Eusebius

I've started the LifeLight Bible Study on Revelation. It's enjoyable, challenging, confusing and reassuring all in a matter of moments. The leader introduced me to Eusebius.

Who is Eusebius?

Eusebius is considered the Father of Church History as he recorded the history of the early Christian church. He lived from approximately 263 to 339 AD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebius_of_Caesarea

The Baptism of Jesus

Paolo Veronese 1528 – 1588

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/29.html

The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is mentioned all four Gospels.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Matthew 3:13-17

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Mark 1:9-11

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3:21-22

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

John 1:29-34

This is the collect for today from the Lutheran Worship Book:

The Baptism of Our Lord

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and annointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirt, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Holy Spirit Window

My son received a stained glass piece in celebration of his baptism from his grandparents. The stained glass piece has been hanging in our front window for 9 years. About 1 month ago it fell and fractured into about 8 pieces. Fortunately it stayed within the lead frame. I couldn't really repair it, but I glued it. When it hangs in the window now, you can see the fractures.

The symbolism has increased. Now the story is that the fractured stained glass reminds Alex of his baptism and that God takes people who are broken and fractured because of their sinful nature and covers them with blood of Jesus.

On July 12, 1998 Alex became a child of God when the Holy Spirit created faith in him and his sins were forgiven. He was "ALL CLEAN". Our prayer for Alex every night includes remembering his baptism and what God did for him.

I discovered that we have a replica of the "Holy Spirit Window" designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany for the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield Illinois. http://www.first-pres-church.org/Lincoln_Family.htm. It was completed about 1895.

Belated Merry Christmas to My Orthodox Friends

It seems that yesterday was Christmas for Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar. Since my son began life in Russia we try to be aware of things Russian whenever possible.

Epiphany

[Albrecht Durer (1504)The Adoration of the Magi]

http://www.artbible.info/art/three-wise-men.html

Epiphany is the day we celebrate the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Magi (representing the world). The date is celebrated traditionally is January 6, which is the day after the twelfth day of Christmas.

http://www.orlutheran.com/html/epiph.html
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyepiph.html

http://cyberbrethren.typepad.com/cyberbrethren/2008/01/how-beautifully.html
http://weedon.blogspot.com/2008/01/epiphany.html

Unrelated note sort of:

My son had a band concert today (January 6) that was rescheduled from December 16. He attends a Lutheran school. We had a snow issue on December 16. The band director renamed the concert and it was the Epiphany Concert. The musicians played "We Three Kings".

What's the Collect? Hint: It's not the offering basket!

I just keep on learning!!! During all my years in church I've said prayers at different places in the services. In all honesty I never understood much about the prayers -- just read them. In my quest to better understand the historic liturgy I've that 'collect' has nothing to do with passing the offering basket. It has a very rich history.

What is the 'collect'?

The collect is the 'prayer of the day'. The collect begins with "Let us pray", inviting the worshipers to join their hearts in prayer with the pastor. The collect is a prayer that gathers requeest related to the Scriptures of the day. They have been used by the church for at least 15 centuries.

The parts of this formal prayer usually includes:

1. Invocation - addressing God
2. Basis - why ask these things
3. Petition - our specific request
4. Purpose or benefit - desired result
5. Closing doxology - praise to God

Most Collects are addressed to God the Father and all close in Jesus' name, as Jesus instructed. John 15:16

Worshiping with Angels and Archangels

For Christmas we gave our 10 year old son a book that explains the historical liturgical style of worship in a Lutheran church. The book is Worshiping with Angels and Archangels An Introduction to the Divine Service. I thought it would be educational for him, but was surprised and STUNNED at what I didn't know. In all my years as a Lutheran so much was not explained. This book is awesome.