Dear friends and members of University UMC:
The scripture lesson for this Sunday is about the Baptism of Jesus. All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ baptism. This Sunday, we’ll hear the account from the Gospel of Mark, and in it we hear that a voice from heaven says, “You are my Child, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Accounts from other Gospel writers share similar words of Divine blessing upon Jesus. It always strikes me that Jesus hears these words of love and affirmation before he even begins His ministry. I mean, He really hasn’t even accomplished or done anything up to this point. At least as far as His active ministry. God begins by declaring love, because that’s who God is. It is difficult for us to believe we are loved apart from what we do. It’s a challenge for all of us - preachers included. God offers promises of love and blessing regardless of what we have done or not done, regardless of what we have accomplished or not accomplished.
Churches often participate in rituals to remember our baptism at this time of the year, and at our 11 in person service we will have an opportunity to do just that. A water mark to remind us we belong to God. In life-giving waters, in life-threatening waters - you belong to God. Remembering our baptism is something we can do even if we were baptized as infants–by remembering that parents or sponsors made the decision on our behalf to nurture us in the faith. This is something we can do even if we have not yet been baptized - to anticipate our baptism and consider that we are made in the image of the Divine Creator.
Through the years, there have been studies done where elementary school teachers are told at the beginning of the year that certain children in their classroom were gifted, regardless of the actual capacity of these children. The studies went on to show that by the end of the year those kids were performing much better than the rest of their classmates. They were seen as special, and treated as special. And then they became what they were believed to be. It’s like that with God, I think. God loves us. And if we remember we are beloved and treat others as if they are beloved, then maybe - just maybe! - we will experience the gift of love more fully. Or, as Nadia Bolz-Weber puts it, “God is like a teacher who has been duped into thinking you are gifted and then treats you like you are special and then that’s what you end up being.”
At our in person service, we will participate in a renewal of baptism ritual inviting us to recommit to the work of anti-racism. On this weekend, when we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., we will also vote on the statement developed by our Racial Justice Task Force. You can read the statement below, and all professing members will have an opportunity to vote on approving this statement at a called Church Conference following worship in the Sanctuary. I am grateful for your ongoing work as we stand firm in the midst of injustices and, with active faith, believe the arc of history does indeed bend toward justice.
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
