Transformations

At our All-Age service at Abinger this Sunday, Lucy reminded us of 3 stories of Epiphany - the Wise Men searching for a new king, the baptism of Jesus and the miracle of changing of water into wine.

Matthew 2:1-12. In Matthew's gospel, we read of the Magi who were searching for the King of the Jews who had been prophesied. But the child they were guided to, was not in a sumptuous palace but in a very humble home, his mother a young girl from an insignificant village called Nazareth, his father a carpenter. These travelling seers' idea of a royal child must have been turned upside down by the discovery of King Jesus - I wonder how their lives were changed after this revelation of who the promised Messiah-King was? How would he save his people as the prophets had foretold?

Matthew 3: 13-17. Baptism was originally a Jewish ritual of purification, a 'change of status', symbolised by immersion in water. Jesus' cousin, John, used baptism to call people to repentance in preparation for the imminent coming of the Messiah. At his baptism by John, Jesus was named by a voice from heaven as 'My own dear son' - that very Messiah who had been promised by God.

John 2:1-11. The story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee is another story of transformation. Jesus' first recorded miracle shows us that he cares about the situations of everyday life, that he can change the ordinary into something extraordinary.

These three episodes illustrate unexpected transformations: the expectation of who the King of the Jews would be; the coming of the Saviour - God taking on human flesh; the transforming power that Jesus has over his creation - and that includes us!

The collect for Sunday 16th January

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN

Hilary Swift, 17th January 2022

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You can see here some thoughts, prayers and sermons that would have been heard at Saint James' and other Benefice churches, including all the weekly thoughts that you see here. Also, you can see Virgina Smith's weekly homily from Coldharbour here.

Tony Berry, the Rector since 1993, retired at the end of September 2021. See the Vacancy page for information and updates on appointing his replacement.

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