The Friday morning small group, which meets every other Friday morning at 7:00am at Clark's Fork, will begin reading and discussing a new book, Friday, March 18th. Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer by Rowan Williams is a short, but meaty, book about the essential elements of Christian life. All are welcome to join the conversation! You can order the book here, or find it at a local book store.
Want to read and discuss the book, but don't want to be up and out the door for a 7:00am small group? Let the church office know, and we'll talk about starting a new group!
Showing posts with label baptism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baptism. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2016
Friday, October 23, 2015
A BIG Weekend
This Sunday, October 25th, is a big day in the life of the congregation. We'll celebrate Reformation Sunday, singing some favorite hymns, giving thanks for the good news of the Gospel of Jesus and all those the Spirit uses to call people to faithfulness (Martin Luther included!).
Two of the youth of the congregation will publicly affirm their baptism during worship at 10:00am, and profess their faith. It's a big deal, and definitely a day for the church community to gather around them for prayer and support. When an individual is baptized, the assembly is asked this question: "People of God, do you promise to support name and pray for him/her in his/her new life in Christ?"
And the assembly responds: We do.
Then, after the baptism, the congregation addresses the newly baptized: We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God's creative and redeeming word to all the world.
That baptismal journey continues, and Affirmation of Baptism (aka Confirmation) is a big step on that journey, when a young person becomes an adult member of the community of faith. Don't miss it!
There will be a reception, with cake, and a Reformation Sunday photo booth, after worship.
Sunday afternoon we hold our annual Trunk or Treat. It's always a ton of fun, and a great way to reach out into the neighborhood. Trunk or treating will happen in the parking lot, and there will be games, crafts, and less sugary snacks in the social hall, 4:30-6:00pm. (Family-friendly) costumes are encouraged!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
What is Baptism?
Here's a great post from Dave Lose, who teaches preaching at Luther Seminary:
Do you remember anything about your baptism?
If you’re like me – that is, if you were baptized as a baby – the answer is probably “no.”
A second question: do you remember any stories about your baptism that your parents or others present have told you over the years. The two details of the day that I was told about were 1) that my baptism fell on Palm Sunday (1965 – yikes!) and 2) that my grandfather, a Lutheran pastor and missionary, performed the baptism.
I ask and tell all of this in response to one of the keen and vexing contradictions of our present life together in the church, a contradiction made up of two equally true elements. First truth: We confess that baptism is the pivotal event in the life of a Christian. Second truth: Most of us have no memory of our baptism, no clear idea of what it means or why it’s important, and no active sense of how it might shape our daily lives. In fact, I’d be willing to go so far as to say that most of us almost never think about baptism with the exception, perhaps, of when we see a baptism at church or one of our family members or close friends is having a child baptized.
So where do we go from here? read more...
Do you remember anything about your baptism?
If you’re like me – that is, if you were baptized as a baby – the answer is probably “no.”
A second question: do you remember any stories about your baptism that your parents or others present have told you over the years. The two details of the day that I was told about were 1) that my baptism fell on Palm Sunday (1965 – yikes!) and 2) that my grandfather, a Lutheran pastor and missionary, performed the baptism.
I ask and tell all of this in response to one of the keen and vexing contradictions of our present life together in the church, a contradiction made up of two equally true elements. First truth: We confess that baptism is the pivotal event in the life of a Christian. Second truth: Most of us have no memory of our baptism, no clear idea of what it means or why it’s important, and no active sense of how it might shape our daily lives. In fact, I’d be willing to go so far as to say that most of us almost never think about baptism with the exception, perhaps, of when we see a baptism at church or one of our family members or close friends is having a child baptized.
So where do we go from here? read more...
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Affirmation of Baptism on Reformation Sunday
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Still, Small Voice of Love - guest post
Tom, a member of CtK, subscribes to a daily meditation from the writings of Henri Nouwen. Sometimes he forwards them to me (though you don't need to do that any longer, I've subscribed myself!). Today's meditation is further food for thought and reflection on Sunday's sermon.
The Still, Small Voice of Love
Many voices ask for our attention. There is a voice that says, "Prove that you are a good person." Another voice says, "You'd better be ashamed of yourself." There also is a voice that says, "Nobody really cares about you," and one that says, "Be sure to become successful, popular, and powerful." But underneath all these often very noisy voices is a still, small voice that says, "You are my Beloved, my favor rests on you." That's the voice we need most of all to hear. To hear that voice, however, requires special effort; it requires solitude, silence, and a strong determination to listen.That's what prayer is. It is listening to the voice that calls us "my Beloved."
These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.
Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!
The Still, Small Voice of Love
Many voices ask for our attention. There is a voice that says, "Prove that you are a good person." Another voice says, "You'd better be ashamed of yourself." There also is a voice that says, "Nobody really cares about you," and one that says, "Be sure to become successful, popular, and powerful." But underneath all these often very noisy voices is a still, small voice that says, "You are my Beloved, my favor rests on you." That's the voice we need most of all to hear. To hear that voice, however, requires special effort; it requires solitude, silence, and a strong determination to listen.That's what prayer is. It is listening to the voice that calls us "my Beloved."
These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.
Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sermon Reflections
Some questions and thoughts to follow up on the sermon from 1/9 - The Baptism of Our Lord.
What do you remember about the day you were baptized? If, like me, you don't remember it for yourself, what have you been told about that day? How did the people around you feel and what did they think? How have their understandings of baptism changed and grown since then?
Are there any concrete things you do each day to remind yourself or others that you/they are loved and called by God? Martin Luther suggested remembering your baptism each day when you wash your face. Maybe you could trace the cross on your forehead - or your family members' foreheads - each morning as the day begins and each night as you head to bed.
What does it mean to you that you have been claimed by God?
Feel free to respond in the comments!
What do you remember about the day you were baptized? If, like me, you don't remember it for yourself, what have you been told about that day? How did the people around you feel and what did they think? How have their understandings of baptism changed and grown since then?
Are there any concrete things you do each day to remind yourself or others that you/they are loved and called by God? Martin Luther suggested remembering your baptism each day when you wash your face. Maybe you could trace the cross on your forehead - or your family members' foreheads - each morning as the day begins and each night as you head to bed.
What does it mean to you that you have been claimed by God?
Feel free to respond in the comments!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Baptized Into Community
This past Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord (you can read about it in Mark 1:4-11). There are lots of interesting things to say and think about, in terms of why Jesus received the baptism of John the Baptizer. I'll save that train of thought for another day.
We also celebrated the baptism of a baby girl in our congregation, Annika, and were called again to remember the promises made at our own baptisms, no matter how old we were when we were baptized.
Grant preached a great sermon on the power of baptism and the promises we can cling to throughout our lives - we are claimed, called and sent by God. Baptism is the entrance to the Christian community (which is why we so often place the font by the door to the worship space - our lives of faith together begin with God coming to us in grace). In fact, in the Roman Catholic tradition, adult converts to the faith undergo a time of preparation for baptism, formally marked by enrollment and prayers. It's called RCIA - the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
And as much as I enjoyed Grant's sermon (both times), Sunday afternoon left me thinking that while it was hopefully very good news to everyone gathered, anyone worshiping with CtK who might not yet be baptized might have felt a little left out, which was NOT the point.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in being baptized, please let us know! While we do baptize infants, we also baptize children, teens, young adults, and old farts, too. Baptism is a gift of God's grace for everyone. Let's talk.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
