Baptism of Anthony Ambrose Burnette and Mae Byrd Moore

Lectionary Readings

Jeremiah 32:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:35-43

Tithe Poem

One Hand

upon the baptisms of M.B.M and A.A.B

i | Jeremiah 23; Psalm 46
One hand upholds the world and all that is in it.
One hand clasps close the desperate, groaning globe.
One hand overshadows with authority steadfast.
Thanks be to God, we find refuge in his hand.

We’ve hidden and will hide in the shadows
of crooked shepherds crumbling under the weight
of being human. The best of them will fall.
Be still. One will not yield. Now and always
Under one hand, one shepherd, we are held fast.

ii | Colossians 1
Lay bear all heaven and earth to find
one cosmic king, the founding factor
with every right to crush a faithless creation
that reviles their very maker and source of breath.
He doesn’t. He won’t. His mercy renews every sun
if we would but be gathered in his grasp
as a mother hen gathers her chicks at dusk.

iii | Luke 23
Love suffers. More than mere blood
poured out from this one God
made low on our behalf.
How costly is this grace?
Gow painful is true love?
Gow close his hand has come to shatter the dark,
to hold forth true light—with such a light among us,
how dare we love the dark? May it cease to be so.
May true paradise come near.
By gift again renew us, O High King;
by water, bread, and wine make us thine own.
Take up your rightful reign
in this feeble and faltering heart
that longs to be ruled for good.

iv | Repent and Be Baptized
We enter waters beckoning a death,
but not one we should mourn; this death is life
if it be under the one hand, one God, one King.
All other hands will falter. His holds us fast.