Our Family April 14th, 2024
God of grace and glory,
You call us with your voice of flame to be your people, faithful and courageous. As your beloved Son embraced his mission in the waters of baptism, inspire us with the fire of your Spirit to join in his transforming work. We ask this in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
Today is a very special day in the life of our church family for we are going to celebrate the sacrament of baptism as Seanna Ehler and Raymond Samson are welcomed into the faith as part of God’s family.
So, I guess you could say we’re doubly blessed, and I do mean blessed. By the work of the Holy Spirit, their parents, Serena, and Steven and Julie have made the commitment of bringing their children into the household of God and into a closer relationship with him.
Let’s have a closer look at how baptism draws us closer to our Heavenly Father. Baptism is a gift from God. There is nothing we can do to earn, deserve, or work to earn baptism. It is first of all a sign that God, in Christ, has done all that is necessary to redeem us. Yes, baptism is about promise — the promise of God’s love and grace, God’s protection and provision, and of the comfort of God’s community. We are children of the New Covenant which Jesus made with all of mankind.
God in Christ gave water as the sign or symbol of baptism. Water is a sign of birth, life, cleansing, refreshment. It binds all the people of the earth together in common need. It is the sign of God's new creation. Baptism signifies the washing away of our old lives and the welcoming of reborn lives into the Christian community.
Water, as the primary element used in baptism, represents purification and renewal. Just as water cleanses the body, so does baptism cleanse the soul. It is a sacrament that embodies hope and redemption, offering a fresh start and a new identity as a child of God. It highlights the belief that God's grace is freely given, not earned, and that it is available even to the youngest among us.
For children, baptism holds a special place as it marks the beginning of their spiritual journey. It is a commitment made by the parents and godparents on behalf of the child to raise them in the faith, to guide them towards a life that reflects Christian values and teachings.
And why do we have our children baptised? This is how Living Faith, which is a booklet containing a summary of our Christian beliefs, published by the Presbyterian Church in Canada, defines baptism, “Baptism is a sign and seal of our union with Christ and with his church. Through it we share in the death and resurrection of Christ and are commissioned to his service. In Baptism, water is administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The water signifies the washing away of sin, the start of new life in Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. God’s grace and our response to it are not tied to the moment of Baptism but continue and deepen throughout life. It is a sacrament meant for those who profess their faith and for their children. Together we are the family of God.”
Baptism serves as a reminder of the grace which we received from Jesus. Our salvation is not dependent on anything we do, but solely on the grace bestowed on us by our Lord and Saviour, for, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So, the parents have their child baptised because they believe in Jesus and want to raise their child to believe in Jesus. They believe that Jesus is who he says he is – God’s Son. They believe the things that Jesus said and did as they are written in the Bible. And, as a result of this belief, they want to know Jesus more and they also want their child to know him. They want their child to know how special God has made them and how much he loves them. The Apostle Mark said, “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16) Of course, a baby can’t believe when they are so young, so the parents believe on the child’s behalf, and they promise to help their child to know God so that when the child is older, they’ll come to believe, as well.
Parents, in caring for their children, are mediators of God's love and discipline. They are called to raise their children within the covenant community, to be faithful to vows taken at baptism, to nurture them in the faith by teaching and example.
Baptism is also a sign and seal of entering the community of Christ, the community bought with Jesus' blood and given life by his Holy Spirit. In baptism we are grafted into a family—the church, the body of Christ, “the communion of saints.” We have a whole body around and about us, our brothers and sisters, the baptized. They belong to us as we to them. They are called to witness to the promise that we are one with each other even when life divides. As followers of Jesus, we are to reach out and nurture each other in love and faith which leads to eternal life with God.
And that’s where we, as the congregation of fellow believers, come in. Yes, certainly we’re witnesses to the baptism, but it’s much more than that. Living Faith tells us, “Congregations and those baptised must strive to nurture life in Christ”. It’s a life-long commitment and a life-long journey that we’re on together. Baptism is the first step in the process of educating and nurturing a child as a disciple of Jesus Christ, something which involves all of us.
As well, let us always remember, God uses baptism to strengthen faith and increase our love for him. Baptism is the sign of sins forgiven and union with Christ. It falls on all of us to do all in our power to instruct children in the Christian faith and to lead them by our example to be Christ's disciples. Baptism is the beginning of our journey of faith, but it is also a seal of joy and confidence of being part of the family of God.
Heavenly Father, graciously watch over Seanna and Raymond with kindness and compassion. Bestow blessings upon Serena, Stephen and Julie, and all in our church family. Grant them the treasures of love, wisdom, and faith. Infuse their hearts with your Holy Spirit and illuminate their presence with your light, guiding them along your destined path. May God's peace be prevalent in their lives, his love surround them, his Spirit fortify them, and his joy sustain them. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, we offer this prayer. Amen.