Family Dinner & Devos, Jan 13-Jan 19

Blessed Epiphany!

Scripture for the Week:  Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

This is the story of the baptism of Jesus.

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation): And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven:  "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  Luke 3:22

• What things do you think God was pleased by in terms of Jesus?
• In the Protestant tradition (including the Lutheran Church), we practice two sacraments:  Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.  Jesus both participated in these acts himself as well as called us to participate in them.  Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptized?
• In our baptism, we are claimed as a part of God's family.  We are called "beloved."  God's loves us, though, before and after our baptism.  Yet why do you think baptism is important in the life of a Christian?
• Share your own stories of when you were baptized - or tell of the day you baptized your children.  Perhaps you would like to pull out pictures of your own baptisms and spend time remembering together.

• And the Epiphany question (more info below):  Where have you seen God at work this week?  (or, Where have you spotted God this week?)
  
  

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your witness and example.

Thank you that you touch us and call us through the waters of baptism.

Thank you that you call us your own and tell us that we are loved.

Help us to have our eyes wide open this Epiphany as we spot you each day.

Amen.

A Few Notes on Epiphany

We have journeyed through Advent and Christmas and now arrive at “Epiphany.”  The Day of Epiphany falls on January 6^th and is marked in Christian churches by the visit of the Magi (or Wise Men) that followed the star.  In other words, these Magi “saw the light” of Jesus Christ.  Outside the bounds of the church, sometimes people will say the phrase, “I’ve had an epiphany!”  This means that they have had a sudden, bright revelation of truth.

Within the Christian church, Epiphany is a season of “God-spotting.”  We, like the Wise Men before us, continue to seek the light of Jesus Christ.  Whenever we spot God’s light and find Jesus there, we’ve had an “epiphany moment.”  The question for the Season of Epiphany – which lasts through the beginning of Lent (which this year happens to fall on February 13) – is“Where have you seen God today?”  Perhaps Epiphany can help us see with wider eyes as we spot God all over the place… perhaps in the stain-glassed windows of a church, the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the hug of a child, the help of a friend, the smile of someone in a store, the feeling of peace in the midst of chaos, a cup of warm soup on a cool evening, prayers around the dinner table…  We spot God when we see the love and light of Jesus shining through.

Epiphany is also a “share” season.  In Advent we “fasted” – a time of waiting and preparing for Jesus’ birth.  In Christmas, we “feasted” – a time of celebrating and rejoicing that Jesus has come.  And now in Epiphany we “share” our “God-spottings” with others.  As we begin to spot God ourselves, as well as hear other’s stories of “God-spottings”, the light of Jesus gets brighter and brighter and brighter.