March 21st and 22nd - Let's Play!

Theme

Baptism

Readings

Numbers 32:1-35:34-You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

Luke 4:31-5:28-Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.

Psalm 64:1-65:13-Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts.

Proverbs 11:22-23-The desire of the righteous ends only in good...

God's Word

See life develop before your eyes.

Story,

To Kaiya on the first anniversary of her baptism,

Kaiya, one year ago today you were baptized. Much has happened in this past year. Since you have been a child of God, you have reached out and touched so many lives. Even though you are only a little over a year old, your life in Christ has begun. Jesus has used you this past year to touch hundreds of lives and maybe even more that I can't even count. You have touched lives of family and friends. You have touched the lives of many at Epiphany and even the churches of relatives. You have touched the lives of friends of your family. Even thinking that you only touched hundreds of lives may be too small.

You see, Kaiya, God works through all of us even without our knowledge. Your smile and actions demonstrate the love of God active and alive on this earth. The stories you have created for all of us has given life to those who are gifted to tell the stories.

On this anniversary of your baptism, we recall the promise that God has made and the promises that we have made to God. As you recall the water of your baptism, this past year stands as a witness to the life God has brought through you. The water that drowned out sin and death and brought countless smiles and laughter and joy to those you have touched. Each morning as you awake, notice the life God has gifted you with and don't waste a moment in bringing that same life to another person added to the hundreds of lives that God has touched through you in this past year.

Kaiya, the Lord will take you to deeper and deeper waters in your life with Him. He will lead you into a new land. Stay with Him and follow His Light all of your life. Rejoice this day and let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Once again, Kaiya, I would like for you to remember that letter from your Gramps on your baptismal day a year ago. I want you to know that your Gramps loves you and that God loves you and has created you a unique and wonderful gift of life for all.

Here is that letter from a year ago. Happy baptism anniversary, Kaiya!

Love,

Grandpa Lynch

A letter from Grandpa Lynch to Kaiya at her baptism on the Easter Vigil 2008

To Kaiya on her baptismal day,

Kaiya, today is Saturday March 22nd 2008. You were baptized at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville Ohio. You were baptized at the Easter Vigil Service. I know, right now this means nothing to you, but by the time you can read this letter, your baptism will begin to unfold life before your eyes. You will see life beyond this life. You will begin to live life beyond death.

Kaiya, in your baptism, God gave you such a wonderful gift. It’s such a wonderful gift that even grown-ups like myself can’t understand it. If someone tells you that they do, beware of them. They speak lies. Only God understands the depth of this gift of baptism given to you on this day. Both you and I only get a sneak peek at the depth of God’s love. But in baptism, God names you as His own. He claims you as His child. He gives you a promise and strikes a covenant with you.

Through your baptism you will begin a walk with God. Family has promised before God that they will give you God’s Word, teach you the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostle’s Creed. Your family has made a promise to tell the wonderful story of a loving God that has been active in their lives. God has certainly been active in mine. I’m so happy to share God with you this day. I look forward to telling you stories, while you sit on my lap of how God is active in my life and the lives of His people.

Kaiya, as I look into your eyes I see no sin. But you were born into a world of sin. There is sin all around us. I have sinned and will sin some more. You will see sin active in and around you each and every day. You will experience sin yourself. Kaiya, you will sin, yourself. You will see prejudice in this world. You will see hatred. You will see death and destruction all around. You will commit many sins yourself, just as I have. You see we all sin and fail and need a Savior. In this is the beauty of the day of your baptism.

Kaiya, you were baptized at the Easter Vigil. That time in between Jesus in the tomb and Jesus resurrected. Jesus died on that cross because of my sin and your sin. Jesus became our sin on that cross. The Father abandoned the Son due to our sin. Now he lay in a tomb. Jesus died in our sin. But something wonderful is taking place. In His death, God brings Life. Jesus is soon to rise from the dead.

Kaiya, in your baptism was water. In your baptism were water and a promise and the Word. Water that drowned your sin. In that water you died along with Jesus. You died even as an infant. In that water was a promise also. Both present, God promised eternal life. Along with the water and the promise was God’s Word. God’s Word made alive in your new life. Now as you grow, and God walks with you, He will bring you to believe. God will fill you with faith. Will you believe? Will you turn away? This will be your choice in years to come. But for now God will walk with you from death to life in Him. Follow Him in this walk. Follow Him even through the evil’s you will witness in this world. Follow Him through the pain you will experience. Follow Him in all the joy you will gain. Follow Him in all the blessings He will grant.

Kaiya, on this Easter Vigil Baptism, Jesus shows you the way from death to life. Follow Him and love Him and never turn from His side. What a special day chosen for your baptism. What a special time for my special granddaughter. What a special life you give to all of us on this special day.

Always know that your Grandpa loves you. Always know that on this baptismal day that you are a Child of God and a unique creation. Let His Light shine brightly all your life long. Follow the Light. Follow Jesus.

Kaiya, always rejoice in the day your were baptized. Each and every morning, remember your baptism and walk that miracle of death to life with Jesus. Everyday of your life.

Love,

Grandpa Lynch