First Sunday after Epiphany (Baptism of our Lord): Week of January 9, 2022

Begin your devotion time by praying this prayer: Mighty God, you proclaimed Jesus your beloved Son at his baptism. Guide us to turn toward the way of love and share Jesus’ love with everyone we meet. Amen.

Reflect on the Way of Love together: This week’s practice on the Way of Love is TURN. Through our baptism, we are reminded that we are beloved followers of Jesus. How might you remember to turn toward Jesus’ love in the coming year?

Adult and Small Child

Read: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Reflect: In this story, we hear about Jesus’ baptism. Every time I hear this story, I think about what that scene must have been like. I think about the sight of the dove, the sound of the voice coming from the sky, and the feeling of water rushing over someone’s head. I also think about all of the baptisms that I’ve witnessed at church. Baptisms are special times when we celebrate how much God loves us, and when we become followers of Jesus who share that love with other people, too. Have you seen a baptism? What do you remember about your baptism (or the baptism of your child?)

The story of Jesus’ baptism is one that we hear every year. And, every time we hear this story, we are reminded that we are beloved followers of Jesus. Through baptism, we are marked as God’s children and turn our lives toward sharing Christ’s love with others. How might you do that in this new year?

Respond: This week, take a moment before going to bed each night to remind each person in your household that through our baptism we are beloved children of God. Grab a small cup or bowl of water and make the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead. Say to each person these words: Remember you are loved by God, and I love you, too! Invite other household members to make the sign of the cross and say these words to each other.

- Victoria Hoppes

Adult and Elementary

Read: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Reflect: Have you ever gone on a class trip? When I was in elementary school, I loved going on trips! It seemed like a new adventure! On one of our class trips was to a farm on Long Island. Traveling to a farm was a pretty big deal for a bunch of city kids. While at the farm, we saw some animals and some interesting tools. I watched a farmer use a special rake to toss wheat around in the air. This rake is called a winnowing fork.

In our reading, John the Baptist describes Jesus as having a winnowing fork in his hand. Could this mean that Jesus will toss us in the air like that farmer did the grain? No! The reading suggests to us that Jesus will prepare us to be willing workers for the kingdom of God. Jesus helps us reposition, or turn, our hearts toward the things that are the most important.

Respond: Ask a trusted adult to help you to gather the following: can opener, screwdriver, and a drill. All of these tools are used to "turn" things. Are these tools made different by turning, or are the objects that these tools work in made different? Think of the ways that turning toward Jesus has made you different.

- Imani Driskell

Adult and Youth

Read: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Reflect: This week, we celebrate and remember Jesus’ baptism. In Luke’s Gospel, the people were expecting a Messiah and wondering if John the Baptist could be him. John first replies to the expectations of the people by telling them that someone greater than him is coming. John is only there to prepare the way and help everyone get their hearts ready for the coming of Jesus, the real Messiah. John tells everyone that it is Jesus that will be more powerful and mightier than even him.

Respond: I’m in the middle of a big move, making decisions on what to keep and what to get rid of or donate. In this passage, we are being asked to do something similar. John the Baptist is asking us to clean up our lives to make room for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life, he then is able to go out and share the gifts of God. This includes God’s healing love, forgiveness, and mercy. What areas of your life can you clean out today? Spend some time in prayer thinking about how you can make room for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Then, take action and maybe decide how you can do some decluttering in your life.

- Lauren Wainwright

Adult and Adults

Read: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Reflect: I don’t know about you, but I adore baptisms. Part of it is because it’s usually babies being baptized in our churches, and babies are so full of promise, living representations of our hopes for the future. But the warm, fuzzy feelings baptisms give don’t tell the whole story. Baptism is a revolutionary act of rebellion where the devil is cast away, we die along with Christ, and are raised with him to new life.

Ritual washing as initiation to a religious community would’ve been familiar to John and his followers. But what was extraordinary was John’s declaration that Jesus had the power to do this supernatural work and that he passes the benefits of that work on to us. It saddens me that, so often, we reduce John’s line about the wheat and the chaff to “good people get rewarded and bad people go to hell.� Because what’s going on here is so much more astounding. This is a proclamation of radical grace- the one who can conquer the forces of sin and death, who separates the power of sin from us as far as the wheat is from the burnt and discarded chaff- he is on his way, so we needn’t be afraid.

Respond: Baptism is a revolutionary act, but many of us were baptized long before we can remember, and it’s common to feel a bit disconnected from what happened. This week, take a look at the baptism rite in a Book of Common Prayer or online. Read the promises and look for ways throughout your day to remember your baptism. Make washing your face a sacramental act. Stop at the water fountain at work or school and mark the sign of the cross on your forehead. What other ways can you think of to incorporate remembrance of baptism into your daily life?

- Jessica Davis