Sermon: "The Call of the Baptismal Covenant"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

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

I am once again grateful to the people of St. Timothy's for your warm welcome of me. It has become a tradition to begin my annual visitation schedule here - and, so, for that reason and for many others, this is a special Sunday for me each year.

In addition, I am grateful for your ministries exercised in this place and beyond. Indeed, I give thanks that you live your lives according to the Baptismal Covenant that we have with God.

That Baptismal Covenant we will renew in a few minutes, along with our confirmation candidates today. In the Baptismal Covenant, we state the faith that we share, and we affirm our intention to live a Christian life, following the example of our Lord.

In the midst of church challenges of our day, we can be tempted to divert our attention and energy away from what is basic to our faith. For that reason, as I travel about the diocese this year, I will uphold aspects of our ministry that focus on our mission as the Diocese of East Tennessee. That is, I intend to call special attention to those areas of mission and ministry that are consistent with our living the Baptismal Covenant.

During the year to come, we will emphasize several diocesan ministries in particular. First, the Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center provides a wonderful resource for Christian nurture and for spiritual formation, for all Episcopalians in East Tennessee. Secondly, the development of lay ministries focuses our attention precisely on living lives consistent with the call of our Baptismal Covenant. Finally, outreach ministries with the people of Appalachia and with the native Americans in South Dakota give us practical ways to respond to Christ's call to love our neighbors - as well as to "seek and serve Christ in all persons," to "strive for justice and peace among all people," and to "respect the dignity of every human being."

The last year may have been one of trial, of sadness, and of challenge for many Episcopalians - although not for all of us in East Tennessee. However, this year - with a concentration on the ministries I am suggesting - perhaps we can refocus our attention on the Baptismal Covenant. Let me suggest something else, too. If you take the first letters of those ministries - Grace Point, lay ministry development, Appalachia, and the Dakotas - then you may see that I am proposing a "glad" year for us in East Tennessee! On the one hand, I think we all need it. And, on the other hand, this will bring us in line with our Lord's call, as we live into our Baptismal Covenant. Therefore, may this indeed be a glad year for us!

Themes in today's prayers and readings are consistent what I am proposing. In the Collect for the day, we prayed, "O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts." We are praying, my friends, for God to direct us toward the fulfilling of the promises of the very Covenant with have with God.

The Old Testament reading from Exodus reminds us of God's early covenant with His people - the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This covenant was enriched during the time of Moses' leadership. And, that covenant was renewed by Jesus Christ himself. It is that same covenant that we have inherited by virtue of our baptism into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. That is our covenant with God … the covenant that we dare not break … the covenant that provides us the way to God Almighty, for it directs us to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, who is Jesus Christ.

Then, the Gospel reading makes clear the example of Jesus as he lives into the historic Covenant of our faith. As our example, Jesus loves all people, seeks and serves them, strives for justice and peace for all, and respects the dignity of every human being. In particular, in the Gospel today, Jesus receives tax collectors and sinners, and he tells stories about the shepherd seeking the lost sheep and the woman searching for the lost coin. Those who are lost are of great value in God's Kingdom - that is a primary principle in God's covenant with us.

In conclusion, then, please focus with me on several things. In a few moments, we will present candidates for Confirmation and Reception in this church. As a part of that presentation, we all will renew our Baptismal Covenant with God. And, as practical ways to follow that Covenant, we engage ourselves in mission and ministry as a diocese, as a congregation, and as individuals. In all that we say and do, may we never lose sight of who is in charge. And, therefore, may we always remember this petition in the collect today: "O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts …" Amen.

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee