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Second Sunday of Christmas

NEW Beginnings

 

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:4-11

 

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Baptism of Jesus

SCOTT, Lorenzo

1987

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Washington DC

United States

 

 

This piece illustrates a scene from the New Testament in which Jesus was baptized. Lorenzo Scott painted Saint John and one of the angels as black people, linking the faith of his community to John’s mission to “prepare the way for the Lord.”

 

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20240104250445288&code=act&RC=56877&Row=17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year.

It is that we should have a new soul.

~G.K. Chesterton

 

 

 

 

If you want to awaken all of humanity,

then awaken all of yourself.

If you want to eliminate suffering in the world,

then eliminate all that is dark and negative

within yourself.

For truly, the greatest gift

you have to offer humanity

is your own transformation.

~ Lao Tzu

 

 

 

 

 

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A looooong line of elk paraded down the golf course on New Year’s Day.

 

 

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Kei Sakamoto welcomed his mother, Robin Sakamoto, at JFK.

 

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Robin Sakamoto was greeted by her father (my brother) in Connecticut.

I was with them in spirit.

 

New Year’s Day at Evergreen Lake

“The Plunge"

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Three siblings dressed in walrus outfits took the plunge in Evergreen Lake.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

(Photo from Denver Post)

 

Happy Birthday, Sondra!

Lunch at Bonefish

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Sondra Kellogg

 

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Sondra, Kimra Perkins, Carolyn Alexander

A Longhorn cattle gets a horn in its lip from...

A Longhorn cattle gets a horn in its lip from...

 

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The Stock Show Parade in downtown Denver!

(Photo from The Denver Post)

 

 

 

It is better to suffer wrongdoing

than to do wrong oneself.

~ Socrates

 

 

 

 

January 7, 2024  Second Sunday of Christmas Day Year B

                Baptism of the Lord

                

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

 

 

Epiphany of the Lord - January 6, 2024

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

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

 

 

Mark 1:4-11

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LECTIONARY

Genesis 1:1-5 

Psalm 29 

Acts 19:1-7 

Mark 1:4-11

 

 

Summary

The Epiphany, extended by Anglicans into its own season, covers the main revelations of Jesus’ life and mission to the world. Though the Magi’s popularity in the early church pushed off Jesus’ baptism to the Sunday after the main feast, this is actually the central story of the season.

Mark’s account is the least detailed, but all the more singularly focused on the revelation of the Trinity. The Son is anointed by the Father (more on that next year in Matthew) and the Holy Spirit descends, hovering over the waters: At first the waters over the formless earth, and now over the waters of baptism. The theophany mirrors the creation story of the Genesis reading, where all three are present at the creation. The Father and the Spirit are easy to pick out, but where is the Son? Remarkably, he is found in a verb: “God said.” The previous Sunday establishes Christ as God’s wisdom, so God’s speech, since it always involves his wisdom is necessarily to be done through the Son.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

 

 

First Reading Genesis 1:1-5

1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Psalm 29:1-11

1   Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, 
          ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 
2   Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; 
          worship the LORD in holy splendor.

3   The voice of the LORD is over the waters; 
          the God of glory thunders, 
          the LORD, over mighty waters. 
4   The voice of the LORD is powerful; 
          the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5   The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; 
          the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 
6   He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, 
          and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7   The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 
8   The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; 
          the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9   The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, 
          and strips the forest bare; 
          and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

10  The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; 
          the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever. 
11  May the LORD give strength to his people! 
          May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Second Reading Acts 19:1-7

1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — 7altogether there were about twelve of them.

Gospel Mark 1:4-11

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”