Reflection for the Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord

Baptism

Why should I join?
What does it mean?

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

It wouldn’t be unusual to wonder about baptism, what it means. We might also wonder why Jesus was baptized.

For us, baptism is membership in the body of Jesus, the Church – we are made part of Jesus by descending into the water, as He descended into death. With this membership we are promised that we, like Jesus, will rise again.

For us, baptism is washing. We are washed of sin. In baptism we recognize that we fall short of the glory of God. As St. Paul wrote to the Romans “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” We know that we are sinful, no one is perfect and without failings. In baptism we acknowledge our sinfulness and our reliance on God, who through Jesus’ sacrifice washes us of our sinfulness, brings us forgiveness, and welcomes us back – always, no matter what.

For us, baptism is proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God, true God and true man. We proclaim the triune nature of God, Jesus’ sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension. In baptism we proclaim the Creed – stating definitively what we believe by faith. At Jesus’ baptism the heavens were opened. The Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. The Father’s voice is heard: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This is God revealed, as He is, plain and simple, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Jesus’ baptism pointed to all these things. At Jesus’ baptism John publicly recognized and declared that Jesus was the One who was awaited, the Messiah, the One who would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Jesus’ baptism also showed that He identified with sinners. His baptism symbolized sinners’ baptism into His righteousness. In addition, Jesus baptism showed His approval of John’s baptism, bearing witness to it, that it was from heaven and approved by God. Later, after His resurrection, He would tell His followers that by baptizing the many they would be made His disciples. In Jesus’ baptism the reality of God was revealed in testimony direct from heaven.

All the glorious truth of the mercy of God found in Jesus Christ is on display at His baptism. We join ourselves to that glory and truth in our baptism.

In the dynamics of baptism we join ourselves to all the truth of Jesus. We proclaim that God has freed us by His grace and our acceptance of that grace. We declare with all the faith that we have – we are members of His body, and that He is our Lord and God. We are His members – and it means this: That we receive His mercy and glory.

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Epiphany

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Does God play…
hide and seek?

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”

Have you ever stopped for directions? The typical joke is that a man will drive around for hours, trying to find a destination, while a woman would immediately stop and ask for directions.

From our reading of the scripture we see that the Wise Men/Kings/Astrologers/Magi did stop and ask directions. They received directions, an answer in response to their search for The Answer, and made their way to Bethlehem.

It seems inconsistent doesn’t it? The Wise Men were following a star. Besides being men, why would they stop for directions if they had the star to guide them?

The lesson here is that something greater was happening. We need to unfold the map, and get our directions by reading between the lines a little.

Certainly, the gospel account is true. The Astrologers saw a sign in the skies and intuited that something wonderful had happened. That intuition isn’t just some human trait, but God’s grace at work in them, asking them to take action. They chose to believe and act on that grace. They decided to believe and follow a light – a star.

The star they followed wasn’t just something in the sky; it was the light glowing in their hearts that drove them onward toward God. That light drove them toward Jesus, the reality of God’s promise to all people.

The Wise Men received a great blessing – from outside of God’s chosen people, God called these men. With the power of His love – that is, His grace – He called Gentile leaders to come to His Son. These representatives of all nations responded. They headed toward Jesus (stopping for directions along the way).

God doesn’t play hide-and-seek. His grace is for all people in the same way as was given to the Magi. The light of His star exists in all hearts as a little flicker, an ember. If we choose to act on that grace and head toward Jesus, that ember will be fanned into a great flame, greater than any star.

When touched by the spark of grace we must not brush it off or put it out. Rather we stop and ask directions. We start in our faith community, our local church. From there, we set out and find Him as fully as we are able. Finding Him we also become His messengers (like the Magi – who as travelers were also bearers of news). With a great light in us we go out and proclaim the Good News. God is not hiding – we only need to fan His many embers into great stars revealing Jesus to all.

January 2013 Newsletter

Happy New Year and a new newsletter! Our January 2013 newsletter and calendar is complete and now available. Tons of events, Soup on Sunday, our annual meeting (yes, we are a democratic church where you have a voice and a vote and can expect accountability) everything you’d ever want to know — all in one place. You may view and download a copy right from this website.

January 2013 Newsletter.

Wise Men Seek Him

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds

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He called,
they and I answered.

“I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD.”

There are several very good reasons for our Church to have established this special Solemnity, that of the Humble Shepherds.

Our initial thoughts go to the remembrance of those men, who kept watch over their flocks by night, to whom the angel first appeared to announce the good news of the Lord’s birth.

Since God deigned to provide first news of His birth to these men, the Holy Church should rightly honor them and their witness to His coming. The community of the Church, each of us, should also take after their example by listening, responding, and taking action.

Next, our thoughts should go to those men around us that God continues to speak to and through. They work among us as leaders. They draw us to the goodness of the Lord. These are the shepherds among us; they are the bishops, priests, and deacons of our Holy Church.

What does it mean to be such a shepherd?

Like the shepherds on that hillside, today’s shepherds must listen. Listening is difficult, especially if the one speaking to you doesn’t use the phone, Facebook, E-mail, texting, or smoke signals. His word comes in very subtle ways, and they seem easy to set aside and ignore. Yet, if we dare to listen, we will hear Him speaking to us, setting forth a vital mission and challenge that we need to take on.

Like those shepherds, today’s responded and went. They left everything they thought they might be behind. They went to be what He wants them to be. Whether drafted, or going voluntarily (even reluctantly sometimes), they still chose to respond. They didn’t sit on the hillside wondering, “What if?” They didn’t miss the chance.

Also like the shepherds that went that night, they took something away with them, the experience of meeting the Lord who challenges us, who supports us, who is our best friend and confidant. They met Him and were changed in that meeting. They then took what they learned, and with the Lord’s help went out on mission, to build the Church, to gather co-workers, and to build family and community.

They lead because they have heard and seen abundantly. They tell others, many of who and astonished and do not accept their word. Those that do hear, who may also be astonished at first, but who then follow by listening, responding and taking action themselves are God’s witnesses in the world.

Christmas Message from the Central Diocese United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Dear Sisters,

With the Advent season upon us, we prepare in great anticipation for the celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth. The Central Diocesan Board of the United Women’s Societies for the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament extends its greetings to you, your families, and parish for a joyous season of peace and happiness.

As is tradition, we share with you the opłatek wafer in the spirit of friendship and caring. Please convey our best wishes to your pastor, your entire parish family and all of our society members including those who may be ill or unable to leave their homes at this time.

We all pray this Christmas season will bring peace and harmony throughout the world and ask our Lord to guide us in helping to spread that peace to our parishes and communities. May you all continue to do God’s work happily and in good health throughout 2013!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
May God Bless You Always,

Kathy Cortazar
President, Central Diocese ANS

A Christmas prayer and poem for you

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. —Isaiah 9:5

Lord Jesus, as we gaze upon You, sleeping peacefully in the manger, we feel a deep peace radiate from You. A holy calm fills our hearts. You have kept Your promise, You are here, with us now.

Lord Jesus, you were not afraid to come to us; help us to be not afraid in coming to You. Give us Your deep inner peace that we might impart joy, hope, and courage to all we encounter. Open our hearts to see You more clearly, receive You more deeply, and follow You more willingly. Increase our capacity to give and receive Your love. May this Christmas Day and Season warm our hearts all year.

Untitled by Cyprian Kamil Norwid

Jest w moim kraju zwyczaj,

że w dzień wigilijny,

przy wejściu pierwszej gwiazdy

wieczornej na niebie,

ludzie gniazda wspólnego

łamią chleb biblijny,

najtkliwsze przekazując uczucia

w tym chlebie.

It is the custom in my country,

that on Christmas Eve,

at the first star’s appearance

in the eveing sky,

people as one

break biblical bread,

and with great love share all they feel

in this bread.

Christmas Reflection

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Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all

Here we stand, at the manger, at the answer.

We have been inundated by the negatives of the world, particularly over the last several weeks, even in the last 24 hours, but here we stand, before the answer.

In this decrepit, shoddy stable, the answer came to us. The answer came with a one way ticket. The answer, this little baby, came with a one way ticket and brought a new dawn.

The one way ticket is for God intervening, providing us with the way from darkness and sin to light and life. He came to save – Jesus – the name that means God saves. God has come to save His people that are you and me, all of us.

The one way ticket is for God who promised He would come to save, not just temporarily, or for a short time, but forever. He came to stay with us, and in us, as the answer.

This saving work, this answer continues among us. He is here, in this small parish, on a small street. He is in our big and welcoming hearts – the heart of Jesus which we reflect. He is in our community. He is in the many blessings we have received, and the struggles and work we face together. He is in the beauty of our children and the wisdom of our elders. The answer is in Him and His promises – that are for us – here and now.

The answer is among us. God is among us, with us, here to stay. Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you for this holy night. Amen.

Christmas Wishes

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

If you happened to see our Christmas advertisement in the Schenectady Gazette you would note the sentiment expressed there: May His dawning break down all barriers and bring us peace.

Christmas is a recollection, a memory of what happened over 2,000 years ago, and a new dawning of that moment. In that moment 2,000 years ago we saw the incredible love our God holds for us. He withheld nothing from us, and gave Himself for our benefit. This Christmas we face the stable, and the need to reconnect, to re-realize the incredible power of God’s love. We cry out for that new dawn, and behold; it is within our grasp. Jesus didn’t come and go in the span of 33 years, from Christmas to the Ascension, but remains with us, steadfast by our side.

This Christmas we face a day that offers the new and perfect, the peaceful. We resolve to be our better selves with the help of His grace. His new dawning calls us to become the best of what Christians can be. Our Christian life, our baptismal call, is not to foster dissension or separation, but to be bearers of His new dawn each and every day. Our relationship to our Holy Church is not about religious affiliation, but about life in a community that helps us to be the new dawn of Christ every day, the light that will bring peace between people, that will break all barriers.

We have had an incredibly beautiful and blessed year in our little parish. Friends new and old have gathered to be the new dawn for each other, our neighborhood, and our wider community. In this work we continue to break down barriers and bring peace. We are that small church on a small street with a big and welcoming heart. The new dawn continues to this day, here, among us.

I wish and pray that this Christmas brings you all the joys of His new dawning. On behalf of the Parish Committee and myself, I wish you the most blessed Christmas season and look forward to seeing you as we join together to face the new dawning of Jesus into our lives and our community.

Rev. Deacon James A. Konicki

Christmas Liturgies and Services in Schenectady
  • Tuesday, December 25th: Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord – Shepherd’s Holy Mass/Pasterka at Midnight. Service of Worship and Holy Communion for Christmas Day starting at 10am.
  • Wednesday, December 26th: Feast of St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr – please keep the persecuted Church in your prayers.
  • Thursday, December 27th: Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist – Service of Worship and Holy Communion and Blessing of Wine at 7:30pm.
  • Friday, December 28th: Commemoration of the Holy Innocents – please keep all children in your prayers.
  • Sunday, December 30th: Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds – Service of Worship and Holy Communion starting at 9:30am. First ever Soup on Sunday – Ministry from 11:30am until 1:30pm.
  • Monday, December 31st: Solemnity of the Holy Family – please pray for God’s blessings upon all families.
  • Tuesday, January 1st: Solemnity of the Circumcision of our Lord – Service of Worship and Holy Communion starting at 10am.
  • Wednesday, January 2nd: Solemnity of the Holy Name of Jesus – Service of Worship and Holy Communion starting at 7:30pm.
  • Sunday, January 6th: Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord – Service of Worship and Holy Communion with blessing of chalk, charcoal, and incense starting at 9:30am. Holy Mass at 11am.
  • Sunday, January 13th: Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord – Service of Worship and Holy Communion starting at 9:30am.