Welcome to ECLC's weekly email for members with kids & youth ages 0-18, teachers & other volunteers in faith formation, and anyone who wants to be in the know about CYF ministries at ECLC.
Let us celebrate what God does in baptism; joining us to Christ's death and resurrection!
This Week
Sunday | Jan 11, 2015 | Baptism of Our Lord
Water, River, Spirit, Grace
"What ruler wades
through murky streams
and bows, beneath the wave,
ignoring how the world esteems
the powerful and brave? Christ gleams with water
born with clay
from land the prophets trod. Above while heaven's
clouds give way
descends the dove of God. Come bow beneath
the flowing wave.
Christ stands here at your side
and raises you as from the grave
God raised the crucified. Water, River, Spirit, Grace,
sweep over me, sweep over me! Re-carve the depths
your finger trace
in sculpting me."
(Thomas H. Troeger, 1993)
We talk a lot about baptism in the church. If we don't, we should. God's gift of baptism occurs once, but is practiced daily. The risen Christ "stands at our side" in the murky waters of our daily experiences. My heart can be like hard-pressed clay. But if you've seen even one smooth stone, you know the power of water and waves to transform rough edges. Troeger's hymn has been poetry for me personally; as I imagine the many ways each one of us is being shaped and formed in faith each day, beginning with baptism.
(Name), child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
With Christmas barely behind us, this weekend we shifts gears to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Here on the banks of the Jordan, "beneath the flowing wave," Jesus invites us into God's saving story. With God's unconditional promise of new life, we are named and claimed, and given a new identity as God's children; members of the body of Christ, the church.
In the one Spirit we are all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12).
Not baptized? Contact one of the Pastors to learn more about the sacrament and the gifts it brings. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
8:15 am ALL AGES worship with Holy Communion. If your child (of any age) was baptized at ECLC, we invite you to bring the quilt you received from our quilters. We will use them during the children's sermon and also take a group photo following each service with the quilters who made these gifts.
9:15 - 9:45 amALL CHILDREN are invited to paint the sea shell given to them in worship, with water colors at the children's table in the Fellowship Hall.
9:45 - 10:00 am
Lambs (Children ages 0-3) & Parents or Caregivers of Lambs gather in the nursery for a splashing good time with songs and baby faith formation activities -- all about baptism.
PK - K gather in Room 103 for opening music.
GR 1 - 5 gather in Room 100 for opening activities.
GR 6 - 8 gather in Room 112, for a meaningful Faith Lens discussion on "Finger Pointing" and baptism.
GR 9 - 12 gather in the Youth Room to hear ECLC members Mark & Leslie Swiggum share their knowledge and experiences with the civil rights movement and why it still matters today.
10:00 - 10:10 am
PK - K move to classrooms with their teachers.
GR 1 - 3 watch the Holy Moly video in Room 100, introduced by Dawn Rundman. This week's video is, "John the Baptist."
GR 4 - 5 watch theConnect video. This week's video is, "Jacob to Israel."
10:10 - 10:40 am
GR 1 - 3 meet in classrooms with their teachers.
GR 4 - 5 meet in classrooms with their teachers.
10:40 am Parents pick up their children at this time.
11:00 am ALL AGES worship with Holy Communion. If your child (of any age) was baptized at ECLC, we invite you to bring the quilt you received from our quilters. We will use them during the children's sermon and also take a group photo following each service with the quilters who made these gifts.
12:00 - 12:15 pmALL CHILDREN are invited to paint the sea shell given to them in worship, with water colors at the children's table in the Fellowship Hall.
