As we find ourselves in the wake of yet another election, it’s worth remembering that this isn’t the first time we’ve been here. Some in our community may be frustrated or upset, others may be breathing a sigh of relief and feel elation. Part of the role of the church is to remember—to hold close not only what’s happening now but also the truth that God was with us yesterday, is with us today, and will be with us in every tomorrow. We serve a God who is here with us in the present, but who has been faithful through every season, walking with us even when the road feels uncertain or the weight of the moment feels heavy.

Our baptismal covenant connects us to this enduring faithfulness. It binds us to generations of people who, like us, have felt the weight of the moment and wondered, “Is it really as hard as it feels right now?” Yet time and again, our faith teaches us that God does not abandon us in the struggle. God walks with us, strengthening us, calling us to rise in hope, to stand firm in love, and to carry forward the mission of grace and justice.

Scripture is full of moments when God’s people faced what felt like impossible odds.

• In Exodus, the Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, cried out to God in desperation. For generations, they endured unimaginable suffering, yet God remained faithful. God heard their cries, raised up Moses, and led them through the Red Sea to freedom. They couldn’t see how it would end, but God was with them, calling them toward a future of promise.

• In the New Testament, the early church faced persecution, violence, and death under the Roman Empire. But these early followers of Christ continued to gather, to pray, to worship, and to care for the least of these. They believed in a love that transcended fear, a love stronger than death, that called them to courage, even at great personal cost.

And it’s not just in scripture; history is full of stories of people of faith rising up during times of trial:

• In the Civil Rights Movement, churches across the country became places of courage and resistance. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rooted their work in the belief that all people are created in the image of God, that justice and equality are God-given rights for all. They faced violence, imprisonment, and death, yet their faith in God’s love for all people inspired them to rise up and demand change.

• In times of war and suffering, like during World War II, people of faith in places like Nazi-occupied Europe sheltered the persecuted, sometimes risking their own lives to protect others. They believed in a higher call to love and justice, even when their governments demanded otherwise.

The common thread in all these stories of struggle is God’s presence—guiding, strengthening, and calling God’s people forward. Our baptismal covenant ties us to this legacy. Through these waters, we’re not only connected to Christ but to generations of believers who faced uncertain times and yet clung to God’s promises. This covenant calls us to live as they did, facing each moment with a commitment to justice, mercy, and love.

Today, in the wake of another election cycle, let us remember that we worship God who meets us where we are in this moment in time. Let’s acknowledge whatever emotions we’re feeling—whether gratitude, grief, hope, or fear—but let’s also root ourselves in the knowledge that God is faithful. Just as God was with those who came before us, God is here with us, calling us to live out our baptismal vows, to resist evil, injustice, and oppression wherever they appear.

I invite you to join us in worship this Sunday at 10am as we gather in that spirit of remembrance and hope. Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to carry forward God’s call to love, to serve, and to trust that even now, we are held by a God who is faithful. See you there.

Here is part of our Baptismal vows:

We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,

Reject the evil powers of this world,

And repent of our sin!

We accept the freedom and power God gives us. To resist evil, injustice, and oppression. In whatever forms they present themselves!