January 7
Peace be with you! This Sunday is going to be lovely—we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord and baptize four children into the body of Christ!
Our Gospel reading for this Sunday says the heavens were opened to Jesus at the moment he came up from the water after his baptism by John. Jesus’ identity as the second Person of the Holy Trinity is revealed in his baptism. Jesus sees the Spirit of God descending upon him like a dove and hears a voice from heaven say, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The sacrament of baptism opens the heavens to us, enabling us to hear the gentle voice of God who calls us His beloved. The day of our baptism is the day we say “yes” to God’s love and awaken to our participation in the very life of the Holy Trinity. St. Julian of Norwich described the human soul as a “created trinity", like “the uncreated blessed Trinity, known and loved without beginning or end, made one to the Creator by virtue of its creation.” St. Julian goes on to say that Christ Jesus, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, “restores us to our rightful place in paradise, blissfully reuniting us with our essence.” (from The Showings of Julian of Norwich, translated by Mirabai Starr)
As we celebrate the baptisms of our young children this Sunday, we also celebrate the day of our own baptism or the day we will be baptized. Baptism is the day we are “marked as Christ’s own forever” and restored to a life of unending joy in the Holy Trinity. What an incredible gift Jesus has given to us!
If you are interested in learning more about the sacrament of baptism for you or your child, we invite you to join our next pre-baptismal lunch meeting for families on Sunday, February 8, 11:30-12:30 pm. Fr. Hendree will discuss the theology of baptism and answer any questions parents might have. Child care and a child-friendly lunch will be offered in the nursery during this meeting. Just email me HERE if your family would like to join our next pre-baptismal lunch meeting. We will offer the sacrament of baptism again on the following dates in 2026: April 12 (the Sunday after Easter), May 24 (Pentecost), and November 1 (All Saints’ Sunday). To learn more about baptism at Good Shepherd, click HERE.
We hope you and your children will join us for “Oreos in the Undercroft” for a few minutes this Sunday after the 10 am service! “Oreos in the Undercroft” is Good Shepherd’s wintertime version of “Popsicles on the Playground”. It is a great way to connect with friends and get to know our newcomer families!
We hope to see you this Sunday!
Many Blessings,
Patty