church service videos 2023

The Christian Liturgical year is divided into s series of seasons where the life and works of Jesus are explained.  The first is Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas, starting on November 27th, 2022.  Christmas starts on December 25th and goes until Epiphany which begins on January 6th 2023.  Epiphany lasts until Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday on February 22nd.  Lent goes until Holy Week which starts on April 3rd until easter which is April 9th.  Easter ends on Pentecost and three days later the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth on May 31.  And finally the Ordinary Time which ends on Christ the King Sunday, November 26th.

 

We have broken the year into it’s seasons and here are the service videos:

epiphany 2023

Last two Sundays

january 29th worship service

From Luke 2:22-32; When Jesus was forty days old the Jewish purification rites required that Joseph and Mary take him to the Temple in Jerusalem to be concentrated to the Lord, and the requisite sacrifice of a pair of doves.

 

Entering the temple, they met an elderly man named Simeon, who was righteous and devote before the Lord.  Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  The Spirit had promised Simeon that before he died, he would witness the Lord’s Messiah.

 

Moved by the Spirit ,Simeon had come to the temple that day, and witnessing the child Jesus Simeon took the child in his arms and declared, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  And so once again the child Jesus is witnessed to the world and acknowledged as the true Messiah.


This week Pastor Ron continues his new series, Looking for Jesus in the Old Testament.  Join us for this week's January 29th Worship Service.


Fresco from San Marco Friary, Florence, Italy by Fra Angelico 1436-45

January 22nd worship Service

During the 46 days of Epiphany we focus on how Jesus has become manifest in the world and in our lives.  For some the moment Jesus became God in human form was at the point of his baptism.  Each of the four Gospels tells a version of Jesus’ baptism. 

 

In Matthew 3:13 we have Jesus coming to Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist.  Initially John refuses saying he should be baptized by Jesus, but Jesus insists that John “fulfill  all righteousness” and perform the ceremony.  As Jesus rises from the water the heavens open, the Spirit in the form as dove descends upon him and a voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  The Gospel of Mark starts with John the Baptist and follows a very similar description as told in Matthew.  The Gospel of Luke tells a similar story, starting in Chapter 3, along with a genealogy.

 

In the first chapter of John we meet John the Baptist who has come to recognize Jesus as the one who baptizes not with water but the Holy Spirit.  There is no account of Jesus’ baptism in the Gospel of John, but we do have John the Baptist’s account of seeing the dove of the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus.  Jesus then goes out to gather his disciples.

 

Each of the Gospels acknowledges the baptism of Jesus and its significance, but nothing resonates like the voice of God from the Gospel of Luke, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

This week Pastor Ron embarks on a new series, recognizing references to Jesus in the books of the Old Testament.  Join us for our January 22nd Worship Service.


Painting Baptism of Jesus, by monk Fra Angelico (1438-43) in San Marco monastery, Florence Italy