We Need You

Before getting into my reflection, I want to urge you to volunteer for Falls Church Feeds the World. It's on Sunday, September 11. We need you. From all I hear as I talk with folks around town, and the number of calls we have had, we are going to have lots of people from the community come to take part, more than did in June. That means we truly need all hands on deck for the church side of things. We need to be ready to host all these neighbors in such a gracious way that they can see a grace and love that comes beyond us and through us, even if they have no idea what it is. That said, sign up here () to volunteer. If all the spaces seem to be filled, don't worry. That doesn't mean you aren't needed. We need you!

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While this may seem unrelated to what I said above, I don't think it is. You see I've been thinking about baptism lately. A couple of weeks ago we baptized Makhi, Anika's baby. On Sunday, I will be in Ohio baptizing Daniel, Becky and Joe's second son. When we take part in baptism we are making a promise to be God's community of grace and mercy for this child, this youth, this adult. We are surrounding them with it at that moment, and also beyond that moment. Martin Luther said that baptism is a sacrament that takes our entire lives to complete.

As I think about this, I hold in my heart a place for those who find themselves not surrounded by that community of grace and mercy. Sometimes it is because we as the body of Jesus in this world have let them down. Sometimes it is because they have made a deliberate choice to remove themselves from that community. In some slight way, I understand the grief God experiences at our wandering ways. I know the grief I have as a mother for one son who wanders does not fully compare with all the tears God has wept because of all of us, but I also know that God weeps next to me and within me.

The words of John Ylvisaker's song say it for me.

"I was there to hear your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.

I rejoiced the day you were baptized,

to see your life unfold.

I was there when you were but a child,

with a faith to suit you well;

In a blaze of light you wandered off

to find where demons dwell."

This is why we need you to volunteer for Falls Church Feeds the World. We need you to be community of grace and mercy for all God's children whether they have been baptized, or never will be. They are beloved, and need to experience a bit of that belovedness.

Psalm 17:8

Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings