January 6, 2023

Dear Road Church Friends,

On the Christian calendar Christmas is followed by six weeks known as Epiphany. That’s the season find ourselves in this Sunday. Epiphany is about seeing the world differently, because of the changes that Christmas has brought to the way we perceive the world. We realize that God, in Christ, is now with us, among us, and in us. We now see the world, not merely as it is, but as it could be. We see ourselves and the whole world as an object of God’s love. The Scripture this week is the story of the baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch. He came from the remotest region of the world seeking God, and God placed Philip the Evangelist in his path on his way back home.

Join us this Sunday to hear the story of this man’s epiphany and the joy that followed. This is also Communion Sunday followed by a social time after the service.

    SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:26-39    with COMMUNION MEDITATION

An angel of the Lord said to Philip the Evangelist, “The Lord wants you to go south on the road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza near the border of Egypt.” So Philip started on his way. Meanwhile, a man from Ethiopia who had traveled all the way to Jerusalem to worship was returning home on the same road. He was a eunuch in service to the Queen as her chief financial officer.  As Philip drew near he saw the man seated in his coach, reading out loud. The Spirit said to Philip, “Catch up to the coach and walk beside it.” When he did, Philip heard him reading from the book of Isaiah. This is what he was reading:  He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” Then he invited Philip to sit beside him in the coach. “Tell me, he said, “was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Gospel story about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to a pool of water, and the eunuch said, “Look! there’s some water! Is there any reason that you can’t baptize me right now?” So, he ordered the driver to stop the carriage. Then he and Philip went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.

BLESS THOU THIS YEAR   by A. S. C. Clarke

Bless Thou this year, O Lord!

Make rich it’s days with health, and work, an prayer and praise,

And helpful ministry to needy folk.

Speak Thy soft word in cloudy days,

Nor let us think ourselves forgot when common lot of sorrow hems us round

May we not fail our share of work through selfish thought,

Each day fulfill Thy holy will in yielded lives,

And still the tumult of desires debased.

May faith and hope and love increase.

Bless Thou this year, O Lord!        

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

Our service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ta42OYTSm1E