Our Sacred Roots: The Priesthood of All Believers

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T he S eason after E piphany

Departing to Serve

Benediction O God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord has endowed the regenerating waters with the grace which hallows unto eternal salvation; and did yourself come on him by your Spirit, in the descent of the mysterious Dove on his head; grant, we ask you, that there may come on your whole church a blessing which may keep us all continually safe, may unceasingly bless all classes of your servants, may direct the course of those who follow you and open the door of the heavenly kingdom to all who are waiting to enter; through Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Gothic Missal, inWilliam Bright, Ancient Collects and Other Prayers: Selected for Devotional Use FromVarious Rituals . LaVergne, TN: Kessinger Publishing, 2009. p. 29-30. Affirmation for the Day Sunday: Jesus is the Beloved Son of the Father in heaven. Monday: Jesus’s baptism is the foundation of Christian baptism. Tuesday: The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, as he does on us.

Wednesday: Noah’s ark foreshadows baptism. Thursday: The Exodus foreshadows baptism.

Friday: The anointing of priests and kings foreshadows baptism. Saturday: In baptism, we are the Father’s beloved children, and he is pleased with us.