From Your Stewardship Team . . .
Five Gifts of Discipleship:
How We Live Our Baptismal Journey
"Baptism inaugurates a life of discipleship in the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism conforms us to the death and resurrection of Christ precisely so that we repent and receive forgiveness, love our neighbors, suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and witness to Christ."
("The Use of the Means of Grace", principle 14, page 20)
During the Epiphany Season of 2023, Atonement will focus on the Five Gifts of Discipleship. Each is gift freely received through baptism and can be lived out in different ways. This is a complement to our teaching about stewardship principles, practices and skills.
Martin Luther taught we are to daily renew our baptism. We rise and say, "I am baptized into Christ." Whether we are young or old, this daily renewal of baptism leads to a practicing of faith and deepening of discipleship. This emphasis will embrace our faith journey as we come from the baptismal waters to live a new life in Christ.
We are not alone in discerning how to follow Jesus. God sends the Holy Spirit to call, gather, and sustain us in God's grace, connecting us to brothers and sisters in Christ who also are living out their baptism