Our epistle reading for this coming Sunday will claim that Christians “do not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). However we do grieve, and indeed there is burial evidence of our species having grieved for the past 300,000 years. The “hope" part is that we are baptized into eternal life.
This coming Sunday, we will welcome a visiting family who is presenting their infant daughter for baptism into the Christian faith. Of Swedish Lutheran ancestry, this child will be raised in her parents’ evangelical faith where they live several hours away. It is an affirmation of our faith in God’s grace that we renounce evil and recite the creed on the infant’s behalf, trusting that God will give her the free gift of faith when she is old enough to contemplate God’s love and forgiveness through Christ.
As I’ve been planning for this joyful rite, Pr. Dan gave me a book that highlights the connection between baptism (a sacrament established by Jesus) and the Lord’s prayer, which we studied this summer. I invite you to reflect on this connection as you prepare to play your own role in a momentous event in the life of a beautiful new person. Thank you for extending Christ’s love to this visiting family.
Our Father - we are God’s children
Hallowed be thy name - we baptize in the name of the Triune God
Thy will be done - we present this child according to God’s holy will for her life
Give us this day our daily bread - we welcome this child to the feast of the sacraments
Forgive us our sins - we declare that through grace she is dead to sin and lives a new life in Christ
Lead us not into temptation - may we never forget our own baptisms
And deliver us from evil - we stand in God’s power to renounce every evil that threatens and harms God’s precious children.
with love, Pastor Chelsea
