Renew Me O Eternal Light

Sunday, January 5th: A Light to Lighten the Gentiles. Epiphany begins with Magi following the light of a star in hopes of finding a newborn King – the Light of the World. The message could not be more clear: Jesus has come not just for a select few of one nation but for all the nations. Immediately the darkness tries to cover the light as King Herod in fear for his throne seeks to destroy the infant Jesus. Curiously Matthew reports that all Jerusalem, including the religious leaders, were troubled by the Magi’s news. Religion can do that if we’re not careful, that is, conceal the light. We enter this season praying: Renew us O eternal Light to shine the light of God’s grace into every dark corner of this world. 

Use these scripture to prepare for worship: 

• Isaiah 60:1-6
• Ephesians 3:1-12
• Matthew 2:1-12

Sunday, January 12th – Baptized with the Holy Spirit & Fire. John the Baptizer announced that Jesus would baptize his followers with the Spirit and fire, which was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Once again the darkness threatens to overcome the light when John is imprisoned. But the Light of the World will not be extinguished. Jesus is baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descends as a dove and the voice of the Father declares: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” In our baptism the very same Holy Spirit enters in and connects us to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We are renewed every time we remember our baptism as the Father now speaks to us: By faith in Jesus you are my daughter, my son; with whom I am well pleased. 

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Isaiah 43:1–7
• Romans 6:1–11
• Luke 3:15–22

Sunday, January 19th- Glory Manifested. When asked by his mother to help a friend caught in an awkward situation Jesus replied, “My hour has not yet come.” Yet he acted even in this seemingly insignificant moment to provide the very best for the young couple celebrating their wedding with friends showing that his Light shines into the smallest corners of our lives. Jesus’ hour did eventually come and we have witnessed the full measure of his glory in his suffering and death. Like the first disciples we believe in him.

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Isaiah 62:1–5
• 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
• John 2:1–11

Sunday, January 26th: Scripture Fulfilled. Sometimes the light Jesus shines into our life hurts our eyes. That’s what happened in Nazareth when Jesus announced that his hometown crowd were witnessing Scripture being fulfilled. But they closed their eyes tight and the darkness reigned. We pray that the Holy Spirit would continually pry our eyes open to see that all God’s Word is fulfilled in Jesus even when it may be challenging for us to hear! 

Use these scripture to prepare for worship:

• Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
• 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a
• Luke 4:16–30

Sunday, February 2: The Good News of the Kingdom of God. Neither demons nor disease that constantly threaten us with darkness can withstand the light of Jesus’ presence. The demons are silenced, the diseases dismissed. Jesus proclaims the Good News that the kingdom of God is at hand. His healing ministry was a foretaste of the world put right. We are bold to pray for his miraculous intervention today, always trusting that our ultimate healing, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting awaits his coming again to usher in the kingdom of God, the new heaven and the new earth, permanently. 

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Jeremiah 1:4–10
• 1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13
• Luke 4:31–44

Sunday, February 9th: Following Jesus. Sometimes the circumstances of life are not very promising and Jesus comes along and asks us to do something that doesn’t make much sense or very helpful. After fishing all night and catching nothing Jesus bids Simon Peter to give it another try. He reluctantly obeyed and got the surprise of his life. Jesus doesn’t scold us for our doubts and reluctance to trust him completely. Instead he invites us to follow him and discover a whole new way of life.

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Isaiah 6:1–8
• 1 Corinthians 14:12–20
• Luke 5:1–11

Sunday, February, 16th. Blessed. The light that Jesus shines into our dark world turns everything upside down. The world celebrates wealth and power and prestige. But Jesus announced that God’s blessing is for those who are poor and hungry and hated by the world. What does that mean for us? It means that we stop measuring our life by this world’s standards and start measuring it by God’s standards. It means that we use our wealth, our surplus, our position to tell everyone what Jesus has done, to shine the light of Jesus into the darkness of the world with the certainty that we are blessed!

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Jeremiah 17:5–8
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
• Luke 6:17–26

February 23rd: Be Merciful. When the eternal light of Jesus renews your outlook on life, your worldview changes radically. No longer is life a competition to be won by your cleverness and careful accounting of who owes you and how you can collect it. Jesus declares: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Illumined by God’s grace we will never run out of his mercy poured into us to be poured on those around us.

Prepare for worship with these scriptures:

• Genesis 45:3–15
• 1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42
• Luke 6:27–38