"Celebrating Belovedness" (Baptism of Miles Robert King)
Matthew 3:13-17
Yonce Shelton, Westmoreland UCC
September 21, 2025

In a few minutes, all of us get to be part of the baptism of Miles Robert King, son of Sam and Lesley, and grandson of Jeff and Becky, and Mark & Jennifer. This is a time for celebration.

When I spoke with Lesley and Sam about this service, they shared that they just wanted it to be a small part of the usual effort to give Westmorelanders a meaningful service. Like an add-on to how we do things each week. But we can’t casually do a baptism, when baptism is so much about community and God’s expansive love for all of us.

While talking to Sam and Lesley, I quickly learned that they understand that. Maybe they were playing the humility and respect game, but they know this is more than just a few words for Miles alone. Now maybe – just maybe – their angle was to avoid attention because they don’t live around here and don’t get to Westmoreland much. Well guess what, friends. It didn’t work. Both of you are too in touch with what a community of faith is about for this not to be about the broader community.

As many of you may know, Lesley was confirmed at Westmoreland and is grateful for her formative experiences here as a young person. Sam grew up close by in Laurel and attended church each week. He especially enjoyed coaching/mentoring younger boys, which made him feel like a cool uncle. Now, with Miles in their lives, they have been reflecting about what a huge source of strength religious community was. They have been thinking about what core principles they hope to instill in Miles: kindness, generosity, a sense of community with people around him. They want Miles to seek that out, and for it to become part of his nature.

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Today is very important for all of us. It's an opportunity to remember and celebrate what God does with baptism, and how we are all part of that. And it's a time to celebrate surprises and how God works in the world.

In today’s reading, John resists baptising Jesus and says: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John was surprised. Surely this is not how God works. How could John be expected to do something this important?

What a great reminder that we can’t fully understand how God works. What a great reminder that baptism is more and different than what we may think. This is a great invitation to stop doing spiritual math; to put yourself in a different “place;” to experience the next few minutes anew. The invitation, in some sense, is to be like Miles. Don’t overthink. Forget the rules. Just feel the water. Let it do what it will do. And be reminded of God’s love for Miles – and you.

Back to the later part of the Gospel: “[J]ust as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Beloved. What does that mean? It will be a while before Miles gets to wrestle with that question. But maybe – maybe because of that – he is wide open to experiencing this moment of mystery. I mean, he has done nothing to earn God’s love – aside from maybe adapting a decent sleep schedule. But you don’t get off the hook that easily. It's important that you think about what that means for your relationship with God. It's important because any one of you could be the first person Miles comes to with a big question about baptism and being the Beloved. So think about what it means to live like you believe it.

For us to be the Beloved – just as Jesus was – is another example of God flipping the script. Another reason for us to celebrate mystery and surprise. In a few minutes, Miles will receive God’s love in a powerful way. He did nothing to make this happen. You, too, are recipients of God’s love. You, too, did nothing to earn God’s love. But some of you did get to choose to be baptized. You thanked God and said yes.

Can Miles be truly beloved, even if Sam and Lesley have to bribe him to eat his veggies, do his homework, or clean his room? Can you accept in your very being – not just in this service with fancy words – that you don’t have to be perfect and have it all figured out for you to be the beloved? That might take some God moments. Some reconsideration and reorientation. Maybe like John.

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The definition of beloved and loved differ in a key way. Love has to do with “affection” and being “cherished.” Beloved has to do with the “heart.” This day, this baptism, is about heart and experience.

Recent baptisms at Westmoreland have been for an adult and teenage confirmands. This is the first infant baptism in a while. What I want you younger folks to know is that God created Miles and loves Miles for who he is, not anything he has done. And no matter what he does throughout life, God will keep loving him. Today, since Miles can’t talk or decide to be baptized, his parents have decided that that is important and they want him to be baptized. It's their way of saying: Thanks God! We promise to help Miles remember this day, how much you love him, and the ways he can be better friends with you and others. We are saying yes to you!

For the older crowd, I hope you can learn from Miles. As opposed to an adult, he comes with less cognition. He comes open to experience. He may validate that boldly when the water hits his head. Hopefully, Lesley and Sam, you can let go and experience too. Same for the rest of the family. Despite anything else, Miles is beloved. So are you. And so are all of you. We celebrate that today, together. In some way, we are those people at the Jordan – that community – who witnessed something special and amazing, regardless of if they fully understood it.

This is a beginning. When the spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, it equipped him for ministry. Miles is being equipped. He, Sam, Lesley, and others will learn what that means in coming years. Perhaps how you were equipped in your own baptism or journey will help him.

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Miles, my friend, lots of pressure. First grandkid on one side. Your baptism being talked about with Jesus’. I’m glad you can’t think about this now. I hope something stirs in you when Sid dunks you. Oh wait, sorry, we don’t do that! Despite only getting sprinkled, maybe you – and we – will still feel the definition and essence of baptism: to “immerse or overwhelm.”

Amen.