Dear Friends in Christ—
I am still, in Easter season, wondering about our resurrection lives. This week, I am thinking about two phrases from the Baptismal Covenant: our hope that we will “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,” and that we will “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Jesus Christ.”
It has been hard to have fellowship this past year, as we have all struggled to connect meaningfully with others in our pandemic isolation. It can hard to feel like there’s a lot to proclaim. But we have new chances for meaningful connection and sharing.
First, Grace Church is resuming baptisms (and funerals and limited weddings, as well). In Easter season, we have four children who will join the Christian family. As we welcome those children into the household of God, we also have the chance to welcome their families—some of whom are new to Grace Church, and who have sought us out during this lonely time.
Second, we have the chance to invite friends to church again. Our outdoor worship is open not only to Grace Church members, but to anyone who would like to come. We are highlighting this on our website and hope to have new signs outside the church to make this clear. While we continue to attend to safety, we also have an obligation and an opportunity to invite in those who are hungry and seeking. (When are able to have in-person, indoor worship, we hope to be just as hospitable.)
This moment may seem a strange time to reach out to someone new. And yet it is what we do, as Christians—we reach out to others, as Christ reached out to us.
In Christ,
Anne+