I hope your holidays have been joyous and not too tiring. The New Year will be upon us quicker than most of us can believe. Many folks use this time to look back in review and also to look forward. Often people look back and see only the goals that they didn’t reach. Some make New Year’s Resolutions with the hope (or is it wishful thinking…lol) that the upcoming year will be different. Diets will be kept. Books will be read. Times of prayer and devotions will become more regular. The New Year can be a time of hope…especially if the old year was one to forget.
The New Year also means that we have a few special days on the church calendar – Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord. Most of us know about Epiphany – the last day of the 12 Days of Christmas. In church, we celebrate the revealing of Jesus to the Gentiles, who the Wisemen represent. While some cultures make a big deal about Epiphany (which is when our Orthodox siblings celebrate Christmas), the Baptism of the Lord can get lost in the post-Christmas let down. You know, the “that was fun but I am glad it’s over” feeling! But this special day can be a chance to begin 2026 by recommitting ourselves to following Jesus and to becoming more like him.
This year, Baptism of the Lord is on January 11. One thing that I have done throughout my ministry is to include a Congregational Reaffirmation of Baptism (p50 in the UMH) on this Sunday. After the sermon you will be invited to join in reaffirming your baptismal vows, reaffirming your faith through the Creed and remembering the fact that you are baptized, even if you can’t remember being baptized (as those of us baptized as babies cannot do).
A part of the Reaffirmation is the opportunity to come forward to the font and to use the water as a way of remembering that through baptism you know that God has claimed you as God’s own, forgiven your sins and poured out the Holy Spirit on you. This remembrance, as well as recommitting yourself to the vows taken at your baptism (and affirmed at your confirmation), seems to me to be a great way to start the year. I hope you’ll find it as meaningful as I have.
And as we move into the new year, let’s remember these words of Paul: “I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6, CEB)
Happy New Year!
Pastor Wilson