Pastor Pondering – January 3, 2023
Just after Advent and Christmas and the pastor has a decision to make: What will be the focus of the worship on the first Sundays of January? Epiphany always falls on January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas. Epiphany is the celebration the visit by the Magi, and more broadly, the way in which Christ came not just as Messiah to the Jews, but as Lord and Savior to all the nations of the world. But January 6 doesn’t always fall on a Sunday, so we can celebrate it on the Sunday closest to January 6. The first Sunday that comes after January 6 is also a special Sunday called “Baptism of the Lord.” That is the one Sunday in the year with the focus on Jesus’s baptism and what it means to be a baptized community. In most years, the pastor can’t do both of these special Sundays. So, which one gets celebrated and which one gets skipped?
The message and significance of each is important. This year, I have chosen to focus on the baptism theme for Sunday, January 8. Then, as the weeks unfold afterwards, explore themes related to Epiphany. This provides the opportunity to consider what it means to live as a community of the baptized and baptizing. We promise, with God’s help, to be a community of love and forgiveness, prayer and mutual service. We are reminded that life is a precious gift from God and there is ample reason to be thankful.
As we make our way into this new year, that seems a good place to start.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Steve