In a few minutes I will go into the St. Paul's sanctuary and sit with my wife, Ruth. It is the Sunday School service and the only responsibility I have is to baptize a seven-year-old boy who found out that he hadn't been baptised and asked for this sacrament.
The first six months of 2007 has seen a "run" on baptisms in our congregation. This is the fifteenth, the most I have ever done in half a year. Last year we went through a similar period with none, although there are always a fair number here because of the profile of our church family. This year we have baptized infants and older children and adults. Since I came to St. Paul's I have baptized at least six adults, maybe more. For me it is such a positve statement to the congregation as a whole. We all come to Christ in various ways through a lifetime, some quiet and internal, others public and declarative. Some happen before we can understand the meaning and others as a conscious choice of faith.
We need that interior experience and that public profession. I look forward to today's "holy moment."
The child who was Baptized relies heavily on his church family for support and encouragement. Through Baptism the church family proclaimed their support and witnessed the sacrament. A holy moment it was.
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