Peace be with you, my friends.
2023 has closed its final chapter, and we prepare to enter into a new year. I always liked how Matthew, Luke, and John presents the Baptism of Jesus almost immediately after His Birth. The Birth of Christ marked the Coming of the Person of Christ. The coming of the Person of the Messiah. His Baptism marked the beginning of His Ministry in the world. In this way, we observe the birth of the Anointed One, and then immediately observe the newness of life He is bringing into the world through the Baptism of His Ministry.
This reminds me of how the New Year immediately follows Christmas. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And at the New Year, we celebrate the newness of another year. The newness of life. What a fitting allegory, which points to His Birth and Baptism! Christ is born unto humanity. And immediately afterward, Christ brings to us newness of life.
This newness of life is a picture of the Baptized life. Baptism is more than just a ritual, but a reality in which we live. As such, the Baptized life is a living out of the new life that Christ brings us.
This upcoming Sunday, we shall be focusing on that truth. I will be preaching on Baptism and the new life it brings us, we will have a Baptismal Remembrance ceremony, and we shall re-affirm our Baptism.
You can prepare for our Sunday morning Worship service,
Dec. 31, 2023, by reading Mark 1: 1-8.
As always, if you are unable to attend, you can livestream our service right here at 11am.
You can also livestream it from our website! www.dansvilleumc.org
With compassion, love, and prayer,
Pastor Michael
