Epiphany 1 – The Baptism of Jesus
Isaiah 43.1-7, Acts 8.14-17, Luke 3.15-17, 21-22
On Sunday we heard the wonderful passage from Isaiah 43 proclaiming God’s love and protection:
‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (v2)
‘Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you. (v4)
‘Do not fear, for I am with you.‘ (v5)
We heard from Acts 8 how the good news of Jesus was received by people in Samaria who had been been baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter and John were then sent to lay hands on them so that they would also receive the Holy Spirit.
The passage from Luke 3, tells of the baptism of Christ by John, where John says ‘I baptise you with water: but one who is more powerful than I is coming;…..He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ (v16)
As well as receiving the Holy Spirit in baptism, these readings tell of God’s presence always with us in the challenges of our daily lives.
Our font was placed in a central position in front of the sanctuary as an image to remind us of today’s theme of baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.