Opening Prayer Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Readings for 1st Sunday of Epiphany: Isaiah 42.1-9 ; Psalm 29; Acts 10.34-43; Matthew 3.13-17 The Lord's Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. Deliver us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen Prayer: Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, make us perfect in your love and by your great mercy keep us in the same, so we may share in his glory; through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord, the true vine and the source of life, ever giving himself that the world may live. Amen Prayer of blessing: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen. Closing Note This message is sent to you with love and prayers as: a word of encouragement and a sign of hope.
The Baptism of JesusReading: Luke 3v15-17&21-22A word: The gospel accounts reminds us that Jesus chose to be Baptised by his cousin John, The Baptist. This is an important event because tells us that the time of John's ministry is drawing to its end and marks the start of Jesus' formal ministry.At Jesus' baptism significant signs from God were shown that confirmed to John who Jesus was and prepared Jesus by anointing him with the holy spirit. Jesus baptism was also a time when there was the handing on of God's mission from John to Jesus. Here and now, in our time and place, there is a message here that needs to be taken heed of and not overlooked. This is that the Mission of God must be handed on in every generation. This means that today it is our turn to either hand-on or receive the baton of God's mission so that the faith we have shared or received can be handed on to others. Let us pray: Lord, we ask you to guide and help us to hand on your mission and ministry to the next generation by sharing what we know of your plans and purposes, as well as sharing how you have been present in our lives. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen
