We don’t often have baptism and communion on the same Sunday. This Sunday we will celebrate both these sacraments: welcoming infant Charles Fillatre Brooks into our spiritual community as well as remembering the spirit of our brother Jesus.
What is a ‘sacrament?’ Some use the phrase - visible sign of God’s invisible grace - to describe baptism and communion. By blessing Charles with visible water, he is blessed with God’s grace, invisible to our eyes but tangible to our spiritual lives. By sharing bread and juice, we remember meals that Jesus ate with his followers, and we celebrate meals we eat with one another: in our congregation, in our families, and in a world hungering for justice.
Baptism and communion are two important rituals and celebrations in the life of the church. But while we set aside these sacraments as times when God’s grace may be most visible, I urge us not to separate these sacraments from our lives. Baptism and communion remind us that all of life and creation is sacred. Every birth is a moment of joy when God’s creative spirit is most visible. Each meal we eat is a moment to give thanks for being blessed with physical food for our bodies and spiritual food for our souls.
As we celebrate baptism and communion we have an opportunity to move inward to be reminded of God’s lively grace. As we participate in baptism and communion we are called by God to move outward and be God’s living grace in the world.
Whether we will be part of the spiritual community at 140 Wineva this Sunday or away enjoying God’s beautiful creation, let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving for Charles and for our gathered congregation on Sunday morning.
Shalom,
Abigail
Don't forget to join us early this Sunday morning for our "Deep Waters" reflection at 8am at the Leuty Lifeguard Station on the beach.
To learn more about how to enjoy our August meditations, click on Deep Water
For more on prayer, check out our July theme by clicking on Praying in Colour
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