By Katie Murray
Do you ever say a word so much that it starts to sound a little strange to your ears? This phenomenon, called semantic satiation, occurs because the repetition causes your brain to focus on the sound of the word and, in that process, loses the meaning of the word altogether.
Many repeated patterns within our lives, including those related to our journeys of faith, can fall into a similar trap of losing their meaning. Rituals or routines that once held significance can turn on autopilot or fall away completely.
We can all benefit from a reminder from time to time about the deeper meanings behind why we do the things we do, and today we have two such opportunities as we witness Cameron’s baptism and celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
In Cameron’s baptism we are reminded of the promise this congregation made to the Wilson family and to every family during their family dedications, a promise to help them raise their children in a loving community so they can come to know the voice of God for themselves. We celebrate Cameron making this important step in his faith journey today and are reminded of the meaning behind being community for one another. Through volunteering as Sunday school teachers or joining choir, serving as a greeter or coming to share a meal on a Wednesday evening we are creating the community we have promised to be for one another. Thanks be!
Our opening hymn this morning, “Worthy of Worship,” evokes the majesty and awe of God. The final stanza reminds us exactly who we are here to worship: the “Almighty Father, Master and Lord, King of all kings and Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend, Savior and Source of our life without end.”
In the Lord’s Supper we encounter the most remarkable part of our faith. That same God, the one we name Master, King and Almighty, thinks we are worthy too. So worthy that God chose incarnation to live among us and take on both the beauty and pain of this world. In the taking of the bread and cup may we be reminded to see each other and ourselves as God sees us, worthy of love.