Dear Friends,
Although I’m always worried about getting rained out going down to the beach, lately I have been watching the news on T.V. I heard about the lack of rain we’ve had. According to the National Weather Service, we’re now considered to be in a drought. This is particularly concerning to our farmers in Southeastern PA and New Jersey.
Water is one of those things you just assume will be there. It’s sort of in the background of life. But it’s vital for all life, and it needs to be there all the time.
And as we move into the “green” liturgical season of the church year, it’s also a time to remember the importance of water. Water, after all, is vital to growth (which is the idea behind the “green” of the season as we grow in faith). And the water of faith is the water of baptism. Baptism isn’t just a one-time event that happened perhaps long ago. Instead, it is the daily water that reminds us of the constant presence, love, and forgiveness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And that presence, love, and forgiveness are something we need every day to grow in faith, hope, and love. It is the refreshment we need to endure the blazing heat of the day, and it is the power of renewal when we feel scorched.
That’s why the baptismal font always has water in it as we approach the Lord’s table.
It is there so that we remember the power and promise of God’s love in our lives, and it reminds us that even when we face times that feel like drought, the water of baptism is still there to give us strength and hope to face the day.
In Christ,
Pastor Hopkins
