Notable Feast Days this Week:

January 2 - Basil the Great, 379 (Roman Catholic)
January 2 - Gregory of Nazianzus,389 (Roman Catholic)
January 3 - The Prophet Malachi (Eastern) 
January 4 - Elizabeth Ann Seton (Roman Catholic)
January 6 - Epiphany of Our Lord (Western)
January 6 - Holy Theophany: Baptism of Our Lord (Eastern)
January 7 - John the Baptist (Eastern)
January 7 - Baptism of Our Lord
January 7 - Epiphany of Our Lord (Roman Catholic, USA)

 



Revised Common Lectionary

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11


Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - White

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------ The Baptism of Our Lord ------ First Sunday After the Epiphany January 7, 2018 (Year B)
The Light of the World
God is the creator of all things and the author of light (Genesis 1:1-5). He sent John the Baptizer to prepare the way for the Light (Mark 1:4-11). We praise God, who has given us the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless his people with peace (Psalm 29).
- Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
Epiphany and the Baptism of Our Lord

The Epiphany of our Lord is celebrated on January 6 (January 7 for Roman Catholics in the USA) but is extended by some churches into a season that includes the weeks preceding Lent. This week is a significant launching point in the liturgical calendar for both western and eastern Christians. Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus both serve as extensions of the revelation of light and knowledge that came through the Incarnation of Jesus at Christmas.
 
The Worship Sourcebook states that "The word 'epiphany' comes from a Greek word meaning 'manifestation or appearance.' In the context of church history, this word has become closely associated with the revelation of Christ in connection with the visit of the Magi." The adoration of the Magi is a sign that the light of Christ has come for the whole world, even Gentiles from the farthest reaches of the known world. Through the baptism of Jesus, the love of God is demonstrated and revealed as a Trinitarian relationship. 

The Epiphany season places special emphasis on the teaching and healing ministry of Christ. The Season of Epiphany starts on January 6th and ends the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. From Christmastide to the beginning of Lent worshipers grow in an awareness of the significance of the entire life of Jesus and prepare for the call to discipleship that will happen in Lent. 

Epiphany Resources Epiphany Traditions

Epiphanytide

Trembling before Thee we fall down to adore Thee,
Shamefaced and trembling we lift our eyes to Thee:
O First and with the last! annul our ruined past,
Rebuild us to Thy glory, set us free
From sin and from sorrow to fall down and worship Thee.

Full of pity view us, stretch Thy
Heart and soul and spirit – to bring all and worship Thee.
sceptre to us,
Bid us live that we may give ourselves to Thee:
O faithful Lord and true! stand up for us and do,

Make us lovely, make us new, set us free –

-Christina Rossetti 
Psalm of the Week
Scripture Readings

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders...The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic...



Commentary on Psalm 29
AugustineCalvinSpurgeon
Thomas Aquinas

Audio
Psalm 29, Genesis 1, Acts 19Mark 1
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning

Acts 19:1-7
Baptized in the name of Jesus

Mark 1:4-11
Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year
Chronological
Practicing Prayer
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  -The Book of Common Prayer
Contemplative Prayer (View and Download)
Daily Prayer (View and Download)
Further Prayer Resources

Morning and Evening Prayer (Church of England-Protestant)
Liturgy of the Hours and Sung Breviary (Roman Catholic)
Sung Morning Prayer by Calvin Peters (Eastern Orthodox)
Audio Prayer Meditation (Pray as You Go)
Psalm Playlists
Singing Psalms and Hymns
Hymn suggestions for the Baptism of Jesus, Epiphany Season (Year B) from Hymnary.org 

Music for The Epiphany of Our Lord | OCP Music LIturgy Podcast 

Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come | by Jered McKenna | Leadsheet 

Hail to the Lord's Anointed | by James Montgomery / Arranged by The Welcome Wagon| Leadsheet

We Three Kings | Arranged by Tom Booth | Leadsheets

Jesus, the Light of the World | Words: Charles Wesley and George D. Elderkin /
Music: George D. Elderkin, 1890 | Leadsheet

Psalm 29 (Ascribe to the Lord) | Tune "Arise, Shine, for Your
Light Has Come" / Words by P.Majorins based on Psalm 29 | Leadsheet

Brightest and Best (Star of the East) | Sacred Harp | Leadsheet | Capo

This is the Christ | Words by Martin Luther / Music by Sandra McCracken | Leadsheets

Psalm 29 Anglican Chant 
Anglican Chant Psalter

Hymns related to Psalm 29 from Hymnary.com

Psalm 29 Metrical Option (How Firm a Foundation) 
Commentary on Mark 1:4-11

The baptism of the Lord, however, surpasses all human powers of comprehension. It contains a glory beyond all thathumanity hopes or prays for, a preeminence of grace and power which exceeds the others more than the sun outshines the stars. More than this, if the words of the righteous are recalled to mind, they prove even more conclusively its incomparable superiority. Yet, we must not therefore refrain from speaking of it, but, using the very utterances of our Lord Jesus Christ as our guides, we grope along the way, as with a mirror, or through the maze of an enigma. We must speak, not so as to diminish the greatness of the subject, by an exposition made in weakness of body and with the aid of a form of reasoning that is set at naught. We must speak to magnify the greatness and the long-suffering benevolence of the good God in tolerating our stammering attempts to speak about the prodigies of his love and grace in Christ Jesus.  -Basil the Great
More Historic Commentary (View and Download)
Music for Listening
Contemporary Songs for Epiphany  - Cardiphonia (Folk)

Epiphany Mass - Bach (Classical)

Epiphany - Wen Reagan (Folk)

Epiphany Music - Tadeusz Baird (Modern Classical)
Thematic Art 
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