We are on our countdown to the Greenbelt Community Church Annual Meeting to be held on January 18th. With your involvement and participation, this important meeting will culminate in a slate of leaders for our 2026 ministry programming, brief highlights of our Annual Reports and other essential business of the Church. Your prayers are in order as we approach this critical moment in the life of our congregation. Pray that our hearts and minds are open to continuing to build a sustainable community where all are embraced in the love of God.
This Sunday, we will remember the Baptism of the Lord.
We will sing our Opening Hymn, “Someone Asked the Question” (Why We Sing, 1993). We find this song as #523 in the New Century Hymnal (NCH), where the content developers have strived diligently to include material from many traditions and denominations. This United Church of Christ hymnal is a gem published by Pilgrim Press in 1995; during the year I began my pastoral ministry. Seems like just yesterday…
It was an exciting time to have this collective work of folks contributing sacred music that borrowed from many genres, beckoning a range of cultures and using gender-inclusive, anti-racist language in its modified lyrics of old favorites. Contained therein are infinite references to God in images that are not limited by gender, race, national origin or economic class. With its descriptive notes on the origin of each hymn, The New Century Hymnal is an artful liberation work expressed in music! It is worth slowing down to notice.
The NCH notes regarding our Opening Hymn, “Why We Sing,” are as follows:
“Kirk Franklin began to compose and arrange gospel music at the age of eleven, when he was appointed Minister of Music at Mount Rose Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The recording of “Why We Sing” by Kirk Franklin and the Family became immediately popular.”
These lyrics of “Why We Sing” are from gospel singer Kirk Franklin:
“Someone asked a question
Why do we sing?
When we lift our hands to Jesus
What do we really mean?
Someone may be wondering
When we sing our song
At times we may be crying
And nothing’s even wrong
I sing because I’m happy (I sing)
I sing because I’m free (His eye’s on)
His eye’s on the sparrow (that’s the reason)
That’s the reason why I sing”
As we reflect upon the Baptism of Jesus by John, the Baptizer, we can allow ourselves to remember our own baptism. If we have never experienced baptism, we can embrace the vulnerability it takes to explore whether this is a path we wish to take.
Regardless to where we land on the sacrament of baptism, we can consider that Jesus was baptized by someone whom many would describe as unlikely or strange. Yet, God called John to announce the coming Messiah and to baptize him. And though John was initially resistant, Jesus convinced John, as the baptizing officiant, that this was God’s will. Together, with God’s grace, they ministered to each other, got it done and the rest is blessed history.
We will also sing, “Blessed Assurance” and “Amazing Grace,” universal hymns that are sung around the world. I will offer a sermon entitled, “Who? Me?”
Come, let us worship together. See you Sunday.
Beloved,
Pastor Aubra
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