We are counting the weeks after Epiphany and attempting to get a glimpse of what life as the people of God might be like. We consider some of the most famous passages of scripture to help us shape a vision of the life we are called to live—not just a special, rise-to-the-occasion kind of life, but an everyday life, an ordinary life that isn’t ordinary. We are the evidence that our faith is true and our God is at work in the world. In other words, we are now the epiphany, the light shining forth for the world to see. And of course, we will fail from time to time. But how we deal with failure is also a sign of that presence and glimpse of the kin-dom. So, this ordinary time is extra-ordinary in the living of it. Let us embrace the call with grace and with joy.

Abbreviations:

TFWS: The Faith We Sing
UMH: The United Methodist Hymnal
W&S: Worship and Song

Theme Hymn: Bring Forth the Kingdom TFWS 2190

Service Music: Sweet, Sweet Spirit UMH 334

Closing Hymn: Blest Be the Tie that Binds UMH 557
Be Thou My Vision UMH 451

January 29, 2023 – Blessed Are

For the next three weeks, we dip into the Sermon on the Mount, perhaps the most famous extended teaching from Jesus from the gospels. This week, we look at what are called the Beatitudes, the first part of the Sermon.