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Fred and Ethel
Who are Fred and Ethel Mertz in your life?
You may have fond memories of Fred and Ethel, the owners of a New York brownstone apartment building and best friends with their neighbors, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, on the “I Love Lucy” show. Who could forget the zany antics of this foursome on the beloved 1950s sitcom?
On January 19, 1953, 68% of all televisions in the U.S. tuned in to CBS-TV as Lucy gave birth to a baby boy. Our nation welcomed the fictional character Enrique Alberto Ricardo IV (I bet you didn’t know his full name!), better known as Little Ricky, into our world. Also born that day, in real life, was Desi Arnaz, Jr., the child of the show’s lead actors, Desi Arnaz, Sr., and Lucille Ball.
With the arrival of the new character in the sitcom, the show’s comedic adventures had to adjust accordingly. The friend/landlord partners to the new parents took on an additional role for the baby: Fred and Ethel became Godparents to Little Ricky.
During our Christian baptismal vows, we invite the sponsors – Godparents- to promise to nurture the newly baptized in the Christian faith, as empowered by God’s Spirit, and to help them live in the covenant of baptism and in communion with the church. We encourage all gathered to support the newly baptized and pray for their new life in Christ. The responsibility of a Christian witness to baptism is a profound honor and a daunting undertaking.
Although Fred and Ethel were fictional characters, their role as Godparents to Little Ricky was as significant as that of our baptismal witnesses. Whether standing beside you at the baptismal font or supporting you at any point in your faith journey, many have helped keep us focused on our mission as servants of the Lord.
Who are your Fred and Ethel?
This Sunday, we encourage you to remember the words spoken at your baptism. Those gathered vowed to live among God’s faithful people, bringing the baptized to God’s word and the holy supper.
We will give thanks not only for who Jesus is but also for what baptism means to us: God’s promise spoken over ordinary water, naming us beloved and sending us into the world in the power of the Spirit. No gift from Amazon can match that!
Join us on Sunday to give thanks for the gift of life in Christ at 10:30 AM, or on Facebook at Hopeclinton.
If you don’t attend, Lucy, “You got some ‘splainin’ to do!”
All are welcome!
Pastor Eric
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