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This Sunday: January 19, 2025
SERMON
This Sunday: “Jesus’ Hour”
Bible Study Leader: The Reverend Ken Feske
Bible Study Topic: John 2: 1-11
Bible Passages: Isaiah 62: 1-5; Psalm 36: 5-10; John 2: 1-11
Lector: Sis Connolly
Crucifer: Marilyn Gorman
Ushers: Mick Connolly and Bill Silva
Fellowship: Carle Mowell
Flowers: Marge Moore, “In gratitude to CitF for the generosity shown during the Christmas Toy and Clothing Drive.”
Prelude
9:45 a.m.
Sarah Gutshall, piano
Jubal Joslyn, tenor
Cathryn Wilkinson, organ
Sonata in F Major, K. 332……….Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
I. Allegro (indent this under “sonata”)
Grand Waltz Brillante, Op. 42……….Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne, Op. 16, No. 4……….Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Offertory
Speak, Lord……….Tom Trenney
Jubal Joslyn, Tenor
Organ Postlude
Walk Together, Children……….African American Spiritual, arr. André J. Thomas
Welcome back to pianist Sarah Gutshall, a junior at Santa Catalina School. Sarah has a passion for music and performing arts. She has studied piano with Barbara Ruzicka for the past two years, during which she has won first place twice in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Scholarship Auditions, second place at the 2023 Paderewski Festival, and received the Distinguished Performance Award at the Carmel Bach Festival Young Artist Showcase. In addition to her piano studies, Sarah enjoys theater, acting, and singing. She is an active member of her school choir and plans to pursue a career in music education.
“Many Are the Lightbeams from the One Light” is a new hymn being introduced today. The text captures multiple themes – Christian unity, the variety of gifts we have to offer as part of the body of Christ, and the image of light that is used so often in the Gospels. These themes seem so relevant today, but they date back to the early centuries of Christianity. The words are based on the writings of Bishop Cyprian (later St. Cyprian) from 3rd century Tunisia who was responding to divisions and arguments over issues of faith. His work The Unity of the Church became official Catholic policy.
For a historical study, see “Cyprian on Church Unity” by Stephen Tomkins; edited and prepared for the web by Dan Graves. © 2025 Christian History Institute.
Last Sunday’s Service
Sunday Services Archive
The Rev. Ken Feske
Pastor's Letter
WHY CHANGE WATER TO WINE?
In some respects, it seems Jesus’ first miracle is underwhelming. He’s turning one beverage into another. But this isn’t squirting some flavoring into your bottled water. This man is revealing a glory that evoked trust and awe. In changing the water into wine, Jesus demonstrated his authority over all things down to the molecular level.
Cliff Lewis (Ph.D. Molecular Chemistry) explains:
At a molecular level, the water, basically hydrogen and oxygen, was changed into wine that contains sugars, yeast, carbon and nitrogen along with oxygen and hydrogen. Thus, by changing water into wine Jesus demonstrated his authority over even the atomic structure of atoms by commanding oxygen and hydrogen atoms to disassemble and reform into other atoms of different configurations.
The amount of energy it would take to perform this atomic deconstruction and reconstruction is staggering. The intermolecular energy being released is the source of the explosive energy from an atomic bomb. However, since Jesus caused the wine atoms to come back together, he would have to put this astronomical amount of energy into the atoms in order to have them reconstruct. To do so without any visible energy transformation of the liquid indicates a mastery of natural law beyond our current comprehension.
Jesus turning water into wine marked the beginning of his ministry. Many other wonders followed but this one captured everyone’s interest and curiosity.
Cheers!
Look forward to being together Sunday,
Ken
Small Groups & Bible Study
Small Groups
These are gatherings where CitF members and friends can explore faith and deepen fellowship.
Small Group Bible Study
The Sunday Small Group Bible Study meets each Sunday Morning at 9:00 am in the Multipurpose Room, where the topic is the sermon Bible lesson of the day.
Men’s Small Group Bible Study
Men’s Bible Study will resume on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom and in the multipurpose room. We will again be studying John’s gospel. For more information contact Bob Axley at rjaxley@icloud.com
Women’s Bible Study
Women’s insight on Faith meets on the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 pm at Mia Jarick’s home. Anyone interested in joining can contact Mia Jarick at 831-917-3202 or miajarick1@yahoo.com.