Peace in Peculiar Times (Mark 1:1-8) // Sunday, December 6, 2020

Peace in Peculiar Times (Mark 1:1-8) // Sunday, December 6, 2020

#ComeSunday #WorshipBulletin: Read the scripture and download the bulletin to prepare for 10:00 am Sunday worship and Weekly Bible studies!


HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor Victor is taking some much needed time away, so we will join in Holy Communion via Zoom with the First Presbyterian Church of Inglewood at 11:15 am!

Holy Communion Zoom Link for Sunday, December 6, 2020:
https://csun.zoom.us/j/244090019

Dial-in number for members who only have landlines or cell phones:

1.669.900.6833 – Meeting ID: 244090019#

WORSHIP REWIND
This online worship experience also has of a replay our Mother’s Day Worship from May 2020, a joint worship with Dixon Memorial UMC in Nashville, TN with a word from Pastor Victor’s mother, Rev. Shirley Renee Franklin!


Mark 1:1-8 (Common English Bible)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, 2 happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:

Look, I am sending my messenger before you.
He will prepare your way,

3 a voice shouting in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”

4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”


Summary:

This scripture reveals that the people of Jerusalem found peace in the wilderness by following an unlikely prophet. John the Baptist may have dressed in strange clothes and ate weird food, but God entrusted him with the responsibility to “pave the way of the Lord.” The Advent season reminds us to find peace in God and with an assurance that God is at work in the most unlikely of circumstances!

The pandemic created new opportunities for Inglewood First UMC in ministry and we followed the Spirit in these strange and disorienting times, finding peace in God in the midst of trouble. This online worship experience also consists of a replay our Mother’s Day Worship from May 2020 as we joined in worship with Dixon Memorial UMC in Nashville, TN with a word from Pastor Victor’s mother, Rev. Shirley Renee Franklin!

Reflection Questions:

  1. What is a word, phrase or image that comes to mind when you read or hear the text?
  2. What does this scripture teach you about peace?
  3. What does God invite you to do, change or be through this passage?