Scripture: Romans 12:9-16b
Message: Praise God: A Baccalaureate Sermon
Blessings and grace to you all.
This Sunday we will surround our two graduating seniors in love and joy as we celebrate their incredible accomplishments! What they have accomplished is no small feat and took years of perseverance, courage, confidence, and effort!
But also this Sunday, even as we surround them with our love, we ought to congratulate ourselves, because, as the saying goes: it takes a village. And beloved members and friends of UPA, you are their village!
As a pastor I can affirm better than most exact how significant a church family is to the raising of their children. When my oldest was born I still had my final year of seminary ahead of me. How does one write a 20+ page ordination paper, several finals, and more than a couple applications for certifications and recognition awards with an infant? With the help of her church family, of course!
On that Easter Sunday when my 2 toddlers decided they missed me and so “escaped” from the pew making a mad dash up the steps to the pulpit for momma … right in the middle of the Pastoral Prayer, who do you think jumped out of her seat to grab said toddlers by the hands and then usher them into the nursery to find toys that would be way more fun than playing in the pulpit? Members of their church family.
It was a church member who invited my older kids to her house for homework help and snacks when I was in the hospital with Gabriel.
It was church members who taught my kids about Jesus’ love including the songs they still sing to this day.
It was church members who sent birthday cards and gave hugs and asked about games and performances and concerts.
You, Church, promise to “be there” for these kids in the moment of their baptism and then you continue to show up every day of their growth and maturity. You love on them in the hard parts and the celebrations, through the ugly years and when they finally emerge from the ugly years.
And so, dear Church, this Sunday, even as you shed a tear for the accomplishments of our young adults (or maybe that will just be Beth, Paul, Itamar and myself) I do hope you celebrate yourself as well. Because these kids wouldn’t be who they are today without their “village”; without you, their church.
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Cheryl
Music
Prelude: “Angel’s Voices” Friedrich Burgmüller
Meditation: “Gymnopédie No.1” Erik Satie
Postlude: “Gai Printemps” (Joyful Spring) Mel Bonis
Live Stream Information
We are making improvements to our sanctuary sound system and encourage you to worship with us in person. If you are not able to worship with us we continue to stream our services via Facebook and Zoom. If you experience any trouble go to our Facebook page for more information. Please share these links with your friends. Bear in mind that we cannot share the Zoom links publicly (to keep from being Zoom bombed), so please share it person to person rather than posting it on Facebook/Twitter, or other public social media. It’s fine to share the Facebook link broadly and publicly. For Zoom login please reach out to Pastor Cheryl at cheryl@newtonchurch.org.
Zoom Link: UPA Sunday Morning Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81334929545?pwd=S1lsRlRmSnlkTUE0cHRlWWQwWUJndz09
Facebook Livestream Link: https://www.facebook.com/upanewtonma/live