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January 2, 2024

Let’s Get Started . . . Again

Joy J. Moore   |   Read Genesis 1:1-5

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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.

Genesis 1:1-5

1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth 2 the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. 4 God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God named the light Day and the darkness Night. There was evening and there was morning: the first day.

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

In the beginning . . . God. Can there be a more disruptive idea? Consider that this is not a journal entry by Adam on the eve of his creation (no pun intended—really). This idea—that the one, true, living God was in the beginning—was conveyed by Israel while they lived...

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Creator God, enable us to move through the chaos into the new creation you alone have promised. Amen.


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