Worship January 19, 2025 – With Guest Preacher, Rev. Lynne Hinton

Bio –  Rev. Lynne Hinton

Lynne Hinton is the Conference Director of the NM Conference of Churches. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has served as a pastor and hospice chaplain. She is the author of over twenty books, is a certified Intentional Interim Pastor, and lives in Albuquerque.

Bulletin of January 19 2025 — MEDITATION: Jesus tells the people at the wedding as reported in the gospel of John to fill the jars with water as he prepares to perform his first miracle, a miracle to keep the wedding celebration going. Jesus reminds us that he came to us so that we might have abundant life, that we might be a people who keep the party going. This is an invitation to joy.

Scripture: Isaiah 62:1-5; John 2: 1-11

Isaiah 62:1-5

The Vindication and Salvation of Zion

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
   and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
   and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
   and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
   and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
   and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
   and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
   so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
   so shall your God rejoice over you.

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John 2: 1-11

The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.