Prayer: Dear God, surprise us with the washing of your love. May we keep our ears open to your Good News and smile. Amen
Reading: Mark 1: 9-15 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: It was one of those Sundays when we are reminded of our Baptism by the pastor flinging water from a pine bough while walking up and down the aisles. I love it. Everyone is in anticipation of being either gently sprinkled or perhaps splatted with a bit more than expected. There are smiles as the drops land and sometimes a chuckle as folks pat dry open hymnal pages. But one time a church member must have taken a direct hit of water straight into his left ear because he spent the next few minutes poking it with his finger and shaking his head to the side. He definitely was neither smiling nor was he chuckling though I suspect he was being a bit overdramatic with exaggerated discomfort. Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River and, when he came up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well-pleased." (v. 10,11) Soaking wet or slightly damp, in our Baptism we are told we are loved children of God. Let's make sure we keep our fingers out of our ears, hear the Good News and smile. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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