July/August Newsletter

From Pastor Amy’s Desk

Dear White Oak Families,

As we move through this summer season, I find myself reflecting on the sacred milestones that shape our journey of faith. One memory in particular rises to the surface; my baptism as a child. I was eight years old, just a kid, maybe not fully understanding all the meaning behind it, but I knew it was special. I remember what I was wearing to church that day, as I sat on the wooden pew, waiting for the pastor to call me to the front, as we had talked during the week for the preparation of my baptism. I remember the water; I remember the white gown I wore into the water of the Baptistery. I remember the gentle hands of my pastor, who happened to be my maternal grandfather, and the church family gathered around me. I also remember the song they sang that day:

“Buried with Christ, my blessed Redeemer, dead to the old life of folly and sin……. Living a new obedient but free. Dead to the joys that was enthralled me, yet tis not I, Christ liveth in me.”

That old hymn has stuck with me over the years. Maybe it’s because even as a child, I sensed something sacred was happening. That moment planted something deep in me, a seed of faith that would keep growing.

Now, as a United Methodist pastor, I see baptism a bit differently. It’s more than a moment. It’s more than a ceremony. It’s the beginning of a journey with Jesus. It’s God’s way of saying, “You are mine. You are loved. You are never alone.” Whether we’re baptized as babies or older children or adults, it marks us forever as part of God’s big family. Your baptism is a declaration: You belong to God. You have been claimed by grace. And you are sent to live in the light of resurrection.

Our United Methodist tradition teaches that baptism is not merely a ritual, it is a sign of God’s grace, a visible word of an invisible truth. In baptism, we are marked as God’s beloved, joined to the Body of Christ, and invited to live in the power of resurrection life.

Paul writes in Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.” That new life is not always easy, but it is always possible, because Christ lives in us.

The song from my baptism still sings in my heart, reminding me that baptism is all about new life. Just like Jesus rose from the grave, we rise from the waters ready to live a new kind of life; one filled with love, forgiveness, and hope. Baptism is not a one-time event to be tucked away in a photo album; it is a calling. Each day, we are invited to remember our baptism and be thankful. We are called to “die daily” to sin and rise daily in Christ, to live as those who are “Living Ready”; ready to serve, to forgive, to bear witness to the hope within us.

This summer, as your family enjoys time together, picnics, road trips, and pool days. I invite you to take a moment to talk about baptism. If your children have been baptized, share stories about that day. If they haven’t, let’s talk. I’d love to walk with your family toward that beautiful step of faith.

And whether you’re 8 or 88, remember this: You are a beloved child of God. You were made for more. You’ve been given new life, and we are called to live it boldly and faithfully. Let’s keep Living Ready! Ready to love, ready to serve, ready to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

With heartfelt gratitude and love,

Pastor Amy

 If you would like to listen to the song, “Buried with Christ” that I have referenced above, enjoy this link.

Buried With Christ - Song

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