Beacon News
January 10, 2021
Baptism of Our Lord
The First Sunday of Epiphany-Jesus’ Baptism
by Malcolm Guite
Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Sprit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings
‘You are beloved, you are my delight!’
In that quick light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river
To die and rise and live and love forever.
On Sunday, February 21, immediately following our Worship Service, we will have our Annual Congregation Meeting. More details to come—but an email was sent out to all leaders of the church, requesting that their reports are turned in by February 1. Thank you!
Special Announcement about this Sunday
This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. We also will celebrate our own baptisms.
The day we were baptized is commonly called our “baptismal birthday.” Do you know your baptismal birthday? As a church, we collectively celebrate on this special Sunday by remembering our own baptisms and giving thanks for our baptisms.
For a bit of fun, do you have a picture of you at the time of your baptism, or a picture of you at the age of your baptism? Find your picture and bring it to worship with you. For extra fun, you can take a picture of your physical picture and upload it as your “profile picture” on Zoom.
Ways to Grow and Learn
6 Weeks, 6 Big Words
Our Wednesday Morning Bible Study convenes at 9:30 a.m. Our theme for the weeks leading to Lent will be “6 Weeks, 6 Big Words.”
We will study 6 words that are common theological mind-twisters. Each week will be a new word. This week: resurrection. All are welcome to join as able on Zoom.
First Word for Men Men’s Group will convene on Zoom this coming Tuesday, January 12, at 8:30 a.m. The link is below. For more information, connect with Pastor Sarah or Reed Groethe.
Beginning in mid-January, the Troubling the Waters group will resume the journey to understand our role and the church’s role in the ongoing racial discord that characterizes present-day America. We invite all of you to join us.
First, we will listen on-line to Reggie Jackson discuss “Do Black Lives Matter?” on four successive Tuesday evenings and then together reflect on those presentations the following Thursday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m.
Tuesdays, January 19-February 9, 2021 at 6-8 PM
The Shorewood library will sponsor 4 presentations on successive Tuesday evenings by Reggie Jackson through Zoom. They will be focused on different facets of the maltreatment of African Americans throughout history. Registration through the library is required.
We will plan to watch these presentations on Tuesdays and then meet informally on the following Thursdays (January 21-February 11) for discussion in relation to Troubling the Waters.
Tuesday, January 19th: Do Black Lives Matter? Introduction to the Historical Devaluation of Black Lives please remember to register!
Tuesday, January 26th: Do Black Lives Matter? The Devaluation of Black Lives in Politics and Law
Tuesday, February 2nd: Do Black Lives Matter? The Devaluation of Black Lives in Science and Medicine
Tuesday, February 9th: Do Black Lives Matter? The Devaluation of Black Lives in the Criminal Justice System
ABOUT REGGIE JACKSON
Reggie Jackson is a co-founder and lead trainer/consultant for Nurturing Diversity Partners (NDP), a firm that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equity within institutions and communities. NDP educates groups about the history, sociocultural dynamics, personal skills, and institutional practices that build a more equitable society. Reggie has been a much sought-after speaker, researcher, and writer for over a decade –regionally and nationally. His work helps institutions and individuals understand how our country’s racial hierarchy developed historically, its impact on our lives today, and how we can realize America’s promise for all citizens. Reggie shares seldom-told stories and facts about the experiences of African-Americans and other peoples of color past and present. He writes and provides background on current racial issues to regional, national, and international media.
You can register for each presentation at the following link:
https://www.shorewoodlibrary.org/connect/events/?eid=3081
Ways to Connect and Share
Send some Happy New Year Cheer to our homebound members! Please send a greeting to let these members know they are not forgotten! People LOVE pictures drawn by children.
Gerry Tucker
205 Green Bay Rd. Apt. 302
Thiensville, WI 53092
From January 18-25, Christian Churches across the globe will participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Next week’s Beacon and our Facebook page will share online opportunities for you to encourage your participation. We will also have Scripture readings that you could do at home in honor of the week.
Ways to Love, Serve and Give
Our Social Ministry Committee is reviewing the idea of hosting a community wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to be held on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022 at Bay Shore Lutheran Church. While this seems far away, the event—which involves the coordination of multiple service project opportunities—will take months to plan. If we proceed, we hope to have service projects and invite our community to participate, including persons of all ages. If this interests you, please let Pastor Sarah know and we can add you to the special task force that will be working on this project.
In the meantime, this year, consider doing a service project of your own at home, or donate to a charity in our area that provides services to others.
Thank you, Bay Shore community, for your offerings this past year. We have been able to continue to do our mission and ministries effectively with your on-going support.
Thank you for your generous collection for the 25 Christmas “baskets” for this year’s Hephatha Christmas Drive.
Thank you for fulfilling your pledges for 2020, and for your pledges for 2021.
Love God’s Creation this Christmas Season: Buy Secondhand A lot of things can be sourced second hand. Things that have a short usage period due to growth, for example, a child’s bicycle, can be picked up second hand in fantastic condition and also at a fraction of the price. This saves you money and helps to reduce packaging materials.
Prayer of the Week: Prayer for the New Year
Dear God, as the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends.
Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed.
Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God’s name each day. Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right.
Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none.
May our year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God’s blessings shower upon us bringing good health and peace. Amen
Readings for Sunday, January 10, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 Out of chaos, God brings order. Out of the formless void, God brings light. This familiar story was good news for the Israelites, who experienced much chaos in their history. It remains good news for us. God created and continues to create new life.
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 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. (Ps. 29:3)
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 forever.
11May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Second Reading: Acts 19:1-7 In
Ephesus, Paul encounters people who had received John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard of the Holy Spirit or of baptism in the name of Jesus. After Paul baptizes them, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and empowers them with gifts of the Spirit.
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 Reading: Mark 1:4-11 Mark’s gospel reports the story of Jesus’ baptism with some irony: the one on whom the Spirit descends is himself the one who will baptize others with the Holy Spirit.
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.”
Click here to see our Order of Worship including all readings, to be used at home It includes our hymns, too.
Stay in Touch
STAFF
Pastor Sarah Stobie [email protected]
Kate Yelvington, Parish Admin [email protected]
Dulcie Shoener, Minister of Music [email protected]
Daniel Ellis, Choir Director [email protected]
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