the Tidings Beginning in Baptism Inside this issue: Adult Education . . . . 18-19 Care Ministries . . . . . . . 8-9 Children’s Ministry . . 25-27 Churchwide . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 Elder Care . . . . . . . . . 20-22 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Generosity . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GUMP (Preschool) . . . . . 24 GUWF . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15 Message from Pastors Tim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mimi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12 Older Adults. . . . . . . .16-18 OLEC . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-31 United Methodist Men . . 15 Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
In Matthew 3, Jesus appeared at the Jordan River where John was baptizing. It would be the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as Jesus entered the waters of baptism. How appropriate to begin his ministry in such a way. Baptism is about beginnings. Think about God’s work of salvation in and about water. • • • • • •
In the beginning, the Spirit of God was over the face of the deep. Noah was saved by the ark in the water. Tim Carpenter Moses and Israel were led through the Red Sea. Senior Pastor Joshua and Israel were led through the Jordan River. In Babylon, Israel wept by waters as they remembered Zion. In Revelation, there is a River of Life flowing from the throne of God.
And, in one of the most barren places on the face of the earth, in the Jordan River, people flooded to the water to hear the man named John call for repentance. It was there that the Lord Jesus was baptized.
Jesus told John to baptize him “in order to fulfill all righteousness.” By that he did not mean to receive righteousness for his act, but, rather, he meant it as an opportunity for him to give his righteousness to what John and the people were doing. Jesus didn’t need to repent of sin, nor did he need Baptism to make him righteous. His righteousness made Baptism holy, as he entered into the sins of the people. Entering those waters, symbolically full of the sins of the people, Jesus had begun to be the lamb who took on himself the sins of the people. Our liturgy states: “Through Baptism, we are initiated into Christ’s holy church, incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation, and given new birth through water and the Spirit.” United Methodist Hymnal, p. 33 Romans 6:4 states, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Galatians 3:27 reads, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Each day is a day to live into, and out of, our Baptism. Every moment is an opportunity to begin anew, to correct mistakes, to repent of sin, to enter someone’s pain, to bring comfort and hope to hurtful situations. Just as Christ continually blesses us in our Baptism, we can be a blessing to others. The Baptism of Jesus is celebrated during the month of January, the beginning of the year. After all, Baptism is about beginnings. Rev. Jack Henton, our Pastor Emeritus, will preach in traditional worship on Sunday, January 11. Join us for a special day of worship and remembering our Baptism.