God gives Jesus to everyone!
Jesus came to Earth to live in solidarity with us. He lived the same way ordinary people lived. He served others. He grieved with the grieving. He made friends with the outcasts of his time: the tax collectors, prostitutes and people sick with leprosy.
Jesus didn’t have to be baptized. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus shows that he is fully human, as well as fully divine, when he gets baptized. He goes to the Jordan River and asks the prophet, John the Baptist, to baptize him.
Jews then had a long tradition of ritual washing. John had been preaching a ritual washing, or baptism, as a sign of repentance. It showed people wanted to put God first in their lives. Baptism, for John, meant washing away the me-first attitude that comes naturally with being human.
John knew Jesus was God’s Son and didn’t need to be baptized. But Jesus insisted. He showed humility and solidarity with the people he came to love and to save.
“Jesus came to John at the Jordan, to be baptized.” – Matthew 3:13
We might feel like we are not worthy of God’s love. But Jesus assures us that doesn’t matter. Jesus came as God’s proof of His love for all people. New Year – New Life! We invite you to live a new life in faith with us at PEACE Lutheran Church.
HAppening Today
Pastor Virginia Ward preaches today. The Rev. Eileen Smith Le Van is out of town. [If you need pastoral care, please call the church office at (530) 273-9631.]
Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
Coming up at PEACE
- Toddler Time! – Today we introduce our new curriculum for even the tiniest of disciples. Toddler Time is for all children from babies to 4 years old. Tots will learn about the love of God through reading time and faithful play. It’s during Sunday School time, so parents can attend the Adult Forum. Parents are invited to bring their little ones to our Sunday School all-ages opening at 9:45 a.m. downstairs in the Youth Room. Then, they can head upstairs to the Nursery. There, parents can participate in our “Frolic” curriculum with their child, or hand the child off to a loving adult for 45 minutes. Call Youth & Outreach Coordinator Trina Kleist at (530) 575-6132 to learn more.
- Sunday School resumes today! – Youth @ Peace is our all-ages Sunday School program. We invite all young people to come downstairs to our Youth Room at 9:45 a.m. Sundays to learn why God matters to them today. Today, we start out learning about the early life of Jesus.
- More Coming Events – Learn more about events at PEACE here.
Adult Bible Study
The Adult Forum meets in the Old Fellowship Hall at 10 a.m. Today, Pastor Virginia Ward leads. Stop in the Fellowship Center around the corner to pick up coffee & baked goods!
Sunday School for children & youth
Meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Youth Room downstairs. Young people of all ages are welcome!
Youth @ PEACE is our all-ages Bible study, where young disciples learn the core stories of our faith and what it means to walk the Jesus Path. In the fall, we learned stories from the Old Testament. Now, we shift to the New Testament. We welcome all who yearn to learn more about our loving, gracious Creator!
Bring your questions, doubts and challenges to God, the Bible and the Church – they are welcome here!
Bible memory verses: Kids can earn Bible Bucks for verses they memorize and redeem them for cool prizes! Our goal is for young people to bring God’s word deep into their hearts, supporting a lifetime of faith.
Get Involved at PEACE!
Click here to learn how to get involved at PEACE Lutheran Church.