The Joy of Baptism

On Sunday December 12th – the feast of the Baptism of the Lord – those who gathered at St. John’s at 10.00am were reminded of their baptism, and renewed their baptismal vows (which included a little sprinkling with water!) 

The congregation also did something that they had never done before – the formal welcoming of an inquirer for baptism, using a liturgy from Making Disciples (https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/Making-Disciples.pdf). 

At the beginning of the service, Stacey Spencer was presented by one of her sponsors (Edie Hildreth) and made her intentions to be baptized known. The liturgy was beautiful and powerful, including promises by the congregation to pray for and walk with Stacey on her journey to baptism, as well as a blessing and signing of Stacey by her sponsor. Perhaps the most moving part of this welcoming were the words written, prayed over, and prepared by Stacey herself – responses to two questions asked of her (printed with permission): 

Question: 

What do you seek? 

Response: 

To be baptized and received publicly into the flock of Christian people.

For my heart to be attuned to God, for my heart to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so that I may serve God in all my works .

Question: 

What do you ask of this community?

To show me the light of Christ, to share with me how God works in your lives and to show me who Jesus is by showing love, care and compassion. And I ask of you to pray for me to trust in God.

Thanks be to God that there are those who continue to be called to the waters of baptism – to the way of Jesus.

Please pray for Stacey as she prepares for her baptism, scheduled for All Saint’s Day 2020 (November 1st).