Sunday 01.10.21 @ 9:00 AM
Virtual Worship
Play the video on this page below or view it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q6ZFbRYsllQ
Reflection Letter
Follow the link to read the reflection for this week: WEEKLY REFLECTION | The First Sunday after Epiphany, January 10, 2021
Sermon
Genesis 1:1-5
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
Psalm 29
In the name of the loving, liberating, life-giving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
“And a VOICE came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
My sisters and brothers, we come together this day after a long and distressing week for our nation. An organized attempt at insurrection of our democracy.
With images almost too painful to recollect – a week, no doubt, in which you have found yourself immersed in prayer – on your knees – praying to the One who’s VOICE gives us peace, mercy, and love.
I believe most of us are still in shock over what transpired in Washington DC this past Wednesday……this past Wednesday, the Holy Day of the Feast of the Epiphany.
The deadly insurgence and occupation of the US Capitol Building this past Wednesday, gave us never-to-to-be-forgotten, harrowing images of our beloved country under attack.
The sacred space of the US Capitol Building was breached by a rioting, looting, armed band of people intent upon destabilizing our government and the process of law.
The US Capitol Building is a sacred space for our democracy.
The images of insurgents sitting in the chairs reserved for the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House were desecrating the space.
The voices were of loud, shouting, chaotic voices – clamorous – mocking – desecrating language.
AND, YET
There were ALSO other VOICES to be heard last Wednesday to be sure.
The VOICE of Episcopal Church leaders in our nation’s capital.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry went on “Facebook Live” shortly after 3:15 on Wednesday to VOICE prayers for our country. He stated:
“The events at our Capitol today are deeply disturbing. We believe the actions of armed protesters represent a coup attempt,” “Today’s protesters pushed through police barricades and forced their way into congressional chambers and … [are] threatening the safety of lawmakers, their staff and others who work in the Capitol complex.
This threatens the integrity of our democracy, the national security of our nation, the continuity of government, and the lives and safety of our legislators, their staffs, law enforcement and all who work in the Capitol.”
He VOICED a litany of prayers from the Book of Common Prayer including the Prayer for Peace:
“Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love.”
He continued
“Even as our nation’s Capital is being endangered and assaulted, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that God in his way of love, might prevail in all of our hearts,” Curry said.
“We as Christians must condemn violence in all its forms and the effort to overturn the will of the people and the peaceful transition of power,”
“We must all commit to engaging our government in the ways our constitution allows us to – through petitioning the government, through advocacy and through our public witness ……..THIS EMERGES from our faith in Christ Jesus and that demands we push for policies that help the least of these.”
Other profound VOICES were also heard from the Episcopal Church IN DC. – from Washington Bishop Mariann Budde and Randy Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, also addressed the nation via Facebook Live on Jan. 6.
Both Bishop Budde and Dean Hollerith, boldly rebuked the president, defended the separation of church and state and called for the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol to end their violent occupation of the legislature.
And also, this week we have the VOICE of scripture this first Sunday after the Epiphany……..
As I look at the readings for the first Sunday after the Epiphany, I hear readings FROM the VOICE OF OUR CREATOR ……. readings about creation, of the spirit moving over the earth…..of God giving VOICE to all creation
And Jesus was baptized in the River Jordon.
In today’s psalm, The writer says that the VOICE of the Lord is. Upon the waters – the voice of the Lord is a powerful voice.
Our scripture readings today reveal a Holy God, who is the creator of light and giver of goodness, whose VOICE moves over the waters, Immerses us in grace, and transforms us…”
Light and water from Genesis 1 remind us of the eternity in which God resides, creating order out of the chaos of unordered matter.
In the context of that immensity, the Son, the Beloved, is baptized to know himself, to be transformed ………….to engage so that he will carry out the mission he has been given.
Out of the wilderness came the voice that knew faith as a gift essential to life.
Baptism opens our hearts and our minds to becoming instruments that bring unity and peace to our neighbors.
The voice of God is the supreme voice……the voice of God, the Spirit of God hovers over the chaos and brings into order all that is sin-sick and violent.
An excerpt from A Prayer for our Country VOICES this plea to God:
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail;
Another revelation from Wednesday’s debacle is the witnessing of the great disparity in treatment of the rioters who invaded the capital building and Black Lives Matter protesters over the past month.
It reflects the reality that authorities treat protesters differently according to their perceived political identification and race.
The insurrection by white men and the timid reaction of law enforcement is a blatant picture of the CONTINUED discrimination in this country in favor of white people AND against “black, Indigenous and people of color.” BIPOC
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, the founder of the Poor Peoples Campaign, a champion of the poor, the disenfranchised – those suffer day in and day out by vile prejudice offered this prayer:
“O God, lift up this nation. Lift it up, and shake it off. Don’t let us settle, Lord. We can be so much better. There’s so much untapped goodness under the racism & hatred & despair & division. Lift us into the wind of your Spirit & blow away the chaff.”
Let us listen to the VOICE of the Lord in these days of crisis for our country.
Know who you are – remember your Baptismal Covenant, you are a child of God listening to God’s VOICE above all others.
Our allegiance to Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, empowers us to continue to live into our baptismal vows and continue to take on the challenges of our day. PRAISE BE TO GOD.
Amen.
A Prayer for our Country
Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage:
We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people.
Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government,
that there may be justice and peace at home,
and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.