Scriptures and Questions for the First Sunday After the Epiphany

First Sunday After the Epiphany
January 11th, 2009

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

Genesis (1:1-5)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
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What strikes you about this passage? What can you learn from this account of "the first day"?How do you reconcile the two Genesis accounts of creation with what we learn from science about the origin of the universe?
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Psalm 29 Afferte Domino

Ascribe to God, you heavenly beings, *
ascribe to God glory and strength.

Ascribe due honor to God's holy Name; *
worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of God is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *
God is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of God is a powerful voice; *
the voice of God is a voice of splendor.

The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; *
God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

God makes Lebanon skip like a calf *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of God splits the flames of fire; the voice of God shakes the wilderness; *
God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Holy One, *
all are crying, "Glory!"

God sits enthroned above the flood, *
enthroned for evermore.

God shall give strength to the people; *
God shall give the people the blessing of peace.

( Helena's Psalter)
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Have you ever sensed the presence of the voice of God? What happened?Which image or verse in this passage catches your attention? Why?
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Acts (19:1-7)

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied-- altogether there were about twelve of them.

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What is the difference between the baptism of John for repentance and the baptism in the name of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit that Paul offers?
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Mark (1: 4-11)
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
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Where do you see people like John the Baptist speaking in our day?What does Jesus' baptism mean to you?__________________________________________________________

For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings: Praying the Scriptures with Lectio Divina (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)Click here for "Praying the Scriptures with Lectio Divina"