MMC: Calling the Disciples

Good Morning and Happy Martin Luther King Junior Day, may we all give thanks for the his life and all who worked for civil rights which has allowed us to become a more multicultural society and church.

A few announcements before looking at the text for this week. 

• Due to the snowstorm last Wednesday, Senior Lunch is meeting this Wednesday at noon at Rancho Allegro
• If you are interested in the intergenerational mission trip to Virgina this summer, an informational meeting will be on Thursday, January 20 at 7:30 at St. Michael's Lutheran Church (5 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan)
• If you are not officially a member of Bethlehem and would like to become one, please talk to me. New members will be received on January 30. 
• The annual meeting is after worship on Sunday January 30th after worship.

The book of faith puzzler for this week is: How many tablets were the Ten Commandments written on? A) 1, B) 2, C)4 D) 10, E) Bible does not say.  Email me your answer by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing. 

Now onto the text.

The first reading is Isaiah 9:1-4.  This includes a well known verse "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined."  What is your physical reaction when walking from a place of darkness into a bright light?  When have you been in a place of mental/spiritual/emotional darkness?  How did you get out of that state or are you still in it?  Was there a person or thing that helped you while you were in such a dark place?

The second reading is 1 Corinthians 1:10-18.  Paul does not beat around the bush at the beginning of his letter to the Corinthians.  He is upset that the people of Corinth are arguing and disagreeing with each other.  He is upset that factions have been created between those who follow his teachings of Christ and those who follow Apollos teachings of Christ.  He states that we are all follow the same Christ, for it was Christ who was crucified for us and it is in Christ's name that we are baptized.  This Sunday Leo McCullough, the grandson of Sune and Ringa Gronlund will be baptized.  He will not be baptized Lutheran but he will be baptized in Christ's name.  But yet we are a Lutheran congregation and follow Lutheran teachings.  How can we honor both what makes us Lutheran while also keeping us from arguing within and among denominations about who is following the correct theology? 

The gospel, Matthew 4:12-23, starts with our first reading from Isaiah and then the story of Jesus calling his first four disciples.  Have you ever made such a big decision as quickly as Peter, Andrew, James and John did?  Have you ever immediately decided to do something and thought about the consequences and reasons later?  Jesus tell the men that he will make them fish for people.  What does that mean in today's world?  What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus today?

I hope these questions get you thinking and contemplating the text for this week.  As always I love to hear any responses you may have to these questions or any additional thoughts and questions you have on these text or faith in general.  

Have a great week!