Aphorism of the Day, February 2026

Aphorism of the Day, February 11, 2026

Much of pre-modern thinking includes the naive assumption of words being exempt from interpretation in their original textual composition event as well as their having self-evidential meaning for their readers.  Some biblical interpreters today assume that biblical words were pristinely delivered words into human contexts free from human mediated and interpreted articulation and also having self evidential and final absolute meanings.  Such view is an administrative projection for establishing authority by being able to project "our understanding" as the correct and God-given one.

Aphorism of the Day, February 10, 2026

The Gospels are narrative learning, a form of indirect learning, and it is participatory learning since it forces interaction of the readers' language base with the presented language of the story.  Such learning is not very precise since it can be as varied as the number of readers/participants.  The so called precision only happens when a story is converted to doctrine and dogma within a community which decides to enforce an interpretation regarding a presented story item in the life of Jesus.

Aphorism of the Day, February 9, 2026

John's Gospel does not have an account of the Transfiguration of Jesus, but one of the metaphors in John's Gospel is Jesus as the Light of the world.  One can find a contrast of writing styles between using a narrative account and a metaphorical tautology (Christ is the Light of the World) to proclaim and teach Jesus as one who enlightens through bringing insights to launch a new movement in human history.

Aphorism of the Day, February 8, 2026

Using anthropomorphic analogy as language users without choice, one can see oneself as a singular being who is becoming in time and retaining would we might call a continuous "same" identity even though this "same" begin is continuously different in each occasion of aging.  We have visual and social markers of continuing identity but which can be doubted except when forensic use of DNA is seen as a more infallible marker of same identity over time.  But as a being we are also a community of participating beings in the atoms and cells which comprise us.  These other beings are important because if enough of these participating cells die, they are so crucial to the whole, that the whole can experience demise.  In a similar way we project a great expanding Container, a Being of beings, all of which are becoming in time.  This great Container is unlike lesser beings because the great Being even in the Self-surpassing Becoming, has no significant rival.

Aphorism of the Day, February 7, 2026

In the communion of the parts which make up the "one" person, a few dysfunctional parts can do in the whole, i.e., an appendix as its own communion of cells can cause the death of the whole "one" person.  When it comes to the expanding ONE WHOLE CONTAINER of all beings, we assume the relative dysfunctions happening within localized parts, even if perceived as widespread, cannot cause the demise of the ONE WHOLE expanding CONTAINER.  As to whether language using conscious beings can all reach an end within this great CONTAINER, we do not, and will not ever know.

Aphorism of the Day, February 6, 2026

A person claims to be one being, but such one being is really a communion of many parts which each have their own oneness of being.  The transformation of enough of those parts in the community of beings which make up the person can lead to the demise of the entire person.  For those who accept the One non-dual Container of All which has a related presence within each of the All, the One non-dual Container of All is but a community of many ones.

Aphorism of the Day, February 5, 2026

Meditation and contemplation are attempts to live completely in one's own interior "private" space which is falsified by the fact that one's interior is contained by the ALL.

Aphorism of the Day, February 4, 2026

Before the Large Language Model of AI, each person has their own memory base of words and constellations of words to draw from in speaking and writing new syntheses in their "new" language products, many of which turn out to be but the rote mimicry of cultural cliches.  Memory base of words are often random and intermittent is the conscious retrieval process because a person cannot have the "machine like" efficiency of the retrieval algorithms of AI.  Biblical writers wrote drawing from the storage of words in their own memory base to create synthetic products in words for their writing situation.  The Bible is evidence of community writing because it represents something like a growing baton passed on in the human relay as each recipient of the baton adds to it in his or her leg of the race in a new time and place until a particular canonical mechanism is responsible for saying that the race is over.  But it really isn't over because the continual presence of writerly readers(qua R. Barthes) continue to add to the biblical traditions.

 Aphorism of the Day, February 3, 2026

The Matthean Jesus and the Pauline Christ may be at odds.  The Matthean Jesus requires the fulfillment of ever jot and tittle of the Law, whereas to dietary requirements and circumcision, Paul says persons are exempt.  The resolution is by having two "classes" of Christians or life style tracks,  Jews who follow Jesus and practice ritual adherence, and Gentiles who follow Jesus and are exempt from Jewish ritual adherence.

Aphorism of the Day, February 2, 2026

The mystery of events of elation and happiness sometimes are mostly unknown.  One can seek endless explanations and interpretation including the just the right physiological and body chemistry balance or of fortuitous events, but lots of events of happiness will probably remain mysteriously random.

Aphorism of the Day, February 1, 2026

Time means that what we call the present tense for verb should actually be articulated or understood as the continuous present tense.  We posit a present tense because by attaching words to time we wrongly assume that we can make something "static."  The present tense as "static" is but an abstracted word which pretends to "freeze frame" time.

Quiz of the Day, February 2026

Quiz of the Day, February 11, 2026

Greek ego eimi phrases would be found where in the Bible?

a. Genesis

b. Matthew

c. John 

d. 1 Corinthians

Quiz of the Day, February 10, 2026

What biblical person could have had the nickname of "Red?"

a. Joseph

b. Judah

c Esau

d.Jonathan

Quiz of the Day, February 9, 2026

Of the following, who is not a biblical twin?

a. Jacob

b. Esau

c. Thomas

d. Perez

e. Miriam

Quiz of the Day, February 8, 2026

Laban was

a. Rebekah's brother

b. Bethuel's son

c. Jacob's father in law

d. Leah's father

e. Rachel's father

f.  a bride switcher

g. all the above

Quiz of the Day, February 7, 2026

Biblical "proof" for the doctrine of transubstantiation would come from which New Testament books?

a. The Gospels and 1 Corinthians

b. The Gospels and Titus

c. The Gospels and Galatians

d. John and 1 Corinthians

Quiz of the Day, February 6, 2026

Which of the following Jewish feasts is not mentioned in Gospels?

a. Passover

b. Booth

c. Dedication (Hanukkah)

d. Purim

Quiz of the Day, February 5, 2026

Which of the following is associated with being a family burial place?

a. Hebron

b. Bethel

c. Machpelah

d. Gehenna

 Quiz of the Day, February 4, 2026

Who described the divine request to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as the "teleological suspension of the ethical?"

a. Hegel

b. Nietzsche

c. Kierkegaard

d. Kant

e. Hume

Quiz of the Day, February 3, 2026

Of the following, who did not have specific covenant with God?

a. Abraham

b. Noah

c. Ishmael

d. Samson

Quiz of the Day, February 2, 2026

What didn't happen at the presentation of Jesus?

a. Anna prophesied

b. Simeon sang

c. Mary fulfilled her purification ritual

d. Jesus was washed/cleansed

e. Jesus was offered as first born male on 40th day

Quiz of the Day, February 1, 2026

What was the reason given in Genesis for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
a. Lot's sin
b. the wickedness of the cities
c. the homosexual behaviors
d. the failure of Abraham's intercession 

Sunday School, February 15, 2026 Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

 Sunday School, February 15, 2026    Last Sunday after the Epiphany A

Theme

Comparing the Giving of the Law of Moses to Jesus

How did Israel receive the Law?  Moses went up on Mount Sinai

What was Mount Sinai life when he went there to receive the law?  It was cloudy and had the fiery light of God’s presence.

What happened to Moses face after he received the law on the mountain?  His face was shiny bright.  In fact, it was so shiny that he had to put a veil on his face to keep from blinding the people of Israel.

Mount of the Transfiguration

Who was on the Mount of Transfiguration?  Peter, James, John, Jesus and Moses and Elijah appeared too.  And the voice of God was heard.

What was the Mountain top experience like?  It was covered with clouds.  It had a bright light which was the shiny face of Jesus.

What happened there? Jesus was talking with Elijah and Moses.  Peter was nervous and he wanted to build three tents,booth as worship shrines for Jesus, Elijah and Moses.

What was the most important event on the Mountain?  The voice of God announced that Jesus was God’s Son and that God was pleased with Jesus and the Voice told everyone to listen to Jesus.

What is the meaning of the events of the Mount of Transfiguration?

Peter, James and John who were Jews were to understand that Jesus was a friend of two of the greatest Jewish heroes, Moses and Elijah.  Moses and Elijah had returned to endorse Jesus as their friend and leader.  And the voice of God announced the most important identity of Jesus to be that He was God’s Son.

How can I understand the meaning of transfiguration?

Transfiguration is the word metamorphosis and this refers to the natural process of the cycles of growth in life.  Our lives are in the process of metamorphosis like the larva, caterpillar, and cocoon waiting to become butterflies.  There is a butterfly “spirit” within us that is waiting to break out of us in our resurrection from the dead.  Until then we are being transformed or changed into becoming more like Jesus, who has also called us to be beloved sons and daughters of God.  We have God’s Spirit within us a wonderful Light that helps to change or transform our lives to be more like Jesus.

The story of Jesus tells us that Jesus was God’s special Son and that the Light of the Holy Spirit was in Him.  It also means that we are invited to let the light of the Holy Spirit rise in us to change ourselves to be like our Brother Jesus, who reminds us that we are beloved sons and daughters of God.  And we can know that God loves us and is pleased with us too.

Sermon

Today is the last Sunday of the season of the Epiphany.  Can you tell me what the color is for Epiphany?  Green.  How did you guess?  And what season comes next?  The season of Lent.  And what day does it begin on?  Ash Wednesday.  And why do we call it Ash Wednesday?  We do some face painting on Ash Wednesday.  We draw a black cross on our foreheads to remind ourselves about the parts of our selves that last forever and the parts of our selves that wear out.  Do your clothes wear out?  Do your shoes wear out?  Do cars get old?  Do our bodies wear out?  Our bodies do wear and someday they will just stop working.  And if we wait long enough, they will turn back into dust.  And so on Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent by reminding ourselves that part of our life is going to wear out.

  But you know we have another part of our self that is never going to wear out.  And that part of our self is what we call “Spirit.”  Our spirit is the part of us that will live forever.

  Our spirit is all of that stuff inside of our bodies that we cannot see.  Our spirit is like the light in the light bulb.  On the outside a light bulb is just a piece of glass.  But when you turn the light bulb on it becomes warm and bright.

  You and I have to learn how live our lives like a light bulb that is always turned.  We have to learn to make our spirits light up our bodies?  How do we do this?  We can do this in many ways.  With curiosity.  With learning new things.  With laughter.  With wonder and surprise and excitement.  With kindness and love and care.   In many ways we can make the life of our bodies shine with the life of our spirit.

  Today we read a story about Jesus when his face shone like a very bright light.  You see, Jesus had such a strong and wonderful Spirit, he was able to make his face shine when his friends saw him in a very special way.  Jesus was a very special friend.  His friends called him the Light of the world, because he helped them to learn and live their lives better.  We need to follow Jesus and learn how to be lights in this world for each other.  We need to learn how to make our spirits so strong and so full of knowledge and love and kindness that we become lights in our world for the people in our world.

  Can you learn how to shine like a light today?  Okay let’s turn on our lights…now.  Amen.

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 15, 2026: The Last Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs: I’ll Be a Sunbeam; This Little Light, Climb Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, Shine, Jesus, Shine,

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: I’ll Be a Sunbeam (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 112)

1-Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day; in every way try to please him, at home, at school, at place.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

4-I’ll be a sunbeam  for Jesus, I can if I but try; serving him moment by moment, then live with him on high.  Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.  A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

O God, who before the passion of your only­ begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the Book of Exodus

Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 99

The LORD is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.

Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.

"O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

 Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.  As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Song: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 234)

1-This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

2-Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, No!  I’m going let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

3-Don’t let anyone, blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

4-Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

 Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion  Song:   Climb Up Sunshine Mountain, (The Christian’s Children Song Book # 1)

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, heavenly breezes blow,

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, faces all aglow. 

            Turn, turn from sin and doubting, look to God on high;

            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, you and I.

Post Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Shine, Jesus Shine  (Renew! # 247)

Lord the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining. Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us. Set us free by the truth you now bring us. Shine on me.  Shine on me.

Refrain: Shine Jesus Shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory.  Blaze, Spirit, blaze set our hearts on fire.  Flow, rivers, flow, fill the nations with thy grace and mercy.  Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. Alleluia!  Alleluia!

People: Thanks be to God!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

The removal of “alleluia” until Easter

Announcements, Snack and Fellowship

Embodying God's Law of Love

5 Epiphany A February 8, 2026
Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12) Psalm 112:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-11 Matt.5:13-20

Lectionary Link

What is the law?  The law is an articulated social coding system which arises within community to state the best recommended behaviors.  It has a suppressive function in that it includes policing activities to enforce best behaviors and to punish violations of recommended behaviors.  Enforcements and punishments are the negative side of the law based upon probable human behaviors, namely, that people will do wrong and they will do good.  The positive side of the law is to be a published, public, promulgated teacher of what is good and right and the goal is to teach impulse control.  The law is based upon the wisdom of what a good society is and how a good citizen within a society behaves.  The law as is articulated in the Hebrew Scriptures with divine legitimization as a way of indicating that humans cannot be authorities unto themselves, they need the "outside and the beyond" insights of a divine revelation.

The best recommended behaviors include the Big Ten as a way of indicating that all rules are not equal in importance.  It is more important not to kill rather than to perhaps have some shell fish to eat at a "foreigner's house."

Along with the Big Ten, the body of law grew to be a compendium of rules for all sorts of behaviors, pertaining to priestly customs, dietary restrictions, with minutiae even for the mixture of threads for making cloth.  It would seem that the expansion of the Big Ten to the 613 precepts pertained more to the keeping of the people of Israel as a very distinct and isolated person with a highly developed purity code to express how exclusive this ethnic club was.

The 613 precepts were a declaration to outsiders that it was very hard to be included within this purity society, but at the same time it was proof that the Israelites themselves were not very faithful to keeping all the precepts of the purity codes, and especially their leaders.

It is a great burden of presumption of any people to have, namely, who is and has the right of declaring themselves to have the final standards for access to the true worship of God.

The Hebrew prophets were very critical of the misbehaviors of their people.  They criticized them for avoiding the big rules pertaining to compassion, kindness, mercy, justice, and care in favor of the performance of public religious rituals.  They were essentially saying "how can you say that you love God, if you don't love your neighbor?"

By the time of Jesus and John the Baptist, one finds a different context for appraising how the law or laws functioned.  In Palestine, the main law was the law enforced by the Roman authorities.  Within Roman authority, the Jews were allowed to "play their religious rules for themselves" as long as they did not openly conflict with the Roman rule.  For the Jews, one was more of less polluted, by the degree of contact and interaction that they had with the Romans.  How does a community remain pure, separate, and exclusive when the main law is controlled by the Romans.  A certain amount of interaction could not be avoided, but the degree of ritual purity by Jews would define their status within the communities led by the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Zealots, and the Essenes.  John the Baptist and Jesus are presented as prophets who critiqued the leaders who were supposed to be authorities on the religious laws of the 613 precepts.

Jesus is presented as one who said that it is not enough for the law to be a holy written code of conduct.  The law was to be embodied in the lives of people, it was to be a living law.

His words from the Gospel of Matthew indicate that he reused two metaphors for the Torah to be used for his followers.  You are to be the light of the world and salt of the earth.  Both light and salt were used as metaphors for the Torah.

In the words of Jesus, the law needed to be in-fleshed, embodied in the lives of people who claimed to love God.  What happens when people embody the law of God in their behaviors?  They functions as lights to help other people know how to live.  They have a spicy and preserving function in this world to show people what is to be maintained over time and have the staying power of being tasty goodness.

The New Testament is a collection of writings which present differences in how followers of Christ came to regard the Torah with it 613 precepts.  Not surprising is that the differences pertain to the acceptance of Gentiles into the community of faith which derived from Jesus of Nazareth.   Any situation is expressive of heterogeneous or homogeneous features in the people of a particular community.  St. Paul had to be bi-lingual in being a Jew who followed Jesus while being an apostle to the Gentiles.  He proposed a two track program: Jews could continue in their ritual practice and follow Jesus and Gentiles could follow Jesus and not submit to the ritual practices of Judaism while at the same time honoring the two big commandments to love God and to love one's neighbor as oneself.  Paul believed that both "tracks" of following Jesus should be honored.  

The Gospel for us regarding the law of best practices means that we have to embody the wisdom of God's Spirit to be active interpreters with our words and life actions of what it means to love God and our neighbor successively in the continuous never ending new circumstances of our lives.  We have to live ever re-fulfilling the law of love which is central to God's nature.  God is love.  To fulfill the law of God and the law of Christ is to love.  Amen.  

Sunday School, February 8, 2026 5 Epiphany A

 Sunday School, February 8, 2026    5 Epiphany A

Themes:  Salt, light and laws

Discuss with the children salt.

Do you like salt?

Why do you like salt?

Can you eat just salt alone?  Why not?

Salt makes foods like popcorn and French fries tasty.  Food can taste very boring without salt but with just a little salt it can make food taste delicious.  In the times when there was no refrigerators, people used salt to preserve foods that would spoil or get rotten especially meat and fish.  Salt can clean and kill germs.

Jesus told his friends, “You are the salt of the earth.”  What do you think this means?  It means that the way that we live, we should make life tasty or exciting.  It means the way that we live we should preserve what is good and loving.

Discuss light with the children.

Why do we need light?  So we can see.

What is the biggest light?  The Sun

What did people use for light before electric lights were invented?  The Sun, Fire, torches with fire, oil lamps.

Jesus told his followers: “You are the light of the world.”  How can people be like a light?  When we learn something new, it is like a light coming on.  When someone shows how to live better, it is like a light coming on.  A person who teaches us to live better is like a light.  And we are supposed to learn and become teachers for others to help them live better.  So we are supposed to be learning all of the time so that we can become lights to show others how to live better.

Law

What is a law?  It is rule that tells us how to act.

Are all laws the same?  No

Which law is more important, “You shall not kill,” or “You shall not turn on your sprinklers on Monday, Wednesday or Friday?”

Jesus said that we should not be like people who made less important law the most important rules.  Are the rules of soccer more important that the rules about being kind to our neighbor?  What if we are not kind to our neighbors but we make everyone know and follow the rules of soccer as the most important rules in life?  It shows us that we are more concerned about a game than we are about caring for people.  Jesus said that we cannot replace the great important laws of love and kindness with less important rules.

Sermon:

  Today, I have in my bag of tricks two things.  What is this that I have in my hand?  A salt shaker.  And what else do I have in my bag?  A flash light.  What do I get when I turn this on?  I get light.

  Jesus liked to speak in riddles with his friends.  He told them that they had to be like salt and light.

  How many of you like salt?  What does popcorn taste like without salt or butter?  A little dull isn’t it.  What do French fries taste like without salt?  Really dull.  How many of you like pickles?  Do you know what makes pickles taste so good?   Salt water.

  What does Jesus mean when he says that we should be like salt?  He means that we should make the life of other people more tasty…more interesting…more exciting.

  I saw a little boy running into school and so I asked him why he was running so fast to get to school.  And he said, “I can’t wait to see my friends so I can have fun.”  That is what being like salt means.  We are to make life fun and exciting for each other.  We are to practice how to be good friends.

Jesus also said we are to be like light.  What did he mean?  I think that he meant that we are supposed to teach each other.  If I have learned something new that has helped me; then I want to share it with you.  And when we learn something new it is like a light coming on in our heads.

  No matter how old you are you have good things that you can teach someone else.  May be you can help your baby brother or sister learn how to crawl or walk.   May be you can help them learn how to talk or read.

  Jesus said that we are supposed to be like light because we are supposed to take the very best things that we have learned and share them with other people.

  What is the very best thing that we have learned from Jesus?  Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

  If we can teach this to everyone in this world then our lives will be fun and happy.

  So can you be like salt today?  Can you make life fun for each other?

  Can you be like light today?  Can you learn new things and teach other people the very best things in your life?  I know that you can be like salt and light today.  Amen

Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 8, 2026: The Fifth Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

Jesus Bids Us Shine, We Are Marching in the Light of the Lord, Thy Word,  This Little Light of Mine

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Jesus Bids Us Shine, (The Christian Children Songbook, #132)

1-Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light, Like a little candle burning in the night; In this world of darkness, we must shine, You in your small corner and I in mine.

2-Jesus bids us shine first of all for Him, Well he sees and knows it if our light is dim; He looks down from heaven, sees us shine.  You in your small corner and I in mine.

3-Jesus bids us shine as we work for Him, bring those that wander from the paths of sin; He will ever help us if we shine, You in your small corner and I in mine.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, you are able to rule all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayer requests, and especially in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah

Is not a fast to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

Peope: Thanks be to God

Please read with me from Psalm 112

Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord * and have great delight in his commandments!

Light shines in the darkness for the upright; * the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

Litany of Thanksgiving: Chant: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon –   

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany of Asking:  Chant: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be sick. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be with you always.

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Song: We are Marching in the Light of the Lord, Renew! # 306

We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

            we are marching in the light of the Lord

            We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

we are marching in the light of the Lord

            We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.       

We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.

Doxology (Stand)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his family to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we

   Forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All  may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this Holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ; and that his  presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By  Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing, (Children may rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father (Sung): (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed by thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration.

Communion Song: Thy Word, (Renew! #94)

Refrain: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path

When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way, still you’re right beside me.  And nothing will I fear as long as you are near.  Please be near me to the end.  Refrain.

I will not forget your love for me, and yet my heart forever is wandering.  Jesus, be my guide and hold me to your side; and I will love you to the end.  Refrain

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: This Little Light of Mine (Christian Children’s Songbook, # 234)

This little light of mine.  I am going to let it shine.  This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, no.  I am going to let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel, no.  I am going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Don’t let anyone blow it out; I’m going to let it shine.  Don’t let anyone blow it out, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.  Shine all over my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 

People: Thanks be to God!