June 8, 2025
I love baptisms! Today, we are doing two of them.
We will welcome John Francis (Jack) Alexander and Onóra Ciera Rose Hart into the Christian community, the Body of Christ. Whether they are laughing or crying, it is a joy to pour water over their foreheads and seal them with chrism as Christ’s own. I hope you can join us as we pledge to support these two in their faith journeys.
Every baptism also provides us with an opportunity to renew our own baptismal vows. Most of us were baptized as infants and have no recollection of what it was like to commit to the many promises made in our names. For those who were baptized during the use of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, these were some of the promises made by your godparents in your name:
Dost thou, therefore, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?
Wilt thou then obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?
Having now, in the name of this Child, made these promises, wilt thou also on they part take heed that this Child learn the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his souls’ health?
Baptism was understood to be a “heavenly washing” where you received remission of sin by spiritual regeneration. I know, most of you are going “what?” Much of the 1928 service was directed at sin and sinful affections. Our current baptismal service seems much more community- and social justice oriented:
“Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?”
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”
I encourage you to ponder the words we affirm on Sunday as God’s beloved children during the Baptism.
On another note …
Tomorrow we will begin our removal of the clerestory stained glass windows and start the process of installing new window frames, insulated glass. The actual window will be taken to the stained glass studio for cleaning and repairs and re-installed at a later date. The total cost of this endeavor is $285,000 of which $200,000 has been gifted to us. What an incredible gift! As you know this building is a never-ending surprise of repairs.
Please remember that Theresa Milne works Monday thru Thursday. I have reminded her and you that emails sent to her during evenings and weekends will not be answered until the following work day. Same for Sundays – she is a member of our congregation and not working.
Blessings to you and yours,
Karen+