January 2017 Calendar

Commemorations
Sunday, January 01, 2017 - Name of Jesus - By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this event in Jesus' life. The keeping of the covenant as well as Jesus' name are signs of God's salvation given to us through him.

Monday, January 02, 2017 - Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, died 1872 - A nineteenth-century German Lutheran pastor, Loehe worked to enliven the church with the eucharist at its center, from which would flow evangelism and social ministry. He sent pastors to North America, Australia, New Guinea, Brazil, and the Ukraine.

Friday, January 06, 2017 - Epiphany of Our Lord Sunday, January 08, 2017 - Baptism of Our Lord

Monday, January 09, 2017 - Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 - African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.

Sunday, January 15, 2017 - Martin Luther King Jr., renewer of society, martyr, died 1968 - An American prophet of justice among races and nations, King was an eloquent preacher, a leader of the nonviolent resistance to race-segregated society, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Born on this date, he was assassinated on 
April 4, 1968.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - Antony of Egypt, renewer of the church, died around 356 - One of the earliest of the Egyptian desert fathers, Antony gave away his sizeable inheritance and became a hermit. Later he became leader of a group of monks who devoted themselves to prayer, worship, and labor.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - Pachomius, renewer of the church, died 346 - Born in Egypt, Pachomius became a Christian while a soldier. He became a hermit (a solitary monk) and organized others into a religious community. His rule for monasteries influenced later ones in both the Eastern and Western churches.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - Confession of Peter - Today the church remembers the apostle Peter's great acknowledgement of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." This festival serves as a fitting beginning to the week in which we particularly pray that all Christians might be united in faith and witness.

Thursday, January 19, 2017 - Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, martyr, died 1156 - When Erik, King of Sweden, determined to invade Finland for the purpose of converting the people there to Christianity, Henry went with him. Henry is recognized as the patron saint of Finland.

Saturday, January 21, 2017 - Agnes, martyr, died around 304 - Agnes was a girl of about thirteen living in Rome. The martyrdom are not clear, but she gave witness to her faith and was put to death as a result, most likely by the sword. The church has honored her as one of the chief martyrs of her time.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - Conversion of Paul - The week of prayer begun by the remembrance of Peter's confession now comes to an end as we recall the pivotal moment in the life of the other pillar of the early church, the apostle Paul. His encounter with the risen Christ turned him from persecutor of the followers of Christ to one of their leaders.

Thursday, January 26, 2017 - Timothy, Titus, and Silas, missionaries - These three early Christian men were missionary companions of the apostle Paul. Timothy became bishop of Ephesus, Titus bishop of Crete, and Silas was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi until they were delivered by an earthquake.

Friday, January 27, 2017 - Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith - Women as well as men were important Christian leaders from the beginning, as demonstrated by these coworkers of the apostle Paul. Lydia, a seller of purple goods, lent her home for a church; Dorcas was known for charitable works; and Phoebe was a deacon in the church at Cenchrae.

Saturday, January 28, 2017 - Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274 - One of the most brilliant and creative theologians in the church's history, Aquinas worked to bring together scripture and the philosophy of Aristotle. A member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Aquinas was also a hymnwriter. 

Birthdays!
3 - Renee G
6 - Joe H
9 - Jennifer M
13 - Toby C

15 - Rachel W
23 - Erika H
24 - Elma R
28 - Andrew M