ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 12, 2008  

Women of the ELCA Told of God's 'Building Blocks'
08-114-JB

     SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- In a July 11 worship service at the
Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Seventh Triennial Gathering here, the Rev. Marysol Diaz,
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, focused her sermon on "Water, Spirit,
Word."
     The gathering theme, "Come to the Waters," focuses on the
celebration of Baptism through Bible study, speakers, workshops,
community service and worship.  The event is held through July 13
here at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
     Diaz is pastor of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Guaynabo, and is an adjunct faculty member at the Evangelical
Seminary in Puerto Rico, San Juan, where she teaches courses in
pastoral care, ministry with the elderly and Christian education.
     Diaz related a story about her nephew, who asked her and
others one evening at dinner, "Where does God come from?"  It was
a question she could not answer, Diaz said.
     But she said she could talk about what she knew from
Scripture, which says God created the earth and waters out of
nothingness, and that God spoke light into existence.
     "Water, spirit and word (are) the building blocks of
creation.  Water, spirit and word -- God's building blocks,"
Diaz said.
     God's building blocks are still present today, she said.
"God continues to redeem; God continues to re-create human
creation.  His Word, His Spirit, combined with the waters of
Baptism, create new life and new order and a new beginning,"
she said.
     Calling Baptism a "channel of God's grace," Diaz said people
find joy in Baptism.  "When the waters of grace are poured over
you in Baptism, you are given an identity, and we are sealed with
the cross of Christ.  We are baptized into the family of faith,"
she said.
     Presiding at the service was the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, Chicago. The service celebrated the Women of
the ELCA's "Thankoffering."  Funds collected support the entire
ministry of Women of the ELCA.
---
     Information about the Women of the ELCA Seventh Triennial
Gathering is at http://womenoftheELCA.org/tg08/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news