Sunday, a wonderful day

Dear Friends,

This Sunday will be a wonderful day in our life together.  We will have our Annual Meeting at 9:15 a.m. in the parish hall.  I hope you will come to elect new vestry members and hear about all of the wonderful things that God has been doing in our midst- everything from amazing stewardship news to meeting our new Director of Operations to an exciting Organ Report.  

This Sunday is also the Feast of our Lord's Baptism.  We will reflect on the meaning of Jesus' baptism when a voice from heaven declared "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased" and think about how our baptisms signify that we are each God's beloved.  We will have the great joy of baptizing Elliott and Alice Debevoise at the 10:30 service.  We'll also recognize the 10 people who were confirmed and received at Saint Michael's last Sunday.  

Baptism is a sacrament.  A sacrament is "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace."  Through confirmation we express a mature commitment to faith and receive the strength of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by a bishop.  Baptism and confirmation are inextricably linked.  They show forth our desire to live a life grounded in God's love in community.  There is no such thing as a solitary Christian.  Following Jesus is a group activity.  

My hope for Alice, Elliott, the confirmands, and each of us is this- that coming to church this Sunday will remind us that God loves us with an inexhaustible love and that we are called to live as the beloved community.  

Yours in Christ,
Shearon+