Prepare

This week, the Revised Common Lectionary gives us four meaty texts. They relate to one another, but it is also important to think about them individually.

Micah 6:8 might be the best-known verse of the whole book, but it is important to read it within its literary context. Chapter 6 reads like a court transcript. God has dragged the people of Israel (ancient, not the modern-day state) to court. Creation acts as judge and jury. God starts to list all the ways that God has saved and delivered. The people then ask “How shall we say thank you? With sacrifices? Huge sacrifices? Over the top sacrifices?” And a voice responds, God has told you: “to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NRSVue).

Psalm 15 echoes the high standards of living that God yearns to see from God’s people in Micah 6. Notice the focus on how people interact with others—their friends, their neighbors, the innocent.

The assigned passage from First Corinthians this week starts with the same verse that last week’s passage ended with. The cross is foolish; it does not make sense when selfish power-hungry human logic is applied. Through Christ, God provides to God’s people wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Like the other texts assigned for today, Matthew 5:1-12 shows us God’s character—one who saves, delivers, and defies human logic. The Beatitudes (as they are usually called) are not meant to encourage Christ’s followers to seek out/cause suffering for ourselves in order to get closer to God, but to see where and with whom God promises to be and invite us to come alongside them as well.

Opening Exercise

• Option 1: When you think of someone being “blessed”, who comes to mind? What do they look like? Who do you not think of as being blessed?
• Option 2: Look through the Salt & Gold Collection’s Foot Washing Series inspired by recent events in Minnesota:
  • What are your reactions?
  • Which image surprised you the most?
  • Which image will stick with you this week?
  • What images are missing?
  • You can find earlier iterations of the Foot Washing Series here.

Text Read Aloud

Micah 6:1-8
Matthew 5:1-12

Blessed by Presence, Not Circumstance

If you search #blessed on social media, you will most likely see a seemingly never-ending stream of personal achievements (especially of the athletic variety), the acquisition of material possessions, and the enjoyment of exotic vacation spots.

artwork by Salt & Gold Collection

It seems like today’s popular definition of “blessed” is almost the exact opposite of what Jesus had in mind at the Mount of the Beatitudes. A state of blessedness is not something that is earned or even something to be aspired to. It is a statement of promise—God promises to be with all God’s people no matter how bad things get.

Our God is about turning the world upside down—which is why Jesus speaks what seems like foolishness when he calls those in so many terrible situations “blessed.” The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted are not blessed BY their situations. Rather, they are called blessed because God remains with them amid their less-than-ideal situations, promising that things will ultimately be different. This presence and solidarity with those whom society would otherwise cast off is the heart of the good news—no one is out of God’s purview. All are invited into the abundant life of God’s kin-dom.

Too often, though, we lose sight of God’s plan for creation and make up our own. We lose sight of the communal for the individual, turning inward and gazing at our navels. It is this manifestation of sin that leads to the list of Solemn Reproaches that we confess as a community on Good Friday in the style of Micah 6.

Yet, as we confess our complacency with injustice and the ways we work against God’s plan and God’s people, let us also hear the good news that God continues God’s saving action despite us. We do not have to do anything or be good enough to receive “righteousness and redemption and sanctification” from our Lord. Instead, when we are given God’s free gift of grace, we are transformed to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” When our egos and selfishness are kept in check, we get to experience God’s kin-dom and true plan for creation—where there is more than enough to go around and abundant life for all.

Reflection Questions

• According to Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 5:1-12, what do the actions of God tell us about the character of God?
• According to Micah 6:1-8 and Psalm 15, how does God want God’s people to live?
• Why do you think that Jesus mentioned the groups/kinds of people that he did in the Beatitudes?
• If Jesus were preaching the Sermon on the Mount today, what groups/kinds of people would he name in the Beatitudes today?
• How have you or could you actively work to bless the groups/kinds of people that Jesus included in the biblical Beatitudes or that are on the modern-day list y’all came up with?

Closing Activity

• Work individually or in small groups to design a visual representation of Micah 6:8 or the Beatitudes—think t-shirt, temporary tattoo, mural, or banner for your worship space. Give each person/group a chance to share about their design as they desire.

Final Blessing—by Sr. Ruth Marlene Fox, OSB

May God bless you with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,
so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom,
and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer
from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that
you really CAN make a difference in this world,
so that you are able, with God’s grace,
to do what others claim cannot be done.

And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator,
Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour,
and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you
and remain with you, this day and forevermore. Amen.*

Bio of Author

Leslie Weber is a pastor, spouse, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and ally. She serves at Grace Lutheran Church (Chesapeake, VA) and Holy Communion Lutheran Church (Portsmouth, VA). She was born in California, but has lived most of her life on the East Coast, where she has lived in three of the four U.S. Commonwealths (MA, PA, and VA).

*“May God bless you with a restless discomfort…” A four-fold Benedictine blessing by Sr. Ruth Marlene Fox, OSB, 1985, as reprinted on WorldPrayers.org

“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
 

Prayer prompts:
For an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For peace and resolution in Minneapolis, and for safety for all residents…
For safety, dignity, and justice for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For deescalation of tensions surrounding Greenland and international relations…
For victims of train crashes in Spain…
For those facing winter storms and extreme cold across the United States…
For newly-installed Bishop Imam Haddad and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land…
For Christian communities in Palestine and especially for schools…
For renewed unity in Christ among churches and denominations around the world…

Events and observances:
January Observances: National Blood Donor Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Mental Awareness Month

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25)
Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, martyr, died 1156 (Jan 19)
Martin Luther King Jr., Day (Jan 19)
Agnes, martyr, died around 304 (Jan 21)
Conversion of Paul (Jan 26, transferred)
Timothy, Titus, and Silas, missionaries (Jan 26)
Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith (Jan 27)
Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274 (Jan 28)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for peace among the nations (ELW)
Gracious God, grant peace among nations. Cleanse from our own hearts the seeds of strife: greed and envy, harsh misunderstandings and ill will, fear and desire for revenge. Make us quick to welcome ventures in cooperation among the peoples of the world, so that there may be woven the fabric of a common good too strong to be torn by the evil hands of war. In the time of opportunity, make us be diligent; and in the time of peril, let not our courage fail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who are incarcerated (ACS)
Mighty God, merciful and just: we pray for our jails, prisons, and detention centers, that they be places of fair and humane treatment for all. Lead us to end solitary confinement and other cruel and demeaning practices. Guide police and corrections officers, attorneys and judges to use wisely the power entrusted to them. Inspire prison worshiping communities and chaplains. Rouse us to eradicate racism, corruption, and greed in the criminal justice system. By your Spirit, transform our society, that the dignity and worth of every incarcerated person be honored. We ask this through your resurrected Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.

Prepare

In today’s gospel lesson we find Jesus “withdrawing” to Galilee. This happens right after Jesus’ temptation in the desert. Jesus often withdraws in order to pray or be alone. This time, we can assume that this is not only a departure toward a new place, but also leaving a situation with Herod that may have been dangerous for him. By Matthew’s account, today’s reading is the introduction to Jesus’ ministry. Pay attention to his movement. What is Jesus up to, and how can we think about this in terms of our own ministry?

When we read scripture (or anything, really), we often imagine ourselves as the main character. There’s a temptation to read and identify as the “good” individuals, consuming good news as if it is the story of our own victory. In some ways, this may be true and helpful in times of deep sorrow. This week, attempt to read the lessons and listen for a story of someone else’s. Think of those in your community who are struggling. Maybe it’s unhoused neighbors you drive by, immigrants who no longer feel safe to go to work or school, or anyone who might be feeling hopeless. Imagine how the scripture this week might read to them.

A note for the closing activity: you’ll need a ball or skein of yarn.

Opening Exercise

Think about a favorite saying, phrase, or quote and share it with the group. Is there a story behind why this stands out to you? How does it make you feel when you hear it? How have these words shaped you or impacted you, and why? Why do you think we are so deeply impacted by song lyrics, poetry, words, or sayings?

Texts to Read Aloud

Isaiah 9:1–4

Matthew 4:12–23

Repentance as Fulfillment

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is quite active. Jesus hears, travels, fulfills a prophecy, preaches, walks, calls people into ministry, teaches, and heals. For the author of Matthew, it is important to begin the story of Jesus’ ministry with a declaration of who this ministry is for. Maybe the traveling and Jesus’ call for repentance feel like a few dots on the plot line moving the story forward, but really they are a recalibration for the reader to understand what Matthew is setting them up for.

Professor Eugene Park describes this in his commentary in a helpful way. He explains that, “[w]hen this vision of the ‘Rule/Kingdom of God’ was not realized, and when the earthly rulers, be they Israelite kings or rulers of foreign empires colonizing Israel, abused their power and committed various forms of injustice against the people of God, prophets arose and proclaimed the forgotten vision of ‘What would it be like if God directly ruled?’ In this context, the kingdom of God has an inherently anti-imperial and anti-establishment ethos. It reflects an intense yearning for a sociopolitical order based on the will of God for justice and fairness.”*

In other words, Jesus was not a new king coming to overthrow and then keep business as usual. He was not interested in the status quo of power. Rather, Jesus brought hope and the promise of justice to those who were deep in the despair of injustice. This promise was not just for a specific people, but for everyone.

In the calling of the disciples, we witness a ministry that even Jesus could not carry on alone. We are reminded that on this faith journey, we need others—especially those who experience things differently than we ourselves do. We need their hurts, their celebrations, and their gifts. As Jesus began gathering his fellow leaders, who would continue bringing the “Rule of God,” he did not gather the community’s powerful, but rather their common folk and the often overlooked.

In previous weeks, we read about John the Baptist, who paved the way for Jesus’ ministry, and his call for repentance. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”—Jesus not only takes on John’s message, but also makes the shift into ministry. The light that John spoke about is now alight in the land and on the move.

Repent may feel icky or seem strange, but it doesn’t have to be. Consider how it is used in this lesson. It is a call of invitation. Come and follow. Come and join this community. Come and heal. Come and tell the good news. The disciples leave their families and sources of connection to go and start a new community, one that will change the world as they, and we, know it.

Reflection

• How does today’s reading change your perception of the word repent? Share why or why not.

• Who is someone, or a group of people, you think might find hope in the Isaiah and gospel lessons?

• Who might be intimidated by it?

• If you were to keep this story close to you this week, how might it change your actions?

• What is something about today’s reading that challenges you?

• What is something about today’s reading that brings you hope?
  

Closing Prayer & Activity

For our closing prayer, we’re going to “net” our prayers together. The person who opens will hold the end of the yarn and then toss the ball to the next person. When you receive the ball, you’ll hold the “end” before tossing it to the next person as we “weave,” or make, a net with our prayers.

Three rounds of sharing as prayer:

1. Something you’re thankful for

2. A prayer concern

3. Something you want to be a part of this week

At the end of the prayer, take a look around. We bring all kinds of things with us when we come into places of worship. Some of us bring doubts, and others bring joy. Some of us have had the best week, and others aren’t sure where we will find the energy for another one. When we share the load, and when we allow our joys, sorrows, and hopes to be woven together, we create a web of love that is stronger together. As we go into our week, may we be reminded that we are not alone.

Biography

Ashley Hamel serves as the Director of Discipleship at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church and runs the Young Professional group, The Epworth League, in Houston, Texas. She loves curating spaces of belonging where people can experience their belovedness. When not working, you can find her taking her dogs on walks around the bayou, scoping out antique shops, and taking photos of the beauty in the world around her.

*https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-after-epiphany/commentary-on-matthew-412-23-7

Issue 102 of Administration Matters

January: Start the year strong with Portico’s 2026 New Year Checklist

Kick off 2026 with tools and reminders designed to support your benefits administration work, including reviewing account access, reporting compensation changes, and accessing clergy and church tax guides. These quick checks can help ensure accurate benefits, smooth administration, and a confident start to the year for you and your employees. >More

IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2026

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck are:
• 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from 2025.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, equal to the rate in 2025.
The rates apply to fully electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
While the mileage rate for charitable use is set by statute, the mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. >More

New purposes for old buildings

One challenge we face today is that many religious buildings are falling into disrepair. As facilities age and maintenance costs increase, congregations must discern how to move forward: by relocating or repurposing? >More

Important considerations for church benevolence programs

Many churches have benevolence programs to assist members and others in the community during times of emergency or financial crisis. See how you can build a framework for faithful support by applying benevolence program best practices, developing simple policies for demonstrating and documenting recipients’ needs, and making disbursements in an accountable manner.

Six tips to make meetings more productive

To conduct a productive meeting, start with a clear purpose and a detailed agenda (preferably sent to participants in advance), ensure that everyone understands the objectives, facilitate open discussion, stay on time and follow up with action items. >More

Best practices for digital giving

The digital landscape is rife with cybersecurity risks that can directly impact organizations of all kinds. Nonprofits face many threats related to digital giving, from phishing attacks to data breaches. Understanding these threats is essential for developing effective defenses. >More

Pak Esli lives in a small hamlet called Sua, located in Saibi Samukop Village, Mentawai Islands, off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. On a daily basis, he works as a fisherman as well as a log collector used for making rattan. He lives with his wife and two sons, the second of which is currently in his first year of high school.

As the head of the family, Pak Esli is responsible and always tries hard to fulfill his family’s needs. The big change in his life began when he participated in a forest bee farming program sponsored by the Indonesian National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (KN-LWF).

Initially, he had absolutely no knowledge about how to raise bees, let alone about the process of how honey can be produced. The world of beekeeping was completely new to him. However, through the training and mentoring provided in this program, he began to understand the whole process-from getting to know the bee colony, taking care of the hives, to harvesting honey sustainably.

Pak Esli says that this program has brought a very positive impact, not only for him personally, but also for the Sua Hamlet community as a whole. “Forest bee farming has opened up new avenues in improving our economy,” he said. “The harvested honey can now be sold to various places, thus becoming a very meaningful source of additional income for families in the village.”

He adds that all this has opened up new opportunities for bee colony development. As the number of colonies increases, more hives can be harvested, and this means more activities for the community, both to fulfill their daily needs and to supplement their income.

“I am fortunate to take part in this program,” said Pak Esli. “I hope that this activity can continue to grow and reach more residents in other areas.” For Mr. Esli, forest bee farming is not just an economic activity, but also a tangible manifestation of changes in people’s way of life that are more independent, productive, and care for the surrounding nature.

Prepare

Today marks the second Sunday after Epiphany when we again consider the baptism of Jesus and the different symbols used to describe him, as well as others. The Gospel of John begins proclaiming the good news of Christ in a way that is quite confusing at first glance, abruptly dropping us into John’s story. We read who John is not and who Jesus is said to be. Alongside this Gospel reading, in Psalm 40, we read a thanksgiving for all the ways God shows up for the psalmist in the midst of despair and fear. 

Both passages present different symbols and names used for God, inviting us to wonder about them and the symbols we use today. How are those symbols helpful? How do they limit who we know or hope God is? Finally, we will write a poem by invoking the names and symbols that help us understand God. In that way, we too will declare the goodness of God in a world that is not a stranger to despair and fear. 

Opening Exercise

Symbols: Take a look at the symbols below and try to guess what they mean.

1.       2.       3.      4.

Symbols are a way to explain things without words. We use symbols as bumper stickers on our cars or water bottles to show what we’re for (or against). We have symbols decorating our sanctuaries and places of worship to tell the stories of our faith. Symbols can hold power to represent more than we can explain in words. 

• What are some symbols that have importance to you?
  • Why do they resonate with you?
• Are there any symbols in your church that seem confusing?
  • What would make it less confusing?
• Are symbols always helpful?
  • Why or why not?

Texts to Read Aloud

Psalm 40:1-11

John 1:29-42

Who Do We Say God Is?

The church really likes her symbols, and she comes by it honest. Today we read how John attempts to explain who Jesus is to those who have yet to encounter him or his ministry, which has not yet come to be: “Lamb of God,” “Spirit like a dove,” “Rabbi,” and “Messiah.” Names and symbols can do the heavy lifting of topics or ideas that feel too big to explain. The way we talk about things matters and carries implications. All kinds of symbols surround us every day. We put symbols in the forms of stickers on our cars and cases. We put signs and flags in our yards as symbols of what we stand for, or who we represent. Symbols have the power to bring people together in solidarity, or to cause harm by declaring hate. In the church we use symbols to tell the story of who God is, and who we are in relationship to our Creator. 

Another kind of symbol we encounter in the text is that of a name. We see it in the way John declares who Christ is, and we see it when Jesus renames Simon to Peter. Throughout scripture we read of God naming themself “I AM”. Others give a name to God by declaring who God is and how God has appeared to them. Then, in the Psalm for today, we read a poem of thanksgiving filled with imagery of an attempt to explain who God is. 

These kinds of symbols and images continue to be important to the faithful today. How we talk about who God is matters. In a time that can feel like all scrolling is doom scrolling, what we put into words and art can be a prayer for the world. Anne Lamott is an author and activist who says that prayer can be put into one of three categories: Help, Thanks, and Wow. I wonder what it might look like to create a piece of art, a symbol, that tells one of these stories: a story of help or lament, a story of thanksgiving, and a story of praise. We will spend the rest of our time together talking and creating. Just as John pointed and said, “Look,” may our words and images point those around us again toward the Messiah in our midst. 

Reflection Question: 

• Why do you think Jesus renamed Simon to Peter? What does each name translate to, and do you think that matters?
• What names have you heard used for God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit? Why do you think it matters what kind of language we use to describe God? What about art?
• What symbols do you see Christians using in social spaces today?
• Do you think that modern Christian symbols have cultural impact? 

Closing Activity and Prayer:

For the closing prayer try out Anne Lamott’s “Help Thanks Wow” format. Do a popcorn-style prayer together leaving pause for each category. If you have time, you can also try writing a poem or drawing your own symbol for how you’ve experienced God this week or hope to in the week ahead.

Biography:

Ashley Hamel serves as the Director of Discipleship at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, and runs the Young Professionals group, The Epworth League in Houston, Texas. She loves curating spaces of belonging where people can experience their belovedness. When not working you can find her taking her dogs on walks around the Bayou, scoping out antique shops, and taking photos of the beauty in the world around her. 

Sign Answers:

1. Greek traffic sign for school crossing guard.
2. A Christian symbol of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit and/or peace.
3. In the UK, this is a historical marker.
4. In South Holland, this is a sign to warn motorists of the neighborhood cat who’s deaf.

“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
 

Prayer prompts:
For an end to war, conflict, and uncertainty especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For victims of gun violence, especially in Minneapolis, MN; Greensboro, NC; Chicago, IL; Boynton Beach, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; and Philadelphia, PA…
For migrants, travelers, and all who live away from their nations of origin…
For law enforcement officers, government officials, and all civic workers who bear the privilege and sworn responsibility of seeking the common good and maintaining the welfare of all people…
For travel disruptions due to ice and freezing rain in eastern and central Europe…
For areas of the nation and world experiencing severe weather…
For the newly baptized, for families of all shapes and sizes, and for care and safety for all children and young people…
For the safety of advocates, peacemakers, and protestors who are Spirit-led to speak out for justice…
For honesty, humility, confession, and collaboration in the work of racial healing…

Events and observances:
January Observances: National Blood Donor Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Mental Awareness Month

Orthodox New Year (Jan 14)
Pongal, (Hindu festival, Jan 14)
Martin Luther King Jr., renewer of society, martyr, died 1968 (Jan 15)
Antony of Egypt, renewer of the church, died around 356 (Jan 17)
Pachomius, renewer of the church, died 346 (Jan 17)
Confession of Peter (Jan 18)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25)
Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, martyr, died 1156 (Jan 19)
Martin Luther King Jr., Day (Jan 19)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer in time of civic distress (ACS)
Rise up and come to our help, merciful God, for we are in need. Our spirits are weighed down with fear; our bodies feel as fragile as the dust from which we came. All that we have trusted seems hidden from sight. Although this moment has come upon our nation, you have not forgotten us. We do not trust in our own power or strength, but in your steadfast love in every generation. Show us your face in this time of trial, remind us of your faithfulness, and save us for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer in time of conflict, crisis, or disaster (ACS)
God, our healer and our refuge, we pray for all who suffer from gun violence. With your mercy, bind up their wounds, restore their bodies, and heal their hearts. Comfort the mourners and embrace the lonely. With your might, empower us to change this broken world. Make us advocates for a stable society, alive with hope in you. We ask this through the one once wounded for our transgressions and now standing with us in our sorrows, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement

Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.

Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession

Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director

Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: January 2026

In our January 2026 issue, find Action Alert, Resource and opportunity updates. Look for a resumption of Policy Notes in our next issue which are expanded in the ELCA Advocacy Blog.

• Read the current Advocacy Connections here.

To receive Advocacy Connections direct to your inbox, sign up at ELCA.org/advocacy/signup.

Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work alongside the ELCA to support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers in a monthly blog post.

Institute of Liturgy Studies

An ecumenical conference on liturgical renewal for the church today.

The Feast of Creation – liturgy as creation groans
Valparaiso University, Ind.
April 13-15, 2026

Registration is now is open.
Early Registration: $350, ends Jan. 31, 2026
Regular Registration: $450
See website for other registration categories.

The 77th meeting of the Institute of Liturgical Studies will consider the possibilities of such a festival and season. We will reflect on creation, incarnation, and Jesus’s death and resurrection, all received by us through the created materiality of our sacramental life together. Furthermore, we will examine how petroleum culture has influenced our sacramental life and begin to envision ways to counter its impact. A model lectionary will be used, and sample liturgies will be celebrated.

The schedule, plenary speakers and workshop information are now available.

To receive notifications when new information is added to the site, add yourself to the mailing list here.

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

ALCM nurtures and equips musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.

ALCM  2026 Conference “Now and Forever”
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
Registration is now open.

In 1986, forty years ago, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians held its constituting convention at St. Olaf College, setting out to become a professional organization that would lift up the role of church music and to equip leaders to be able to lead the church’s song. For more details, visit alcm.org.

Celebrating the 1986 ALCM Constituting Convention
Overlapping with Lutheran Summer Music’s Festival Week!
Featuring Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Bach Collegium Valparaiso, Christopher M. Cock, artistic director. (Made possible through generous support provided by Pauline and John Kiltinen.

Music that Makes Community

Rooted in Christian contemplative and activist traditions, Music That Makes Community envisions a liberative culture that empowers individuals and communities to claim and use the power of singing to heal our spirits, nurture our common lives, and work for justice.

Sign up for Monthly Newsletter for regular updates on resources and events.  Read recent issues here.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.

Nominate Young Musicians for Lutheran Summer Music
Now is the time to nominate students for LSM 2026. Enrollment for next summer is filling quickly, and we expect most remaining spots to be filled by the March 1 Standard Enrollment deadline. At LSM, students connect advanced musical study with worship and the joy of Lutheran church music traditions. We welcome musicians on all instruments—brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, and harp—to study with nationally recognized faculty in a welcoming and supportive community.

LSM 2026 takes place at St. Olaf College from June 21–July 19. Know a young musician (grades 8–12) who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate Questions? admissions@lutheransummermusic.org.

Center for Church Music
offers 2026 Awards for College and Seminary Students. . .

THE 2026 WILLIAM WOLFRAM STUDENT AWARD IN LITURGICAL ART
Recognizes student artists who evidence:
* Commitment to Christian faith and practice
* Excellence in artistic expression
* Commitment to creating pieces purposed for use within worship settings
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: May 1st, 2026  Submit a single PDF with quality images of your work, one full image and one or two detail images along with title, media, dimensions, year created, and anything else you want the judges to know.  Send to  Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu   (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

THE 2026 RICHARD HILLERT AWARD IN STUDENT COMPOSITION
Submitted piece must be a church music composition (3-5 minutes in length) – suitable for a liturgical service.
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: June 1st, 2026   Submit two copies (one with your name and one unattributed). Recordings are encouraged but not required. Send to Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu   (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

Prepare

This week’s Gospel reading is brief and familiar, so looking back at Matthew’s opening chapters helps us see the context for Jesus’ baptism and the figures who prepared the way.

Matthew begins with a genealogy, reminding us that Jesus’ story is rooted in humble beginnings. Then we meet Joseph, who responds to angelic messages with courage—adopting Jesus, honoring his vow to Mary, and protecting the Holy Family from Herod’s wrath. Next comes the Magi, who defy Herod’s orders through civil disobedience, ensuring Jesus remains safe.

Finally, some years later, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, preaching repentance and baptizing in the Jordan. Crowds gather—Jews and Gentiles alike—as John calls out injustice among both the royal family and religious leaders. Like the prophets before him, John points beyond himself to the One who is greater, preparing hearts for Christ’s arrival.

As many worshipping communities affirm baptismal promises on this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, these chapters remind us that even Jesus entered the waters with guidance and support. From the start, Matthew shows that discipleship is communal—woven through family, neighbors, and prophetic voices. Jesus’ life bears witness to this truth: we walk the journey of faith together, grounded in God’s promises and strengthened by one another.

Opening Exercise

Did you make a resolution this year? Maybe your resolution matches one of these most popular resolutions from a recent YouGov.com US poll.

• What immediate thoughts do you have about this list? 
• How many of these most popular resolutions are personal or internally focused? 
• How many are community-based or externally focused? 
• What do you believe these resolutions say about our society or culture?

Texts to Read Aloud

Isaiah 42:1-9

Matthew 3:13-17

Preparing the Way for New Things

A power couple in the ancient Roman pantheon, deities Janus and Jana were guardians of beginnings, transitions, and

John baptizes Jesus*

Matthew’s brief account of Jesus’ baptism is a hinge moment. Jesus arrives from Galilee; John hesitates. Jesus insists. The waters receive him. The Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son, the beloved.”

Why does Jesus insist on baptism? He does not need repentance like the others John baptized. Yet, Jesus chooses solidarity—stepping into our story to launch God’s new creation. As at Christmas, this is another incarnation moment. “To fulfill all righteousness” is not a checkbox; it’s a covenantal act—God joining humanity and opening a path forward. The Spirit’s descent and God’s voice make this a communal blessing: God’s life poured out for the world in a very public way for the first time in Matthew’s Gospel. This is not just an origin story for Jesus’ public ministry—it’s a sacramental reveal of God’s way in the world: relational, embodied, transformative.

Standing beside Jesus in the water is John—a trending wilderness prophet dressed in camel’s hair, eating locusts, and calling out the injustices perpetrated by kings and religious elites. John is popular—very popular. Crowds flock to him: Roman soldiers, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor. He calls people back to covenant faithfulness, modeling a kind of fiery devotion to God and neighbor that is not dressed in fancy robes or crowns.

John could have refused to baptize Jesus because this was a new and different kind of baptism. He could have grown jealous or seen Jesus as a threat. He could have capitalized on or even monetized his wilderness fame. Instead, he uses his influence to spotlight Jesus. His viral quote: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Instead of trying to gain more followers, John freely chooses to point many away from himself and loose his flock to Jesus’ care. That’s not just humility—it’s a countercultural resolution in a world obsessed with riches, followers, and fame. If John had a New Year’s resolution, it might read: “Less me, more Messiah.”

So what does this mean for our double gaze this January—looking back with wisdom and forward with hope? This new year and this holy day give us a chance to revisit our baptismal identity. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm our baptism daily and to let the promises made at baptism define this new year. It’s an invitation to posture ourselves like John in practicing prophetic hospitality—using your influence to point to Jesus in tangible ways for the good of creation or aligning more fully to what the Church is already doing, bringing justice to broken systems and communities. 

Finally, may we stay open to the new things God may be doing in our life together, even if it causes a moment of hesitation, as we look to Jesus daily and follow after his ways in 2026.

Reflection Questions

1. What all happens at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13–17? 
2. Why does John the Baptist hesitate to baptize him?
3. How does baptism reflect both remembrance and new beginning?
4. John uses his influence to point others to Jesus instead of building his own fame. This year, what is one concrete way you could “decrease” and point others to Jesus—one action you can commit to for the next month (examples: a weekly act of service, a social-media habit, inviting a friend to church or youth group, joining a justice project)?

Closing Activity

Ask each person to choose one promise from the Baptismal covenant (“Affirmation by the Assembly,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 237), or to create a new year’s resolution based upon one of these promises. Write it down or discuss ways that the group might make these resolutions come alive and really stick in 2026.

Closing Blessing or Prayer

Consider closing with a Remembrance of Baptism. Prepare a bowl of water and use the words from the Thanksgiving for Baptism in Setting One (ELW, p. 97) or a similar liturgy. After speaking the liturgy, make the sign of the cross on each person’s hand or forehead with water, encouraging them to remember their baptism. Use chosen names to honor each person as they present themselves today.

If a Remembrance of Baptism is not possible or is already part of your worship, consider another closing. Psalms are not just ancient poetry—they are prayers. Psalm 29 offers a powerful reminder that, despite the turmoil in our world and nation, God reigns above all. God does not condone evil but calls us to honor God’s will and partner with our Creator in bringing wholeness to a broken world. Close by reading Psalm 29 together as a prayer.

Biography

Aaron Shoppa serves as the Program Director for Youth Ministry with the ELCA. His greatest joy in this vocation is connecting with other youth leaders across the nation and deeply listening and engaging with their hopes and concerns as they live out this important ministry. While not at work, Aaron keeps busy chasing three young kids around the house and attending to his millennial midlife-crisis by planting way too large of a vegetable garden. 

* JESUS MAFA. John baptizes Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48290 [retrieved January 7, 2026]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).