New Songs Arise by Water and the Spirit

April 25, 2021 • 4th Sunday of Easter •
Reading:  Matthew 3:13-17 (Common English Bible)
Pastor Jeff Wells

You can view the video recording of this message at Facebook.com/churchofthevillage/videos.

In just a little while, we are going to baptize Robert Jairo Morant. We were not certain we would be able to go ahead with the baptism today until about a month ago. The Covid-19 outlook is much better in most places in the country. There is a lot of newness on hand for this day. Our building’s exterior is newly repaired. We have a new heating and air conditioning system in our sanctuary. We are only recently an online and on-site community. Especially applicable for today, we have a new baptismal table that was constructed out of the end pieces of the pews we removed in 2019. It has never been used for baptism before. We also have a brand new baptismal liturgy. I’ll talk about that in a few minutes. And, of course, we are baptizing a relatively new child, whose baptism was delayed by the pandemic but, thank God, here we are. Robert Jairo’s 1st birthday is tomorrow [Monday, April 26], so we celebrate that too. 

It feels so appropriate that our first baptism in a long time arrives during our current worship series titled, “A New Song,” because in every baptism, a new song arises, by water and the Spirit. God sings a new song into every new life, every child is a new song sung into the world and, in baptism, a child’s song is joined with our communal song of love and justice. Robert Jairo Monant, today, God is singing your song. 

This week, our Worship Vision Team carefully reviewed our baptismal liturgy, which was already an updated and adapted version of the United Methodist rite of baptism. We concluded that it did not reflect well our baptismal theology and the sensibilities of the Church of the Village. So, we completely rewrote it. It is no longer focused on making the vows of membership on behalf of the child. Now, it centers on the grace and love of God poured out and on a deep sense of belonging and being loved and nurtured. Baptism is a celebration of – we might even say a song – of sacred belonging. That sacredness infuses both our relationship with God and our relationship together in the community of Jesus’ followers. 

In the sacrament of baptism, first, we recognize what God has already declared: this is a beloved child of God. Then, we welcome the child (or adult) into the community of children of God and followers of Jesus. So, before anything happens, Robert Jairo belongs to God and then belongs in the body of Christ. Baptism gives Robert Jairo a secure place from which to grow – a deep connection with God and a foundation, a faith, and a loving community.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that after Jesus was baptized by John, he came up out of the water and he heard a voice from above sing out, “This is my Child, whom I dearly love; I find happiness in them.” This week, I read another paraphrase of that same line that read, “This is my beloved, the apple of my eye.” I love that expression. God sings a unique song for Robert Jairo and for each one of us, but in all cases, whatever names our parents gave us, God sings our original names: Delightful, Wonderfully-Made, Beloved.

Not only does God sing a new and unique song into Robert Jairo’s life and being, but Robert’s life is a new song sung to God – as well as to his family, this community, and the world. It is a song in which God delights. We don’t know what goodness and love Robert Jairo might sing into the world. We can’t yet know what impact he might have, what wonderful relationships he might build, or how he might help shape this very community. As yet, his life is a promise and a possibility. Yet, we do know that God calls him by name and he belongs to God. We also know that Robert Jairo will be loved, cherished, and affirmed among us for who he is and whoever he will become.

God’s song to Robert isn’t just for today. God will continue to sing to Robert, just as God sings to all of us throughout our lives. We, too, will continue to sing new songs to God and one another in community. Belonging is a journey. It is not static nor superficial. Belonging to God and belonging to one another in a community of faith intimate and messy. It is filled with love, joy, hope, anger, conflict, hurt, and forgiveness. Sacred belonging is a song of real life with all of its real challenges. Baptism expresses our commitment to love and nurture and affirm Robert Jairo. It is also a reminder to us of our commitment to love and support one another. 

Baptismal covenant of sacred belonging between us and God. God never fails to extend love and grace to us. God never fails to be with us, guide and inspire us. God never fails to support us through our struggles, our growing pains, our hurts, and our grief. God never fails to offer us mercy and forgiveness when we harm ourselves or others through our actions or our failure to act. In return, God asks us to be faithful to this covenant to love God, and to love and care for one another and for all of creation.

Robert Jairo, God loves you so much and will not let you go. God loves each of us and will never let us go. God loves the Church of the Village and will not let our community go. God loves us like a Divine Parent and sings to us, “I love you and you are mine.” That is the promise of sacred belonging. God’s unconditional love and amazing grace have always been and always will be available to us.

(c) 2021 Jeff Wells
All rights reserved.