Our pastor shared a message about baptism today. It was a message he has been intending to give for three weeks now but the weather has not cooperated. So he ended up masterfully blending the three messages he planned to give over the last three Sundays and I gained a new insight! He also shared how we are all parts of one body, the body of Christ, and a celebration of gifts that each member of the body is given.

After Jesus was baptized in the company of many others who came to John the Baptist to be baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon him. This was the launching event of Jesus’s ministry. My new insight is that our baptism is not just about our new covenant with God. It is also about becoming connected to the body of believers that we call a church and our commitment to use our gifts and abilities in service to and with that church family.

As people, we so need to belong somewhere, to find “our people” and to find a way to make a difference in this world. God gave us the church to do both!! Maybe society’s exodus from the church has been the reason so many feel alone and aimless today. If you feel this way, I encourage you to find a body of believers with whom you can connect and serve with commitment. It will truly make all the difference in your life!