Weather permitting, Sunday is our last outdoor service at the 10 a.m. service. This service, regardless of whether it’s inside or outside, will also be a baptism. We will welcome Madilynn Marion Noyes and Quinn Marie Noyes into God’s family.
We hosted a clergy gathering at St. Mary’s last week, and discussed which parts of the liturgy we feel are most important, most relevant to the world today. Deacon Chuck pointed to the Baptismal Covenant, and I cannot think of a better foundation for our faith. Each time we baptize someone we renew our own baptismal covenant. We promise that, with God’s help, we will:
- Continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers
- Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord
- Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ
- Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself
- Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being
I invite you to spend some time thinking about these promises. We don’t promise to do them alone, but we do promise to continue, persevere, proclaim, seek and strive with God’s help. There are some that come more easily and some I would rather ignore. But these promises are at the core of our identity as children of God. They are relevant, they are necessary, they are important.
Baptism reminds us that we have God with us always, but we also have one another. We promise to “do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ.” We promise Madilynn and Quinn that we will do everything we can to help them grow, learn, and delight in God. And, we promise one another the same. Finally, after the baptism, we welcome the newest members of God’s family and give them their mission: “We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.”
Reflect on these words and promises, and recommit yourself to them.
Prayers and Blessings,
Mother Pippa