Witnessing to God's Love

Witnessing

Witnessing to God’s Love

By The Rev. Meredith Heffner

As I write this newsletter article, I have just drafted a meditation concerning the Baptism of our Lord. I am struck by the way our baptism shapes our identity, but I am also struck by the fact that our baptismal covenant is not passive. We are not simply marked with the sign of the cross, given a new identity, and then allowed to go back to our lives as the same person. Even if we were baptized as infants, as we live into our baptismal identity, we are called to more.

The evidence is found in the service of Holy Baptism where we pray, “Send us out in the world to witness to your love.” (BCP, p. 306) The question for us is how are we witnessing to God’s love.

At St. Mark’s we see evidence of this witness every day. We have parishioners who have spent the night at Rising Hope, providing food and caring for the homeless this cold winter. We regularly collect food for UCM (United Community Ministries). And our youth are learning about the gift of giving as they look forward to helping sort clothes for the Groveton Clothes Closet, and serving breakfast to the homeless at SOME (So Other Might Eat) later this month. We are also planning our mission trip to Swan Quarter, North Carolina this July.

We will journey to North Carolina and again work under the direction of Youthworks, an organization that plans and organizes youth mission trips. Like last year, our youth will work with other teens from various backgrounds and denominations to bear witness to God’s love in the Swan Quarter community. They will help lead a vacation bible school for local children, and help with painting and light construction projects. Witnessing to God’s love is not about the work, however. Witnessing to God’s love is about the relationships we develop and the way we share Christ’s presence with one another.

This witness is not limited to those who travel to Carolina. Our entire congregation bears witness as we support these youth who go and represent the love found here in our parish. We support them in their fundraising. We support them by asking about the work they will do and why they are going. We support them in our prayers. Together we fulfill our baptismal covenant and learn what it means to witness to God’s love.

Almighty and everlasting God, let your fatherly hand ever be over us your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with us; and so lead us in the knowledge and obedience of your Word, that we may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 310)