May 9, 2027
Narrative Lectionary – NL145
Romans 6:1-14 — We’re baptized into Christ’s death, to walk in newness of life.
Matt 6:24) — No two masters: serve God or wealth, not both.
Thoughts
Should we sin to increase grace?
I’ve actually had people ask me, if God forgives everything, then why be good? They’re thinking we’re good in order to earn salvation, and if it’s already given, then why bother? They don’t get that God’s grace isn’t earned. They also don’t get that once you accept God’s grace, “being good” isn’t a bother! You don’t want to sin. You’re in love, and you want to love. Accepting God’s grace changes you.
Baptized into Christ’s death
Accepting God’s grace changes not just some aspects of you, but the whole idea of who you think you are. The self you try to create for yourself is a betrayal of who God actually creates you to be, so you have to let it die. Letting go of who you want to be or think you ought to be, you can become the one God creates you to be. Such dying is possible only because the new self, the one created and given by God, is already there. Baptism symbolizes how the old self drowns in the waters of new birth. Even in that death, you’re being held. When you let your old self-made self die, there’s nothing left but God—which is who you really are.
Call to Worship
Leader: God, you have created us in your image.
All: But we have our own image of ourselves,
the people we think we ought to be.
So you bring us to behold your love,
to remind us who we really are.
We are your beloved, washed clean of old lives,
birthed anew in your grace.
So we worship you. We listen for your Word.
We open our hearts to your grace.
Once again, mothering God, birth us anew. Amen.
Prayers
1.
Loving God, you know how we present ourselves to the world, and even to ourselves. You know that deep down, that’s not who we are. We are your Beloved, made in your image, beautiful, wounded, and full of your grace. Help us shed the masks and costumes, even if it feels like losing ourselves. Help us sink into the arms of your grace. In your love, we let the false self die, so that we can be raised to new life with Christ, full of light and hope and joy, as loving as Christ, in the mystery of your Spirit. Amen.
2.
God of love, you hold me.
I sink into the waters of baptism with Christ.
My old self washes away.
It was not true; I can let it go.
It drowns in your grace,
in this baptismal mystery
which is the water of new birth.
Raise me to new life, God.
By your grace, give me a whole new life,
every moment, every breath, every day.
Silent meditation
Suggested Songs
(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page.)
Baptized in Light (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
Baptized in water, we are your creatures,
each son and daughter washed and reborn,
fully forgiven, blessed and made new now,
buried and risen into the morn.
Baptized in light, God, we are your vessels,
love shining bright in all that we do,
as new creations, we are your glory,
bright with elation, radiant with you.
Baptized in Spirit, we are your servants.
This we inherit: to be your light,
Christ rising in us, healing and blessing,
poor given justice, blind given sight.
Baptized in love, my dearest companions,
Spirit’s bright dove fly with you each day.
God’s light revealing, go now in peace, friends,
blessing and healing, lighting the way.
Breath of God (Tune: Londonderry Air – Oh Danny Boy)
O Holy One, Creator of the stars of night,
whose dust we are, created with your light,
now breathe your spirit into us and give us life;
give us new hearts that beat with your delight.
Our dust and ashes, Love, we give in faith to you.
Receive our lives, our sin, our wounds, our death;
and raise us up with Christ from death to life by grace.
God, may we be your love and you our living breath.
Breathe into us the breath of your compassion, God,
the breath to sing your praise in all we do,
the breath to run the race of justice, long and far.
Breathe, holy breath: empower and renew.
O be the grace that fills our lungs, reviving us;
O be the wind on which our hearts can soar;
O be our life, our beauty and our living breath.
O Spirit, come breathe in us now and evermore.
Christ We Are Baptized (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
Christ we are baptized into your dying,
all of our life poured out into yours;
and we are baptized into your rising,
life given to us from your deep stores.
Christ we are baptized into your Body:
we are all one community here.
This is your presence, this is your rising:
loving anew in your people dear.
Christ we are baptized into your service:
gentle and healing in all the strife,
vessels of grace, who bear your redemption,
bright with the light of eternal life.
Christ we are baptized your New Creation,
all of the world made new by your grace:
dawn of your Realm of mercy and justice,
Christ shining, risen, granting us peace