Sunday 17th December 2023
You are welcome to worship in person this Sunday at 10.15am. Hand sanitizer and masks are available if you would like to use them.
We are also live streaming of our services. The service can be seen each Sunday morning commencing at 10.15am. Here is the link to our YouTube channel to access the live streaming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEm1fJeADpcP6gO1BsBKcg
Isaiah 61:1-11, John 1: 6-8, 19-28, Preparers of the Light
In the gospel reading today, we learn about John the Baptist, and find that he was popular in his own time. Mark 1:5 tells us, “All the people of the Judean countryside and everyone in Jerusalem went out to him in the desert and received his baptism in the river Jordan, publicly confessing their sins.” John the Baptist’s story is closely related to Jesus, but it revolves around his role as a forerunner and the one who baptises Jesus, preparing the way for the Messiah.
In the text we find a few things about him: first, in spite of his own popularity, John’s greatest desire was not to draw attention to himself but to glorify Jesus. Second, John was an enormously courageous man. He was a preacher of righteousness and he would not betray his convictions. He knew what it was to sacrifice everything in answer to God’s call. Third, John was to bear witness to the light. On the banks of the Jordan, he proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand. When he saw Jesus he declared, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The only way to truly glorify God is to glorify him where we live, work and play. Certainly, John did that. He did it in his preaching and in his life. In our lesson today, we may ask a question: How could we be courageous and to bear witness to Christ? I believe that it is possible with God’s help because God’s power and grace will help us be the people the Lord wants us to be. IL-WOONG.
Our Mission is to
Connect with people in Jesus;
Build each other up in faith; and to
Become Like Jesus.