May God bless you and keep you always!

On a recent weekend, I presided at a wedding on Saturday and presided at a baptism on Sunday. It strikes me that they are more related than I thought. A wedding, a civil union, a decision for two to form one family, is a new beginning. Those present hear the promises, promise to support the couple and pray for them. Scripture and God’s blessings are invoked. A baptism is a new beginning. A child, youth or adult, always having been loved and treasured by God, is now named and claimed by God in a new way. God promises grace that will never be revoked. Parents or sponsors, as well as the congregation, make promises and invoke scripture and God’s blessings. As we move toward the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, many will make resolutions, or promises to themselves for the coming year. Why don’t we pray for one another? Pray for our human family, our family of origin, our family of God that we might be given strength to keep the promises we have already made to one another. And may God bless and keep you always!