This sacrament means that in a far deeper sense preparation even more wonderful than yours have been made for your very child by the very hand of God. When your little child was born _ came not into a cold and unregarding world, but into your home, where warmth and love awaited _, and where many things had been thought out and prepared in advance of _ coming. _ and _, you stand here now, a mother and a father into whose keeping God has dared to entrust a human soul, who is precious to you, but infinitely more precious to Him. SPECIAL MUSIC CHILDREN’S MESSAGE THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Julian James Hill The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. In Christ, we become new people: broken, we are made whole lost, we are found forsaken, we are restored to new life. Here is the good news, my friends: Christ came searching for us, calling us by name, leading us into God’s kingdom. Open our spirits to the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who flings wide the open doors of your kingdom, that all might find life with you. Open our ears to the word of hope you speak to us. Open our eyes to our sisters and brothers all around us. Surrounded by evil and violence, we find it easier to close ranks with those just like us, rather than seeking peace and reconciliation for our world. Clinging to all you give to us, we are reluctant to share with those in need. Tempted to think your salvation is for a select few, we put up barriers for others. We do not find it easy to speak of how we do not live as your people, but you invite us to share our weaknesses and failures with you, Inviting God.
Join me as we pray, saying, *PRAYER FOR CONFESSION We pray to the One who seeks to make us whole whose will it is to restore us to new life. We are called to pray: for hope, for healing, for mercy. We are invited to pray – all who have hurt someone else, and all who have been hurt by another. We come to this place, to be embraced by the One whose heart is never locked. It is in this place of openness that we can come knocking. We come to this place, to find the One who has been looking for us. It is in this place of discovery that we can come searching. We come to this place, to hear the words of peace, of hope, of joy God speaks to us. It is in this place of holiness that we can come with our fears, our doubts, all the questions of our hearts. Speak to us in word and melody and quiet, that we may be renewed in our faith and strengthened for your service. Still in us now the many voices that clamor for attention, that we might center ourselves upon you. We come to add our human voices to the chorus of praise raised by your creation! We come as we are – distracted and weary, hopeful, and open – know that you accept us and are ever mindful of our cares and joys. Gracious God, we gather this morning in this house of worship which, thanks to your love, is our home away from home.
The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury July 24, 2022
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