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connections: Living Into Our Baptism

January 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

In our baptism, God receives us and names us “beloved.” In our baptism, we promise to go forward serving God by embracing and loving all of God’s people.

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ the Light of the world.

We celebrate the baptism of the Lord early in this New Year. Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. After his baptism, there was an audible voice from heaven. God spoke. God said, “You are my beloved; in you I am well pleased.”

In our baptisms, we hear the echo of Jesus’ baptism. God says to us, “You are my beloved; in you I am well pleased. I love you.” When we hear and know the love of God deep in our hearts, our lives are changed forevermore. We live into the vows of baptism. We promise to serve God in the world turning from darkness to light, embracing people of all ages, races, and nations, serving God out into the world. The baptism of the Lord is a beautiful, luminous celebration of our life in Christ.

As you touch the water on this Holy day, may you be renewed in your sense of being God’s own. May you hear the voice of God echoing to you, “You are my beloved; in you I am well pleased.” May that message live in your heart as you live forward, loving God well, loving one another, and reaching out in service to all the world.

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Filed Under: Connections Tagged With: baptism, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward

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