Creation-Care 365 - Issue 29

Tanya Barnett interviewed me and Winds of Grace for this edition of Creation-Care 365 which came out yesterday. If you haven't seen it, here is the link to the archived edition. The article is down at the bottom, and there are other good stuff towards the top. If you wish to scribe to this online free publication of the Pacific Northwest United Methodist Church click here, or notice the subscription link in the issue.

Creation-Care, 365, Issue #29
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1100717478224/archive/1106434636142.html

Blessings on your week,

Joel

A Public Baptism

Laura and I arrived at the beach fifteen minutes before Morgan and his folks and grandparents arrived. I decided to scout out the area, while Laura watched for their car. The second of July had folks lighting bottle rockets from the beach. And with a high tide, there wasn’t much beach to be had. I was looking for something private and intimate: a space where we could be reminded of they Holy. What was left of the beach was crowded.

Morgan and his family arrived. We chatted a bit, and went down to the beach. Right at the beach entrance, where moments before two couples sat in lawn chairs, was an opening. Already wearing my clerical collar, I added my stole and we proceeded with the rite of baptism. The bottle rockets stopped. Morgan’s grandmother read two Bible passages, we prayed, blessed the water, and we were reminded of the ways God has already and will continue to bless and love Morgan. We asked that we remember the ways that Morgan will continue to bless us.

As we were finishing by taking some pictures, a woman sitting off to the side commented, “That was a baptism, right? Cool!” and turned to chat with her friend.

I was once again amazed at the generosity of people, especially when they sense that something holy is taking place.

May you be amazed at the Holy around you.

Joel