Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of baptism. You wash away our sins and welcome us as beloved children. Let us shout our thanks and share your love with our brothers and sisters, in Christ. Amen.
Reading: Mark 1:8-15 (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: Do you remember your baptism? Do you have a record of it, with the date chronicled? Here is a thought: we celebrate Jesus’s birth with Christmas. His death and resurrection in Good Friday and Easter. His baptism is no less an event for celebration, so why should ours be any different? Most of us count our birthdays, and our loved ones celebrate our lives with funeral services when we die. Why not honor the Holy Spirit within you on your baptismal anniversary, as well? Acknowledge the day your discipleship was officially recognized by family, friends, congregation, and Church. If you do not know the exact date, go with that of your confirmation. If you are a godparent, send happy wishes to commemorate the occasion. The kingdom of God is at hand; you are a child of God, too. There is so much to celebrate in that relationship. Join Jesus in proclaiming the good news and make this and your own baptismal anniversary days of remembrance and rejoicing. --Heather LeBlanc Editor’s Note from Chad Hershberger: Unbeknownst to Heather when she wrote this, today is my baptismal day. My parents always celebrated this day with me every year and today I’ll be thinking about God’s promises to us through this sacrament. Thanks, Heather!
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