Schaefer: Baptism

Guest Writer Chris Schaefer

Our Baptism today

“Baptism as a way to the freedom of the children of God and as a way to a life in community calls for a personal commitment. There is nothing magical or automatic about this sacrament. Having water poured over us while someone says, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” has lasting significance only when we are willing to claim and reclaim in all possible ways the spiritual truth of who we are as baptized people.” Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen, September 29

Traditionally baptisms will be happening all over the world this Sunday as many congregations will observe the liturgy of All Saints Day. As we remember those who have died, we celebrate new birth. Claiming our spiritual truth as baptized people is so important and significant for us today. Today’s world is confusing and challenges us to work even harder to live our spiritual truth. I recently was challenged to look back at our Baptismal Covenant to find answers to questions about how our spiritual truth applies to us in today’s world. Well, it was here that I found, or better still was reminded of, what “the spiritual truth of who we are as baptized people” is. Like some of our prayers or creeds, we tend to read or recite them from root memory often losing the heart of the words we are saying. This is how I felt as I started going through the renewal of the Baptismal Covenant but then I came up short. As I read the last two questions I found my answers.

“Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every

human being?

I will, with God’s help. “ Book of Common Prayer,

p. 305.

There it is! We are already committed to what we are striving for. We are already in covenant with God to act on our commitment to Him. No matter what happens in the world, we can make a difference by leaning into that covenant. I must remember that no act or gesture is too small to make a positive, loving difference in someone’s life. And that it is only with God’s help that I can make anything happen. We already belong to this life in community. We are already joined together by our common covenant. We all must be willing to reclaim our spiritual truth of who we are as baptized people. We all must make that personal commitment.

Chris Schaefer

A night to remember

A Night to Remember

“A Prayer for the Whole Human Family.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, p. 815.

Last night we attended the packed service at Temple B’nai Israel led by Rabbi Barry Block for the eleven people who died at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburg during Jewish religious services on Saturday. As I looked out to the woods beyond their wall to wall glass windows at the front of Temple B’nai Israel sanctuary, I remember so many Christmas Eve services we participated in at the Temple when we were at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church before St. Margaret’s had a church building, and this congregation offered their space for us to worship.

One of the speakers last night mentioned that the part of the building we were in and also where the eleven worshippers were murdered is called a sanctuary, a safe place. This is what we all consider our places of worship to be, a safe place. Supposedly, that is why Episcopal Churches have red doors, a sign of a sanctuary, a safe place.

During most of the service, members of the congregation were adding more chairs as people continued to pour in. As you can see from our picture, we were at the far back but had seats thanks to Mary Manning from St. Mark’s who saved us our two seats. Eventually there was standing room only with faith leaders and politicians and friends I knew who were members of the congregation and many I knew I had seen before but could not recall their names. One of the physicians, Jim Aronson, whom we worked with at Children’s Hospital who grew up in Squirrel Hill and knew so many of those who died, spoke. Jim shared stories of Squirrel Hill and the Tree of Life Congregation as we began to become connected to that congregation as we were to the Jewish community here present in Little Rock.

Love, community, peace, compassion, empathy, friendship, common ground, togetherness, oneness dwelt in this sanctuary last night.

Perhaps two events that occurred as we were leaving may best describe what was happening. Two of the opposing candidates for mayor left with their arms embracing each other’s necks, one African American, one white. After the service, a social worker, Debby Brady, we knew from Children’s Hospital, a member of the congregation whom we had not seen in probably twenty years, insisted on driving us to our car several blocks away as she thanked us for being there.

We can still barely talk about it.

Joanna. Joannseibert.com

Love

Love

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

When southern women saw a statement we wanted to remember, we would say, “ we must embroider this on a pillow.” Now as our country is so divided, I want to tattoo this on my forehead or stitch it on my lips. These are silly things to say but they may express the great difficulty it is to love others who seem to be so destructive to what we consider the way of life and the values we have been taught and we hope to represent.

I know what hate is like. It is a poison that destroys sometimes quickly and sometimes one brain cell at a time. When hate enters my body and spirit, I am tense. I am irritated by the least difficulty. My arteries are constricted. I become a victim. I live a zero-sum life. I must hold on tight to what I have because otherwise, I will soon lose it. Hate not only directs itself to others but is self-destructive. Hate destroys our bodies and everyone and everything we come in contact with.

I know what love feels like. It is peace, joy, caring for others, kindness, patience, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, caring for myself, all the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). My body is calm. My arteries are dilated. I am able to handle situations that once baffled me. I never see myself as a victim. I live a life of gratitude and forgiveness.

As we think about it, why would anyone not choose love? Perhaps because they do not know what love is like. They have not experienced love.

Again, this is our constant task, to stay surrounded with people and a community who know love, learn from them, share what they have taught us and try to give love away to as many as possible, whomever crosses our path today. I am counting on love.

Love is an infinity sum. The more we give, the more we receive. It is an inexhaustible source of energy. Hate, on the other hand, destroys everything around it including the body it inhabits.

Our bodies, our minds, our Spirit tells us to choose love. So does Rob Bell in his book, Love Wins.

Joanna joannaeibert.com