January gives us a unique arc of Sunday experiences. We begin in the Second Sunday of Christmas with a focus on new beginnings for the new year. On January 8th, we revisit the treasured story of the magi seeking the Christ and the resistance to an empire hellbent on death. On January 15th we will honor The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a worship around the theme “Lead with Love.”
On January 22nd we start our next series, “Bumpersticker Theology: I can do all things through a verse taken out of context.” Often verses get shared—think guy in a clown wig with a John 3:16 sign or the “Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly” button—but we miss the whole context of the story. Instead of letting the bumpersticker do the talking, we’ll dig deeper. We begin with John 3 and the story of Nicodemus. Then on the last Sunday of the month we’ll look at the “clobber texts” used to justify hateful and dangerous theologies around LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
This series continues into February with “Wherever two or three are gathered,” “I can do all things through Christ,” and “Behold the plans I have for you.”
January 1
“New Beginnings”
Psalm 121
Service of Anointing and Communion
January 8
“The Epiphany of Christ”
Matthew 2:1-9
Preacher: Rev. Deb Jarvis
January 15 –
Honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Lead with Love”
Proverbs 12:1; 17:17; 27:5
Preacher: Rev. Steve Jerbi
January 22 – Bumpersticker Theology
“For God so Love the World”
John 3:1-21
Preacher: Rev. Amy Roon
January 29 – Bumpersticker Theology
“The Clobber Texts”
Galatians 3:26-29
Preacher: Rev. Cameron Sharp