We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water.

Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

-from the ‘Thanksgiving over the Water’ from the BAS, p.157.

Water. 

You might notice that our baptismal font at the entrance to the sanctuary will now be regularly full of water. Holy water – water that has been prayed over; water that has been blessed; water over which has been remembered just a few of the many things that have happened over, under, and through water. 

What to do with this water? Some might cross themselves with it. Some might splash a little on themselves or on a friend as a reminder that God loves them. Some might just trail their fingers through it, or play in it. 

However, I hope, that in setting aside this water, and remembering over it, that you can remember over it too. That you can remember the water all around you and in you. That you can remember logs floating down the rivers, and salmon swimming up them. That you can remember washing dishes, making a meal, or having a hot bath. I hope that you can remember a day at the beach, or a soft rain, or the sensation of a cool glass of water after a hard, dusty job. I hope that you can remember the people suffering from getting too much water, or too little, or water that is dirty and polluted. I hope that you can remember other stories from our Scriptures that happen in, or around, or because of water. I hope that you can remember your baptism and that family of love that you have been called into. Join in the remembering, and give thanks to God. 

Peace,

CG+

PS. If you are remembering a story about water and want to share it, give me a call, drop me an email, or stop in at the church office. I would love to join with you in the remembering.