Lake Service Reflection

What an amazing lake service we had last Sunday! If you weren’t there, it was a beautiful, sunny day, perfect temperature, and not too buggy with a breathtaking backdrop. The Children’s Choir welcomed us with “I’ve got Peace like a River” and they all sang beautifully and acted out each part, and later they also helped with the offertory hymn. Matt did a wonderful job with his magical guitar stylings with the Children’s Choir and with all of the music. There were so many people there and a few I didn’t recognize. What a great way to welcome people to our parish and let them see what a community we have.

I don’t get the opportunity to be a parishioner very often and to be able to listen and participate in the lake service was a breath of fresh air in a beautiful setting. I found myself just looking out at the water and being thankful. After the service, I had a lovely conversation with a parishioner about reflecting on how calming water is and just to be able to sit and admire it and be rejuvenated by it. I immediately connected with her because I have always felt that way my whole life and had most definitely felt the same thing during the service. Water, even just to see it, brings life.

For those who don’t know me or know me well, I grew up in eastern NC in a small town, New Bern, at the corner of two converging rivers, the Trent and Neuse. It is only forty minutes from Atlantic Beach. Consequently, there are not many memories of mine that are not on or near the water. I remember skiing or going on a boat ride after school with friends, learning to fish, hanging out on a friend’s dock reflecting, and one of my favorite things, having a meal on the water, just as we did at the lake service. We went to the beach every summer and I went to Camp Trinity, where my kids have gone, and one is even working there now. Water has always been in my blood, and it is so meaningful to me. What a blessing to know that it is symbolic in our faith too.

The Bible mentions and gives reference to water many times. I think the one that speaks to me most is Baptism, a spiritual rebirth. It cleanses us and gives a renewed sense of life. In John 13:5, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and again in John 4:14, living water becomes a wellspring of eternal life. Let us all be renewed with water and revel in all that it offers us just to sit and experience it.