Sermon: "Covenants in Our Lives: Baptism and St. Alban's"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Today is the First Sunday after the Epiphany … also known as the Baptism of Our Lord. Having baptized my first grandchild several weeks ago - and, anticipating the baptism of my second grandchild several weeks hence - I have a great deal to say on the subject of baptism! In fact, I have stories to tell that could keep us here for quite a while!

Of course, today also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of St. Alban's Church. There is much to be thankful for on an occasion such as this, as the parish family gathers to remember and to celebrate. And, once again, I suspect there could be stories told about St. Alban's that would keep us here for the rest of the day.

However, given the circumstances of our presence here today - remembering the baptism of our Lord and celebrating the mission and ministry of St. Alban's - given those circumstances, I want to suggest that we do something other than tell stories today. That is, a certain perspective on these circumstances might be helpful - and that perspective is the biblical concept of covenant. A covenant is an agreement and an understanding among people.

It is a covenant that undergirds the action of baptism. In fact, not only do we remember Jesus' baptism today, but we also have the honor ourselves of participating in a baptism during this service. In addition, along with the candidates for baptism and confirmation, all of us will have the opportunity to renew our own Baptismal Covenant … the agreement and understanding that we have with God Almighty.

Covenants also played significant parts in the history of St. Alban's Church through the past twenty five years. The agreement and understanding between St. Alban's and the Diocese marked an official beginning of your history. However, before that time, a group of people committed to one another and to God in such a way that the future of this parish became possible. Through the years, additional covenants have been made -with each other and with God - in order that this community of faith would continue to be responsive to the call of Jesus Christ in this part of God's Kingdom.

I have been blessed as bishop to see the fruits of some covenants here at St. Alban's, as you recently constructed additional educational and administrative spaces and as you also created a setting for outreach ministry as well. Fundamental to such efforts are the covenants that serve as their foundations.

I encourage you today to consider the covenants of your life, for such covenants frame the meaning for your life. Familiar covenants include marriage and other relationships - formal and informal ones. Also, think of the church. What is the covenant you have with St. Alban's … and with the Episcopal Church? What is your agreement, your understanding, within such relationships? How about this country? What is your covenant with the United States? What covenant do you have with fellow citizens of our world-wide community? Particularly in light of the destruction in Southeast Asia, is there some understanding and commitment implied by that association? Then there is the personal relationship you have with God. What is your covenant with God? I suggest to you that the Baptismal Covenant that we will renew in a few minutes lies at the heart of that agreement.

These covenants provide keys to open the doors of meaning in our lives - whether we think about them or not; whether we acknowledge them or not; whether they are even parts of our consciousness or not.

In a very real way, the sum of our covenants in life define who we are … or, what we do … or - perhaps most accurately - what we value. Do not make covenants lightly. They identify our agreements - our understandings - with the people, the institutions, and the realities with which our life experience is engaged. Covenants set the boundaries of our lives, and they provide meaning to life itself.

On occasions such as this one today, it seems especially appropriate to remember and to give thanks for the covenants of our lives. Therefore, with care and prayer, rejoice today, and renew the covenants that give meaning, that offer joy, and that provide life in the midst of this wonderful but imperfect world that we call home. Amen.

Copyright © 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee