Dear One’s of St. C’s, 

Over the next two weeks we will have two baptisms and four confirmations/receptions.  Jaci Goo will be baptized this Sunday and Benjamin Tutu will be baptized the 27th.  These actions in the Episcopal Church are all about belonging.  To whom do you belong?  We spend our lives seeking out belonging.  I believe our spiritual selves need to know that we belong, because we long to be loved and accepted by God, by our creator.  We know we are loved because God first loved us.  But in being human and living in this world we are often told different stories about whether or not we belong by people we encounter, whether this is from our parents, siblings, at school or at work. When people are  baptized and confirmed, it is how as Episcopalian’s we loudly and boldly say, you belong here and the people who have said yes, are loudly and boldly saying, I accept this invitation of belonging.  

I hope however you are connected to St. Columba’s that you know you belong in God’s loving presence. As a church we desire to reflect this truth back to one another.  We do not do it perfectly, but with God’s help, we strive to be a place where all who walk through our door can hear, feel, and see this invisible love and grace of God visible and palpable. In the sacrament of baptism the priest says to the baptized, “you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever. Amen.”  You belong here in God's loving presence. 

with love, 

Meghan