“Arise, shine; for your light has come.” — Isaiah 60:1

 

Arise, shine;
   for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord
   has risen upon you.
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.
Nations shall come 
   to your light,
and kings to the brightness 
   of your dawn.

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.

Then you shall see
   and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill
   and rejoice,
because the abundance 
   of the sea
shall be brought 
   to you,
the wealth of the nations
   shall come to you.

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.

 

Isaiah 60:1-6

 

Journey of the Magi

TISSOT, James

1894

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis, Minnesota

United States

 

 

Notes:

"...when his (Tissot) carefully researched collection of 350 watercolors depicting the life of Jesus was first published as a book in 1896, it found a large and enthusiastic audience. No one who had followed his previous career could have anticipated that this painter of urban life in Paris and London would undertake the project of painting virtually every event in the Gospels.

The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ project took nearly ten years to complete. When it was done, it chronicled the entire life of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament in a series of 350 watercolors. To research the project Tissot traveled to Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in 1886–87, and again in 1890.

While in the Holy Land he closely observed the landscape, the vegetation, the architecture, and the manner of dress, and filled sketchbooks with what he saw. He talked with rabbis and studied Talmudic literature as well as theological and historical volumes. He believed that there was still a remaining “aura” in the places where the Gospel events took place, and he spoke of having mystical experiences that added to his careful research. What he wanted to create was something as close as possible to an eyewitness account of the life of Jesus." [from Terry Glaspey's "75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know”]

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20220108437606387&code=act&RC=56277&Row=4

 

Baptism of Christ

ZELENKA, Dave

2005

 

In a sermon on January 6, 387, Chrysostom said, “But why is it not the day on which He was born, but the day on which He was baptized, that is called Epiphany?  For this is the day on which He was baptized, and sanctified the nature of the waters…Why then is this day called Epiphany? – because it was not when He was born that He became manifest to all, but when He was baptized; for up to this day He was unknown to the majority.”

http://worshipquest.net/blog/2013/12/29/in-the-name-of-the-father-you-and-holy-spirit

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  

 

It is better to follow even the shadow of the best,

than to remain content with the worst,

and those who would see wonderful things

must often be ready to travel alone.

~ Henry Vandyke

The Other Wise Man

 

 

Never get so fascinated by the extraordinary

that you forget the ordinary.

~ Magdalen Nabb

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Brown helping to collect items for EChO (Evergreen Christian Outreach).

 

 

At our Rotary Club meeting this week, we heard from two local organizations

who would each like to be the recipient of another of our Legacy Projects to make

our community an even better place in which to live.

 

Dale and Jo requested $75,000 for EChO (Evergreen Christian Outreach) 

to purchase a refrigerated truck to transport refrigerated food 

to clients and to pick up food donations from suppliers.

 

They even brought a miniature truck to show how the truck would become

a rolling billboard for Evergreen Rotary!

https://evergreenchristianoutreach.org/get-help/client-services/overview.html

 

Lisa Nierenberg, the Executive Director of Center for the Arts Evergreen,

requested $75,000 sponsorship for the Center's Phase II building expansion.

 

5,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space for artists,

education, and the community.  The total budget for the expansion

is a little over two million and they have already raised about half the needed funds.

The Community Room would be made available for our Rotary meetings for five

years at no cost.

http://buildourvision.org/our-plan/

 

 

 

 

 

And the fox said to the little prince:

men have forgotten this truth,

but you must not forget it.

You become responsible, forever,

for what you have tamed.

~ Antoine de Saint-Exuperay

 

 

 

 

 

January 9, 2022   Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost 

                 Epiphany of the Lord - January 6 - Year C 

                 Baptism of the Lord 

                 First Sunday after Epiphany - January 9 - Year C 

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

 

Epiphany of the Lord—January 6 



1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They 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 my people Israel.’”

7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then 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.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On 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. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Matthew 2:1-12

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

Baptism of the Lord—January 9 

15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John 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 the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His 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."

21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epiphany of the Lord—January 6 

Isaiah 60:1–6 

Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14 

Ephesians 3:1–12 

Matthew 2:1–12

 

Baptism of the Lord—January 9 

Isaiah 43:1–7 

Psalm 29 

Acts 8:14–17 

Luke 3:15–17, 21–22

 

 

The psalmist depicts God’s glory and majesty. Isaiah shows us God’s strength—divine power is not just for show but is available to protect, support, and nurture God’s beloved children. The story of Jesus’ baptism evokes feelings of awe and wonder. It is impossible to picture the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove without total amazement! And yet, through our own sharing in the baptism of Christ, we are able to experience the intimacy of a God who loves us as precious children, a God who calls each of us by name.

https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/3492/worship-elements-january-9-2022

 

 

 

First Reading Isaiah 43:1-7

1But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

3For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.

4Because you are precious in my sight,

and honored, and I love you,

I give people in return for you,

nations in exchange for your life.

5Do not fear, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you;

6I will say to the north, "Give them up,"

and to the south, "Do not withhold;

bring my sons from far away

and my daughters from the end of the earth —

7everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made."

Psalm 29

1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;

worship the LORD in holy splendor.



3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over mighty waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.



5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.



7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.



9The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl,

and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"



10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever.

11May the LORD give strength to his people!

May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Second Reading Acts 8:14-17

14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John 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 the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His 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."

21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."