ST JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH
AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
January 15, 2021
What Was Promised - at Baptism
for the week of January 17, 2021
What you need: a watch, clock, or timer; a quiet creative activity; a candle (if it's okay, or an intentional object like a cross); a Bible, if you'd like; paper; something to write with; a snack. Have your class with a sibling or other family members, or enjoy this time by yourself.
1) Begin with a transition time - Peace & Quiet: enjoy a creative activity for about 10 minutes (journaling, clay, Legos, drawing, etc.) - a time to change gears
2) Next, clear that space, or move to another space, and light a candle (or place your intentional object). Settle in, and say a prayer, like: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105). Offer more prayers, silently, or out loud, if you want.
Our focus for this class =
What was promised - at Baptism:
Here's a refresher on Baptism: we learned that at a person's Baptism (yours?), they (you?) (or their/your parents & godparents) made these promises about the following questions.
“Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?”
“I will, with God’s help.”
“Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”
“I will, with God’s help.”
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you are never alone (remember: "you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever" - BCP, p. 308): how can that help you to resist evil? In what ways do you need strengthening? How can you exercise your will?
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being human, well, you're frail. But here's good news! When you repent, and return, you are joyously received, welcomed home like the prodigal son, a lost coin, a missing lamb, enfolded into the love always waiting for you, as you rejoin the Lord in the Body of Christ, the Church. . . every time.
“Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?”
“I will, with God’s help.”
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what words can you use? (Or not use!)
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how can you use your own life to be an example? (Ponder these verses and more!)
“Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?”
“I will, with God’s help.”
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what does it mean, to seek Christ in all persons? ALL persons? How do you feel about people you dislike, disagree with, or otherwise look down upon? Where is Christ?
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how does it feel to serve Christ by serving all people? What are some ways to serve?
- do you love yourself? Do you love your neighbor? How does that balance out? Must it?
“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”
“I will, with God’s help.”
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strive for justice: in what ways? Where do you see injustice? What will you do?
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strive for peace: what is peace? How does peace happen? How is peace preserved?
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respect the dignity of every human being: which people are not respected, not treated with dignity? How does that make them feel? What does that mean about those who treat them that way?
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Carefully, prayerfully, read Bishop Alan Gate's message, sent after the events of 1/6: how can you (we!) “sow with a view to righteousness, and reap in accordance with kindness.”?
