January 25, 2015
Children born today are not limited to their physical environments or restricted to their particular tribe. I hear that people growing up in San Francisco Chinatown were limited to where they could live, assigned to attend certain schools and permitted to playing only within the defined streets of Chinatown. In the past, we were able to say from whence we are from—“I’m from Boston. You’re from San Francisco.” But today, with the convenience of travel, the availability of communication and particularly, Face Time and Skype, we can almost live anywhere and still stay connected with our family and friends. Children born today are members of the global village more than ever before.
Matteo is one of these children born today. His parents hope that he will grow up to be bilingual and multicultural with an appreciation for his diverse and rich heritage. If Matteo’s Gung Gung and Pau Pau have a say, Matteo will be trilingual: English, Italian and Chinese! Karina and Roby are already seeing Matteo enjoying exploring his environment like Marco Polo. He’s starting to walk and we know that there’s no going back. He loves busses because they are big enough to carry his whole family to go with him to explore the world where no Wong or Moggia has gone before! And when he leads you on this expedition, Matteo will find good noodle places to eat, animals like dogs and lambs to pet, and all of you will be clapping your hands as his grandparents have already taught him—“pok pok sau.”
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said to the disciples to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them and reminded the disciples that he is with them to the end of time. Jesus then gave the disciples the authority to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In so many words, Jesus appointed his disciples to explore the ends of the earth.
Karina and Roby hope that Matteo will grow up to become a kind, generous and thoughtful explorer of the world. They want him to pursue his goals and dreams and to know that whatever he sets his mind and heart to, that God will use him to become a blessing to the whole world. Children born today are like no other in the past. Matteo will need a global village; people in Italy and people in the United States, Italians and Asian Americans, his parents, his grandparents from both countries, and all of you in this congregation to help raise him up as a citizen of the world.
I might say, “I’m from Boston.” You might say, I’m from San Francisco.” But perhaps we may have the hope that when Matteo grows up and he and his generation may bring about more peace, reconciliation and understanding in the world that he may one day say, “I’m a citizen of this earth where there is peace.”
Ritual
To the Parents:
In presenting Matteo Lew Moggia to God, do you promise that through the grace given you and in partnership with this church, you will teach him the truths and responsibilities of the Christian faith, and seek to lead him into a living relationship with Jesus Christ?
Parents: We will.
To the Congregation:
Do you, the loving church family of this child and members and friends of this church, accept the responsibility, together with the parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, to teach this child that he may be brought to full maturity in Jesus Christ? If so, will you signify your acceptance by saying, “We will.”
Congregation: We will.
Don holds Matteo, “God bless you and keep you. God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. God look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.”
Presentation of Certificates and Roses
This certificate will remind you of the commitments you made here today. This rose, a universal symbol of beauty and God’s wondrous creation represents your child made in the image of God himself.
Closing Prayer
Dear God, even as Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to your house that he might be consecrated to your service, so these parents have brought this little one to this house of worship, that among your people they might present him to you. Give to these parents your special graces of insight and love that under their guidance, Matteo Lew Moggia may grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with you and all people. Grant that we your people may truly be a household of faith to this child, providing him with food for the spirit to nourish him through the years of growth and maturity. With gratitude for this child we dedicate him, his parents, and ourselves, to the end that his life may be a blessing to you and a service to humanity. Amen.