Born of Water, Born of Spirit © Jan L. Richardson
Reading from the Gospels, Epiphany 1/Baptism of Jesus: Mark 1.4-11
If you’re celebrating Epiphany this Sunday, scroll down or visit Epiphany: Blessing for Those Who Have Far to Travel.
I kept thinking I was going to be able to create a new reflection and image for Baptism of Jesus Sunday, but I was happily consumed with preparing the retreat for Women’s Christmas and finally had to let go of doing something entirely new for Sunday. If you haven’t visited my reflection on Women’s Christmas (which some folks celebrate on Epiphany) at the Sanctuary of Women blog, I’d love for you to stop by. The reflection includes the mini-retreat (which you can download as a PDF at no cost) that I designed as an opportunity to spend time in reflection on this day. If you can’t take time today, know that the retreat works anytime! Here’s where you can find it:
I do have a quartet of previous reflections on the Baptism of Jesus and invite you to visit these. Click on the images or titles below to find them. Do not miss Janet Wolf’s story about the baptism of Fayette in the post Epiphany 1: Baptized and Beloved. Her story continues to bless and haunt me as it challenges me to think about what the sacrament of baptism really means.
Baptism of Jesus: Following the Flow
Epiphany 1: Baptized and Beloved
Epiphany 1: Take Me to the River
Epiphany 1: Ceremony (with a Side of Cake)
I also have a charcoal of the Baptism of Jesus, which originally appeared in The Christian Century magazine. You can find it on my images website by clicking this thumbnail:
Whether you’re celebrating Baptism of Jesus or Epiphany this Sunday, I wish you many blessings!
[To use the “Born of Water, Born of Spirit” image, please visit this page at janrichardsonimages.com. Your use of janrichardsonimages.com helps make the ministry of The Painted Prayerbook possible. Thank you!]
January 6, 2012 at 4:49 PM |
As I begin to celebrate my first Woman’s Christmas, today in solitude, but shared with treasured friends soon and annually, I give thanks for the gift of you! I thought I had only discovered a cool artist when I was overjoyed to find the image of your Three Wise One’s for my churches Alternative Gifts brochure, but now I have the feeling of opening a treasure chest of gifts, revealing wisdom, spiritual insights and self revelation. I received your Sanctuary Of Women book I ordered as a gift, which now I will have to order my own, and now to discover a guide for an online retreat and other gifts of God’s creativity and revelations through your gifts, well, suffice it to say I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you God, Thank you Jan , for being His open vessel!
January 7, 2012 at 1:01 PM |
Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork in this post, Jan. I draw from it a deep and peaceful sense of being with the One.
Best wishes for this new year!