Watching In Wonder

Holy Week tends to be a bit of a marathon in churchland - we have services everyday, and the physical and emotional toll does not go unnoticed. I'm so very blessed to have friends looking after me in the midst of the busy-ness - from gifts of food to words of encouragement to the ultimate in care - a friend visiting to help with the everyday (from walking dogs to laundry). Yup, I'm well looked after.
This Triduum was an extra special one for me: it's my first in a new community, and God decided to bless us all with ABUNDANCE of opportunity. For the Easter Vigil, we were approached by several families about baptism - so there were 6 young folks who received the sacrament of new birth.
6. Six. Alleluia!
With this gift, and knowing that we would have a lot of guests who may not be familiar with the traditionally long(er) format of the Vigil itself, we made a few adaptations: we abridged the Vigil readings, we had a shorter sermon, we sang shorter hymns, we started at a more child-friendly hour.
And we watched; and we wondered. And God blessed us, richly: little eyes were transfixed on the cross, little hands touched the holy water, little noses sniffed the scented chrism. Parents, godparents, grandparents - full of praise and prayer and bliss.
We watched God active in our midst, and we wondered how God's glory will be made known through these gorgeous little ones; and we reflected how we might better live our ministry to better glorify God.
We watched 6 beautiful souls receive the gift of baptism; yet we all received the gift of new life as we were engulfed in blessing. What a truly Easter moment! Alleluia!