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January 1, 2024

Let’s Get Started . . . Again

Joy J. Moore   |   Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

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Lectionary Week
January 1– 7, 2024
Scripture Overview

The beginning of the year marks several occasions for the people of the book to remember God’s works to set right all that is wrong in the world. This week we will remember the original Creation project that exposes God’s intention to form a people—communities of faithfulness. It’s a disrupting claim when we move from the Advent season of expectation into the season of Epiphany where we see clearly that our hopes are not yet realized. Each reading reminds us of God’s provision of opportunities to take the next leg of the journey toward the promised peace of God made known in Jesus.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection


Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. Consider what season of life you (and your community) find yourself in as we begin this new year.
Read Genesis 1:1-5. How might this year begin a season of seeing through the chaos so that your actions show others the beauty God continues to create?
Read Psalm 29. Choose a word that you will hold throughout the coming year that enables you to acknowledge God presence in all things, every day.
Read Acts 19:1-7. What relationships hold you accountable for demonstrating God’s presence among those who are not members of your community?
Read Mark 1:4-11. How does your life reflect that your primary identity—one baptized with the Holy Spirit—is a witness to God made known in Jesus?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

1 There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from all their hard work? 10 I have observed the task that God has given human beings. 11 God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts, without enabling them to discover what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there’s nothing better for them but to enjoy themselves and do what’s good while they live. 13 Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Let’s begin again. As always, every beginning is in the middle of what has already happened. Enter memories.

As far back as I can remember, whenever someone in my family dies, Ecclesiastes 3 is read at the funeral. You might think that would be a negative association for me, but...

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Sovereign God, in moments of disappointment enable us to glimpse where your promises have been kept. Amen.


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