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Dear Old Donation,
Last Sunday, on the Second Sunday of Christmas with the Epiphany Gospel, we talked about revelation, about God showing up in ways that are actually visible. Not just in stars and angels and ancient stories, but in real places with real people. This week, we move straight into the Jordan River for the Baptism of Our Lord. Jesus shows up, gets in line, and steps into the water alongside everyone else. No special treatment. No fast pass. And when he comes up out of the water, the sky opens, the Spirit descends, and a voice says, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” Before Jesus preaches a sermon, performs a miracle, or flips a single table, God publicly claims him in love!
I mentioned last week about finishing the series finale of “Stranger Things.” Even if you have never watched it, here is the short version. It is a Netflix show set in the 1980’s where kids on bikes battle scary monsters from an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. It sounds wild, and it is, but the real story is not about monsters. It is about belonging. It is about friends who stick together, people who are told they are different, and love that refuses to give up when things get dark.
That is actually a pretty good way to think about baptism as we start a new year. While January tells us to reinvent ourselves, fix everything, and become impressively improved humans by February, baptism says something else. You already belong. You are already claimed, already loved, already named beloved by God. Baptism does not promise an easy year, but it does promise that we do not face the hard parts of life alone. Light shows up. Community matters. And Love, it turns out, is stronger than whatever is lurking in the shadows.
A few quick reminders as we move through the week together. Vestry members and commissions are reminded that commission meetings will take place this evening 7 January, Wednesday at 6:00pm! This Saturday, 10 January 4:00pm, we are excited to celebrate Jim Bulleit’s music release party, and all are warmly invited to come support and enjoy the gift of music in our community. And finally, if you would like to receive blessed chalk for Epiphany home blessings, please join us for Sunday worship. See our chalk video if you’re curious!
~Nelson+
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