“All My Relations”
Luke 1:46-55
Luke 1:46-55
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost October 29, 2006
Reformation Sunday
Reflection shared with Children at Kingston Road United Church by the Rev. Richard C. Choe
* * *
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 1.47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. * * *
Today we are celebrating baptism of three babies. Their names are
Liam John Bell, child of Joanne Lovell & Justine James Bell
Isabelle Victoria Conklin, child of Cindy Jeanette Conklin & James Jeffery Conklin
Ryley Faith Edwards, child of Lynn Heidi Morrison & James John Edwards.
I would like to share with you what baptism means for us.
How many of you remember your baptism? Many of us were infants just like Liam, Isabelle and Ryley so it is impossible to remember what it was like. What is about to happen today is what happened to you when you were baptised. Some of you were baptised here at Kingston Road United and some may have been baptised somewhere else. But regardless of where you were baptised, baptism is a celebration of your birth with Church family.
Each family is made up of different configurations. Some families have mom and dad. Some families have a single mom or a single dad. Some families have two moms or two dads. Some families have several generations living together. Some families are singles. Whichever type of family you are part of; each one of you is loved and cherished by God and this Church.
I remember seeing Frances, my first born, for the first time. Frances’ mother had to have a C-section so I was waiting outside the surgery room. It felt like a life time of waiting when a nurse finally brought Frances to me in the waiting room. Although it was the first time I saw her, I just knew that this was my child. As I was holding her and looking at her through my tears of joy, I saw in her tiny face my mom, my dad, my grandparents, and all of my past and future relations. Seeing Frances was one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. Seeing the birth of Michelle, my second daughter was the same amazing experience. Having two daughters helped me to understand that each child is so different and yet so wonderful. I cannot ever imagine a world without my two daughters in it.
“All my relations.” This is what our First Nations sisters and brothers say about the world we live in. When we celebrate the baptisms of Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley today, we are reminding ourselves that we are all related to one another as God’s children. Baptism is a celebration where a child from a smaller family is joining an extended family that is Kingston Road United Church. Kingston Road United Church family is also a part of Christian family. Through the ceremony of baptism, we are making a promise to the families of Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley that we will support them as they raise their children. We are also saying to God that we are going to try our best to share our love with Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley as sisters and brothers.
I hope that Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley will join you in the Halloween Parade in few years. I pray that they will experience Christian love through their immediate family and Kingston Road United Church family. May we all share and receive God’s love through our relationship with one another.
Amen.
Isabelle Victoria Conklin, child of Cindy Jeanette Conklin & James Jeffery Conklin
Ryley Faith Edwards, child of Lynn Heidi Morrison & James John Edwards.
I would like to share with you what baptism means for us.
How many of you remember your baptism? Many of us were infants just like Liam, Isabelle and Ryley so it is impossible to remember what it was like. What is about to happen today is what happened to you when you were baptised. Some of you were baptised here at Kingston Road United and some may have been baptised somewhere else. But regardless of where you were baptised, baptism is a celebration of your birth with Church family.
Each family is made up of different configurations. Some families have mom and dad. Some families have a single mom or a single dad. Some families have two moms or two dads. Some families have several generations living together. Some families are singles. Whichever type of family you are part of; each one of you is loved and cherished by God and this Church.
I remember seeing Frances, my first born, for the first time. Frances’ mother had to have a C-section so I was waiting outside the surgery room. It felt like a life time of waiting when a nurse finally brought Frances to me in the waiting room. Although it was the first time I saw her, I just knew that this was my child. As I was holding her and looking at her through my tears of joy, I saw in her tiny face my mom, my dad, my grandparents, and all of my past and future relations. Seeing Frances was one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. Seeing the birth of Michelle, my second daughter was the same amazing experience. Having two daughters helped me to understand that each child is so different and yet so wonderful. I cannot ever imagine a world without my two daughters in it.
“All my relations.” This is what our First Nations sisters and brothers say about the world we live in. When we celebrate the baptisms of Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley today, we are reminding ourselves that we are all related to one another as God’s children. Baptism is a celebration where a child from a smaller family is joining an extended family that is Kingston Road United Church. Kingston Road United Church family is also a part of Christian family. Through the ceremony of baptism, we are making a promise to the families of Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley that we will support them as they raise their children. We are also saying to God that we are going to try our best to share our love with Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley as sisters and brothers.
I hope that Liam, Isabelle, and Ryley will join you in the Halloween Parade in few years. I pray that they will experience Christian love through their immediate family and Kingston Road United Church family. May we all share and receive God’s love through our relationship with one another.
Amen.
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