3 Epiphany Year C
January 27, 2019
Annual Meeting Day
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21
Opening Prayer: Gift-giver, you call us together, with our different gifts,our different ideas, our different tastes. You call us together, to share what makes us special, to build each other up, to serve each other in love. You call us together, knowing that we need all parts of the body of your faithful people, if we are to be whole. You call us together, to sing, to pray, to listen, to speak, to be refreshed so that we can go out and serve. You call us together in the name of the One who has taught us, what it means to walk in love, with God, one another, and all of creation. Amen ~ (posted by Rev Gord)
Today’s reading from the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians, is surely a great text to hear on the day we will gather for our annual meeting... to reflect and review the ways we have functioned as the body of Christ, here in this place, in our community, and in the world. It’s a text that reaffirms, that we are all a part of the body of Christ. And each one of us, has an important role, in building up the body of Christ…by serving God, and one another, by being the eyes and the ears, and the hands and the feet of Christ in this world….
Through our baptisms, we are all members, of one body, Christ’s body.
There is one Body and one Spirit;
There is one hope in God's call to us;
Every one of us, is called and invited to share our diverse gifts, which are constantly changing, transforming us, and those among us, throughout our lifetime…throughout every season of our lives…The spirit unites us to one another, it empowers us, reveals our gifts to be shared with one another, for the well-being and wholeness of the community gathered…here in this place…in our communities, and throughout the world.
Everyone one of us, is called and invited to engage in the mission of Christ…the mission of all those baptized and welcomed into the household of God:
Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah that spoke to what His mission was:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
This is the mission of Christ, and of all the baptized.
To proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of God’s favor…
Every one of us:
We are young, we are old; we are quiet, we are outgoing; we are teachers, we are students; we are fishermen and fisherwomen, we are counselors, and advocates; we are prayer warriors, and healing practitioners; we are musicians and singers; we are ushers and greeters; we are lectors, and chalicists; we are bell-ringers and acolytes; we are vestry members and convention delegates; we are mayors and city committee members; we are nurses and medical personnel; we are mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, we are sisters and brothers, we are aunts and uncles; we are quilters, we are knitters; we are bakers, we are gardeners; we are artists and writers; we are builders, we are craftsmen; we are business owners, and entrepreneurs; we are priests and deacons; we are dancers and gymnasts; we are walkers and runners; we are creation care enthusiasts and domestic violence advocates; we are archivists, and sacred story-keepers; we are federal workers, and government employees; we are people who serve our country in the armed forces, we are coast guard families.
We are a diverse body of God’s beloved children, who share the same Spirit, which unites us to one another, through the Love of God, made known to us, in Jesus Christ.
All of us together are Christ’s body, and each of us is a part of it.
Let us reaffirm this good news today, by taking a few moments to re-dedicate ourselves and bless our bodies, for the mission and ministries to which every one of us will be invited and called to engage in, as we seek to follow Jesus in walking the way of love…
Blessing of the Body by Joyce Rupp
Forehead: May you have keen insights and think clearly. May your thoughts be kind and wise. May you resolve anything in your mind that keeps you from being your true self.
Ears: My you listen to the inner Voice of the Beloved and act on the word of God. May your hear the melodies of your own goodness and treasure who you are.
Eyes: May you have inner vision to see more clearly the path that is yours. May you look upon others with love as you search for your way home.
Mouth: May you speak with love, proclaim the truth, and make your needs known. May you laugh at the absurdities of life and taste life with joy and enthusiasm.
Nose: As you take in air and let out air, may you be reminded of the cycle of life with its dying and rising, it’s emptying and filling. May you breathe in the aroma of goodness and breathe out what needs to be let go.
Hands: May you use your hands to touch all of life with reverence and gratitude. May these hands reach out with care to others. May these hands be willing to receive from others.
Skin: May you be not too thick-skinned or too thin-skinned as you journey. May you reverence and protect the dignity of others no matter what color of skin they have.
Heart: May you develop awareness of what stirs deep within you. May you have a vibrant, compassionate heart, one that is filled with generosity and kindness.
Feet: As you travel through the many ups and downs of life, may all the places your feet take you lead you to greater transformation and inner freedom. May you seek to walk in the way of love…with God, one another, and all of creation.
May God Give us grace, every one of us, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works. Amen (Collect of the day/3 Epiphany)
HYMN: #539 – O Zion, haste, thy mission..(vs 1-3)
Rev Julie Platson
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
Sitka, Alaska