of writing and delivering sermons regularly.

Scots Worship Resources

The Kirk's Ear - Scots i the Kirk series for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and other times of the year Wurship Ouk bi Ouk - Metrical psalms, hymns, prayers and words for worship Scots Sacraments may give you helpful material if you are celebrating Communion or have a Baptism.

The Mission and Discipleship Council would like to express its thanks to the Rev Margaret Whyte for providing us with this Sunday’s material.

Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.