Meet Nolan. Nolan’s father grew up in the congregation I serve and Nolan’s father and
mother were married here. They don’t live in town anymore, but one of Nolan’s
sets of grandparents is still here, and his parents have a lot of friends here
as well. In fact, Nolan was back a few weeks ago when his parents were
baptismal sponsors for a little girl named Brynley. Nolan’s parents know
Brynley’s parents very well, and they were a good choice for being godparents.
So, Nolan
came with his parents to the baptism and I noticed that he was carrying around
a well-used white “blankey”. It was a little gray rather than white and there
were a few strings hanging out. These are the marks of a well-loved blankey
that brings comfort and security to a small child. Parents, in general,
appreciate these kinds of comforting objects as much (or sometimes even more)
than children do. His parents let me know that this was the baptismal prayer
shawl that Nolan had received when we was baptized a couple of years ago right
here at Bethlehem. It was a companion for him and, as you can see from the
picture, he takes great delight in it.
It is
wonderful that this gift will always be identified by parents and grandparents
for him as his baptismal prayer shawl. It is great to have him associate this
gift with the gift of the Holy Spirit and God’s call to him to be God’s beloved
child. It will help him figure out that baptism is a really good thing.
Our congregation’s theme this year has been
“Home is Church, too”. By that, we mean that God and church are not restricted
to the congregation. Our homes are places where God works mightily to form our
faith and bring us grace and truth. I am so pleased that Nolan’s folks didn’t
store the baptismal shawl away. I’m glad that they offered him this symbol of
God’s presence in his life as his every-day blanket. In ways that Nolan can
receive it, they have let him live in God’s promises of baptism. They have
affirmed that their home is church, too.
