This document contains a prayer praising God as the perfect light of revelation, asking God to shine through believers so they can enlighten others with compassion. It also contains excerpts from Psalm 111 and Mark 1 about God's great works and righteousness enduring forever, Jesus teaching with authority in the synagogue and casting out an unclean spirit. The document reflects on where to find hope in believing God is like Jesus and has always been gracious and merciful, not seeking to destroy. It closes with a benediction praying for God's love and healing to draw people together.

1. Prayer
Perfect Light of revelation,
as you shone in the life of Jesus,
whose epiphany we celebrate,
so shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons
of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with
deeds of justice and mercy.
Amen.

2. The Church Calendar
January 31

3. Psalm 111 & Mark 1
the SOURCE of HOPE

4. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord
with my whole heart, in the company of the
upright,
in the congregation. Great are the works of
the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful
deeds;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
PSALM 111:1-5

5. He has shown his people the power of his
works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy. They are
established forever and ever, to be performed
with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent
redemption to his people; he has commanded
his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his
name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom; all those who practice it have a good
PSALM 111:6-10

6. THE PRESSING QUESTIONS
- How do we know those
things to be true of God?
- How can we believe/trust
God is really like that?
- Is it possible that God
is even better than
depicted here?

7. They went to Capernaum; and when the
sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and
taught. They were astounded at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not
as the scribes. Just then there was in their
synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,
and he cried out, “What have you to do with
us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One
of God.”
MARK 1:21-24

8. But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
“Be silent, and come out of him!”
And the unclean spirit, convulsing him
and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
They were all amazed, and they kept on asking
one another, “What is this? A new teaching—
with authority! He commands even the
unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once
his fame began to spread throughout the
surrounding region of Galilee.
MARK 1:25-28

9. Psalm 111 & Mark 1
the SOURCE of HOPE

11. You must have hope.
The only alternative
is despair, and then
(the enemy) has won.
JAMES CONE

12. 1.The fear of God = the BEGINNING,
not the END of wisdom
WHERE IS MY HOPE?

13. 1.The fear of God = the BEGINNING,
not the END of wisdom
WHERE IS MY HOPE?
2. In my belief that God looks like Jesus,
and has always looked like Jesus

14. God is like Jesus. God has always
been like Jesus.There has never been
a time when God was not like Jesus.
We have not always known what God
is like—But now we do.”
BRIAN ZAHND

15. 3. In my belief that the God who
looks like Jesus doesn’t destroy
enemies, but lives/dies to set us
free from them, and to redeem
even them in the end…
2. In my belief that God looks like Jesus,
and has always looked like Jesus
1.The fear of God = the BEGINNING,
not the END of wisdom
WHERE IS MY HOPE?

16. 1. Are you still in the “fear” phase?
WHAT is YOUR VIEW of GOD?
3. How do your thoughts about God
impact your inner life, your faith, etc.?
2. Do you believeGod can’t really
look like Jesus all the time?
4. Do your thoughts/beliefs about God
inspire hope, or…something else?

17. God is like Jesus. God has always
been like Jesus.There has never been
a time when God was not like Jesus.
We have not always known what God
is like—But now we do.”
BRIAN ZAHND

18. Benediction
Holy and awesome God,
your Son's authority is found
in integrity and living truth,
not the assertion of power over others.
Open our imaginations to new dimensions
of your love, and heal us of all that severs us
from you and one another, that we may grow
into the vision you unfold before us.
Amen.