Picture the Bible Reflection for May 28, 2021
This week’s focus is The Baptism of Jesus. We’re reading the story in Matthew 3:1-17 and you can access it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203&version=NIV
Baptism can be described as the sacrament of belonging. We baptize people into the fellowship of the wider Christian community. In our faith, most are small children, often infants, and are brought to the font for baptism. I dip my fingers in the blessed water and baptize them, with a little water on their forehead, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. It’s a time where we present the person being baptized with a candle as a reminder that God’s light shines in the world and within them. For children, it’s a welcome into the faith. For adults, it can be something bigger than that – a welcome into our faith and a deeper connection with God and who we are.
I was baptized as an adult in a Presbyterian Church in Strathroy. I did not grow up in the church but had been exposed to church mostly through friends. When I chose to change the direction of my life, I talked to the minister there over a little bit of time. I was baptized in front of the church on a Sunday morning and never look back. My baptism marked a milestone in my life and my path. It wasn’t about changing all of who I was, but choosing to see the good, to see the light, to choose the light, and to share the good and the light in the world. Before, I focused on the negative and felt the world was against me. Within my baptism, I chose a different perspective, and it truly has changed my life for the better.
During COVID, we’ve only had one baptism within our church family and were blessed to have done so in the backyard of the family within safe COVID parameters. We do our best to make the service and baptism most meaningful to the family. If you have any questions about baptism or wish to be baptized, please be in touch.
One of my favourite baptism hymns is: “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”. https://youtu.be/98iT_yxfXSU
My prayer for us today:
O Holy God, thank you for the sacrament of baptism and what it means for each of us and for our Christian faith as a community. Help us to remember that water is a precious resource for the world and that it can hold special meaning for us if we choose to make it so in each moment of our lives. Help us to remember that your light shines in this world even in the darkest days and moments of life and that we can share our light within it. May we always choose to do what it right and choose to see the good and the possibilities in our world. Be with us in hope and love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This week’s focus is The Baptism of Jesus. We’re reading the story in Matthew 3:1-17 and you can access it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203&version=NIV
Baptism can be described as the sacrament of belonging. We baptize people into the fellowship of the wider Christian community. In our faith, most are small children, often infants, and are brought to the font for baptism. I dip my fingers in the blessed water and baptize them, with a little water on their forehead, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. It’s a time where we present the person being baptized with a candle as a reminder that God’s light shines in the world and within them. For children, it’s a welcome into the faith. For adults, it can be something bigger than that – a welcome into our faith and a deeper connection with God and who we are.
I was baptized as an adult in a Presbyterian Church in Strathroy. I did not grow up in the church but had been exposed to church mostly through friends. When I chose to change the direction of my life, I talked to the minister there over a little bit of time. I was baptized in front of the church on a Sunday morning and never look back. My baptism marked a milestone in my life and my path. It wasn’t about changing all of who I was, but choosing to see the good, to see the light, to choose the light, and to share the good and the light in the world. Before, I focused on the negative and felt the world was against me. Within my baptism, I chose a different perspective, and it truly has changed my life for the better.
During COVID, we’ve only had one baptism within our church family and were blessed to have done so in the backyard of the family within safe COVID parameters. We do our best to make the service and baptism most meaningful to the family. If you have any questions about baptism or wish to be baptized, please be in touch.
One of my favourite baptism hymns is: “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”. https://youtu.be/98iT_yxfXSU
My prayer for us today:
O Holy God, thank you for the sacrament of baptism and what it means for each of us and for our Christian faith as a community. Help us to remember that water is a precious resource for the world and that it can hold special meaning for us if we choose to make it so in each moment of our lives. Help us to remember that your light shines in this world even in the darkest days and moments of life and that we can share our light within it. May we always choose to do what it right and choose to see the good and the possibilities in our world. Be with us in hope and love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.