With You I am Well Pleased

How quickly we move from celebrating Christ’s birth, the presentation of baby Jesus at the temple, and the visit from the three kings – to now this week, his baptism.    But you know – life does really go fast all around us.   So don’t put off meeting some of those goals you set for yourself in the new year – especially those that might include spending more time reading the bible or prayer, taking time to write, call or send a card to a friend, or maybe getting more involved in the ministry of All Souls.   We have lots of things you can do or be a part of, just ask!   And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the  first potluck of 2015, coming up on January 17.
We hope you see you soon!   Feel free to pass on your Weekly All Souls Good News to a Friend!  Seeing this for the first time?  Click on “JOIN OUR MAILING LIST” over on the left hand blue column to get this directly to your email.

This weeks readings:

Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.

Genesis 1:1-5

Psalm 29 

Acts 19: 1-7

Mark 1: 4-11

 

 

Mark 1:10-11

 “And 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

 

Jesus was a real person who came from a real place called Nazareth in the province of Galilee. He was baptized in a real river, the Jordan. In other words, Jesus story is more than story; it is history. Yet more than history, it is God’s saving history. A special part of that history is Jesus’ baptism. His baptism is important for a number of reasons. It is a signal of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It is an opportunity for God to affirm his Son. It is a way for Jesus to identify with people seeking to be ready for the coming of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. It is a way for Jesus to fulfill righteousness. For us, however, there is another great truth about Jesus’ baptism: it is something we can join him in doing if we truly turn our lives toward God as those who came to John did. God’s saving history demonstrated in Jesus can intersect our lives. What a blessing of grace!
Something dramatic, earthshaking, and eternally significant is happening in Jesus’ baptism. All who witnessed this event, and all of us who read about it, can’t escape the power and significance of this moment. Heaven is opened. The distance between God in heaven and mortals is collapsed. The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove on Jesus to show God’s approval, blessing, and anointing of Jesus as his Son, the King. Jesus’ baptism is a turning point-not just for Jesus, but for us as well. Our baptism, though clearly not as dramatic as the Lord’s, is a turning point, too. We need to think about the significance of both the Lord’s baptism and our own.
Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine

Winter/Spring Pot Luck Dates

Mark your calendars and get your recipes ready!
Plan to join us for our monthly time of fellowship, sharing, and time at our family table!
Bring what you can.  No expectations.  No culinary skills required.  Drinks, store bought snacks, etc. are always needed to round out the table.  Or ask Wendy  how you can help with setup or clean up.
January 17
April 18
February 21 May 16
March 21 June 20
Pot luck at at 6:00 pm in the Pine Room (Calvary Basement). All are welcome! Great time to bring guests!

How are you doing answering this week’s question 
of the week from the bulletin? 

 

Whom can I help lead to Christ in this New Year?

 

Among the searchers I know, who might challenge me to seek Christ more intensely?