Baptism Service
You Lead Me Beside Still Waters
In case you have wondered whether our children and youth are listening, rest assured, they are. When we create safe, welcoming spaces for them, their ears and eyes and hearts are open. The two baptisms today are rooted in a Sunday School tradition where children were invited into an encounter with a God of love. They were shepherded by a beloved Sunday School teacher, with a calming voice and a reassuring presence, and a candle, into a place and a time where they felt safe, at peace and wrapped in the love of God (as we saw Gloria demonstrate in the Children’s Time). Bertha and Julia named how formative that ritual was for them, how it felt like the still waters in the Psalm.
And they were shepherded by a beloved junior high Sunday School teacher, Rachel, who nurtured hands-on expressions of what they were learning, and taught them the importance of serving others. Both teachers encouraged them to be curious and ask those “I wonder” questions about God and faith and the bible and following Jesus. The Spirit of God was moving.
Julia and Bertha were both inspired by witnessing Rachel’s baptism as an adult. And Rachel says that she was inspired to get baptized herself because she was teaching these amazing kids and their peers, and was moved by their deep ideas and reflections and questions. The Spirit of God was moving.
Mike and Carolyn, you have also shared about the many communities and choirs where you have been nurtured into faith, because of meaningful relationships with mentors, family, colleagues. And how you too have found still waters and green pastures in the beauty of creation, in gardening, and in music.
For all of you Psalm 23, expresses beautifully that safe, calm and tranquil space. There is a caring and attentive shepherd, green pastures, still waters, safe paths. There is a sense of peace and tranquility here that we long for, in a world that can often feel stormy and chaotic. We want to wholeheartedly claim that assurance of a God who loves us, provides for us and shelters us.
We are also struck by how this Psalm is not just some kind of sweet, pastoral, utopia. Having God as a shepherd isn’t escapism into some false security. The writer assumes we will walk through shadows and dark valleys. Times when fear could easily take over. It’s part of our reality as humans. But in the face of that fear, the Psalm writer claims that God is present, close beside us with protection and guidance. These are strong, robust words for today.
There are three images in this Psalm that we want to take note of today. As we explore each image I will invite you into some time of quiet reflection.
Still Waters
First, the still waters. This image reminds us of how God so often meets us in stillness and quiet. We come to the water to rest, to center ourselves, to go into the deeper parts of who we are. This is a place where we can catch our breath, we can be renewed and refreshed, restored and made whole again. Julia, you have talked about some of your camp counselor experiences here by Lake Laverne at HAC, where you have come to the water for that sense of peace. Bertha, you have also shared about how you find ways to recenter yourself when you start to feel overwhelmed. You both have active minds. You are intense thinkers, and have wrestled with tough questions. You know that you can easily get swept up in stress and anxiety. May these still waters of your baptism, remind you to come to God for rest and renewal often.
I invite all of us to reflect. Where do you go to find still waters? How do you find rest, renewal, peace and tranquility? What troubles and anxieties do you want to bring into the care of God?
pause
Shepherd
The second image is the shepherd–the one who leads, guides, provides and protects. In biblical times the shepherds were often children and youth who took on that responsibility for their family. Julia and Bertha, you are both planning to work as camp counselors this summer. You have been shepherded by family and church and now you will also be shepherds for others. Even as young children you helped to “shepherd” Rachel toward baptism!
Again, I invite all of us to reflect on and give thanks for those, young and old, who have mentored us, nurtured us and walked with us in difficult times. Who has done that for us?
Pause
Welcome Table
The third image is the welcome table–a place of hospitality, nourishment and fellowship. The writer of this Psalm assumes we live in the presence of enemies–that there are aspects of our world that feel unsafe, even hostile. There are voices we hear without and within that tell us we are not enough, or not worthy of God’s love. There are parts of ourselves that we don’t like, or we can’t accept. And what does God do? God spreads a table of hospitality and bounty in front of us, welcomes all parts of us, anoints us, marking us as beloved. Even the parts of ourselves we can’t stand are included. God welcomes us just as we are, inviting us to do the same for others
During Meals that Matter we had the opportunity to share around a table with you and your peers. And we were so moved by how you created safe spaces for each other around those tables, how you welcomed every part of each other, how you welcomed difficult topics and didn’t avoid the uncomfortable reality of the challenges you face.
I invite all of us, once again, to reflect on what parts of ourselves we want to open up to God. Bring all of who we are into God’s presence, even the parts we don’t like. Our fears, our perfectionism, our avoidance, our wounds.
Pause
Psalm 23 ends with a beautiful blessing of God’s love, pouring down, filling our cup to overflowing. Chasing after us. Pursuing us, as some translations say it, all of our days. May this day of baptism and membership transfer be filled to overflowing with the blessings of God’s love.