A few weeks ago, I had the great privilege of celebrating three sacraments in one day. In the morning there were three baptisms, which Freda Marie+ and I shared, and afterwards I celebrated the Eucharist. Then, later that afternoon, I officiated a marriage here in our beautiful church. It was amazing, wonderful, awesome in the truest sense of those words – I was amazed, filled with wonder and awe. Being present to those three sacraments in quick succession made me more aware than usual of the presence of God among us. They heightened my sense of how we truly are the body of Christ, coming together to welcome new members, eat together, and celebrate the joining of two lives.
This is what the sacraments do. In the Episcopal Church, we understand that the sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. They help make us aware of God’s grace and presence through material signs and symbols. And that’s important, because sometimes that grace and presence can be easy to overlook, even though, I would argue, it’s always there. And we are so hungry for it!
As the weeks have passed, and as I look ahead to the fall and the start of the program year, I am excited for more opportunities to recognize God’s presence within and among us. Instead of rose colored glasses, I want to wear sacramental glasses, to help me see God’s grace and presence. The world is not always rose colored – but God is present even in the midst of suffering and despair, and even in the most quotidian moments of life. This is part of the promise of the Incarnation and the Resurrection.
While visiting a friend last week, I came across a prayer that captures this with beauty and eloquence (and struck home for me personally).
And so my invitation to you as we get ready for the program year in September is to try out these sacramental glasses with me. How might your version of diaper changing be transformed when viewed a receptacle and reservoir of heavenly grace? And, if you, like me, sometimes need a reminder to see the grace and presence of God around you I would like to issue a second invitation: come to church.
Come on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning to pray and sing and share the heavenly meal with the gathered body of Christ. Come to choir practice on Thursday evening to discover the harmonies that are created in song and in relationship. Come to a young adult group and explore who God is to you at this moment in life. Come to youth group and meet Christ through relationships new and old. Come to BUILD meetings and feel the power of the Holy Spirit as it works in our beloved Baltimore. Come, and let us remind one another of the grace of God that is offered freely every moment of every day and presence of God that is in and around us always.
Love,
Rebecca+
P.S. “A Liturgy for Changing Diapers” is from Every Moment Holy: Volume 1.