Feast of St. Timothy - January 27, 2013

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[00:01:30]  First Reading - Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10
[00:03:22]  Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
[00:06:40]  Gospel Reading - Luke 4:14-21
[00:08:04]  Sermon - Rev. Donald Gray
[00:25:26]  Blessing and Dismissal

Questions for reflection on Luke 4:14-21

1. Jesus self-identifies the words of the profit Isaiah as being directly relating to who he is and what he is about. Is that primarily how you think of Jesus? How do the words of Isaiah relate to you and what you are about?
2. If you read on after verse 21 you will find that Jesus' words have a strong effect on the people. Why? Do Jesus' words still have that effect on people? Why or why not?
3. How does this passage tell the church who it is?

Disciple Steps - A few suggestions for becoming more passionate about your spirituality.

• Consider reading a whole book of the Bible in one siting.
• Consider making a small change in the way you pray - chose a new places, play music, pray out loud or silently, stand or kneel. Reflect on how that small change affected your prayer time.
• Consider writing down a list of the things you believe with all your heat and why.

www.sttimothy-edm.ca

2nd Sunday after Epiphany - January 20, 2013

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[00:00:41]  First Reading - Isaiah 62:1-5
[00:02:20]  Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
[00:03:58]  Gospel Reading - John 2:1-11
[00:05:25]  Sermon - Rev. Chris Roth
[00:21:56]  Blessing and Dismissal

Questions for reflection on John 2:1-11:

1. Why is it significant that the six stone water jars were used for Jewish rites of ritual purification?
2. Why would this miracle (turning water into wine) at this time (at a wedding) be the first of Jesus' "sign"? What does that tell you about Jesus's mission and his people?
3. Why is Jesus hesitant at first? Have you experienced divine hesitancy? How do we deal with this?
4. What is Mary's role? How might our role relate to Mary's 
5. What do you need transformed in your life?

www.sttimothy-edm.ca

The Baptism of the Lord - January 13, 2013

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[00:00:59]  First Reading - Isaiah 43:1-7
[00:02:28]  Second Reading - Acts 8:14-17
[00:03:16]  Gospel Reading - Luke 3:15-17,21-22
[00:04:29]  Sermon - Rev. Donald Gray
[00:19:38]  Blessing and Dismissal

Questions for reflection on

1. Why do you think Jesus was baptized?
2. What is your understanding of sin? How is it present in an individual, a community, or a social system?
3. How does that relate to baptism? How does it relate to Jesus' baptism?
4. We should be aware of hypothetical theological questions, but what might have been an effect of Jesus not being baptized?

www.sttimothy-edm.ca

The Epiphany of the Lord - January 06, 2013

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[00:00:36]  First Reading - Isaiah 60:1-6
[00:02:06]  Second Reading - Ephesians 3:1-12
[00:03:56]  Gospel Reading - Matthew 2:1-12
[00:05:51]  Sermon - Rev. Chris Roth
[00:23:05]  Blessing and Dismissal

Disciple Steps:

• Tell someone about (or write down) your story with God. How has God been at work in your life?
• What is it your find attractive about being a Christian? Thank God for this.

Questions for reflection on

1. The star drew the Magi to Christ. What drew (or draws) you to Christ?
2. Contemplate the power of Herod and the innocence of the children of Bethlehem. How do the innocent pay for our use of power and for our ideologies? Consider the fear of the powerful.
3. The Magi came a great distance and offered much, not knowing exactly who this child was. Consider your own devotion and gifts in comparison to your own knowledge of him.
4. What is Matthew trying to tell us about Jesus through this story about the Magi and King Herod?

www.sttimothy-edm.ca