January
Love Boldly: Because God First Loved Us
As we step into a new year, we reaffirm our commitment as Christians to love boldly. January invites us to remember the source of our story — the grace poured out on us through Christ and celebrated in baptism. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19) reminds us that every act of love begins with God’s love for us. In response, we are called to extend that grace to the world with boldness and joy.
As Epiphany reveals Christ’s light to all nations, and as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded that love in action can transform communities and dismantle injustice. This month encourages us to embody God’s love in tangible ways — in our relationships, in our neighborhoods, and in our witness to Christ.
May these resources support your ministry as you help your congregation claim their baptismal identity and practice a love that is courageous, generous, and wide enough for all.
Worship & Preaching Resources
Epiphany is all about light. This is certainly a Sunday to contemplate and demonstrate the light reflected around us. Take a moment in the service to draw everyone’s attention to the light streaming in from the stained-glass windows. But don’t forget the role darkness plays in helping us notice the light. I’m talking about the darkness that helps regulate our sleep-wake rhythms, draws us into a state of calm and peace, and even enhances our creativity. It is striking and worth our attention to remember that the magi noticed the star’s light in the dark of night.
Epiphany is a celebration of the light that was revealed to the world. That joyous recognition reminds us of the gift that incarnation made known to us and to all of creation. So, the question of Ordinary time, or the season that follows Epiphany, is so what? What does that light do for us and to us and what do we do because that light has been revealed to us? We invite congregations to embrace the gift of light that is Jesus the Christ, and to do an attitude check as we stand in the promise of glory revealed.
Join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries that help those who struggle because they don’t have the tools or resources to reach their God-given potential.
Holidays and secular observances
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