Be Loved.

And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

John 3. 15 - 17. 21-22

On this day in the cycle of the lectionary, we read the story of the baptism of Jesus and the day is one of those appointed for baptism. It is a special day for a child/adult to be baptized as you can imagine. Our oldest son was baptized on this feast day in 1983, and today as we all attend church together we will renew our baptismal vows as a congregation and as individuals. We will read together the Baptismal Covenant, the summary of our faith and our creed. We will also promise to strive to be people of God responding "I will with God's help" to five questions about how to live into our discipleship. We will also pray for the candidates and ourselves with the following petitions.

Leader Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Open their hearts to your grace and truth.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy Church.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Send them into the world in witness to your love.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.

People Lord, hear our prayer.

The Celebrant says

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death

of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his

resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who

lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

I pray this morning for all of us who participate in this service on this holy day, that we may be reminded of the vows that were taken at our baptisms, the vows that were taken at the baptisms of those we love, and how important it is to go forward into the world remembering that we are Beloved and reminding each other of his or her belovedness.

Be Loved.