Pastor’s Column

October 16, 2025

 My dear church family,

What fun it was to have the “Blessing of the Animals” last Sunday. Did you notice that Sansa Zaches was wearing a pink outfit, and Ollie Mueller was wearing a bowtie that matched the shirts of Max and Chester? Many thanks to Armand who prepared the slides of our “pets at home” so we could bless them remotely!

We will have a very special worship event this Sunday. Walden George Kightlinger, son of Allison and Weston, will be baptized! 

Within the reformed church, of which the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a part, two sacraments are celebrated: The Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Each of these was instituted by Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. 

The Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, is celebrated regularly. During Communion we join with other believers to remember the grace with which God forgives our sins through Jesus Christ. The narrative in Matthew 26 is the basis for our practice of communion.

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said,

“Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:26-28

Baptism is the sacrament which is performed only once in a person’s life. It was instituted in the scriptures as part of what we refer to as the “Great Commission,” given by Jesus to his disciples:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

Matthew 28:19

Baptism is the visible sign and seal of God’s invisible grace offered to each person. In infant baptism, we are acknowledging that God is reaching out to each one of us even before we can articulate faith on our own. 

Jesus continued,

20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

This Sunday, Weston and Allison will be professing faith in Christ on behalf of Walden. You, the congregation, will be formally welcoming Walden into the family of God. You will also pledge to guide and nurture him in faith in Christ and support him with your love and prayer. It is a solemn and beautiful opportunity to bless this child. Jesus, acknowledging the awesome responsibility of what he was asking of the disciples, went on to say,

 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

What wonderful opportunities we have as we worship God, and what joy God gives us when we are in community with one another!

PS I would love to have snapshots of events at our worship services. Please feel free to take photos with your cell phone, then text them to me. You may see them in the newsletter the following week!

Savoring God’s grace,

Pastor Cindy