Remembering our Baptism

Church, this Sunday is baptism of the Lord Sunday, the day that we remember when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan river. When not in the midst of a pandemic, this would also be a time when we would remember our baptism together during the service. This is a very special moment in the life of a church community, one of the great rituals we practice together. Because this is such a special communal moment, I want to wait to do this when we are all back together completely as a congregation. Though we won’t be remembering our baptism in the traditional way, this is still an important opportunity to remember this formative moment of our Christian life.

Below is the part of the liturgy from The Baptismal Covenant IV from the UM Hymnal. These are our Baptismal vows that each of us made before we were baptized. Today, I want us to take time and read over each of these questions:

On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world,and repent of your sin?

I do.

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?

I do.

According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?

I will.

As you ponder on these, what do they mean to you? These are powerful questions that deserve reflection in how we are living our lives. Are we continuing to renounce and reject the evil that is in this world? How are we living that out daily? Are we putting our whole trust in Christ and living as his representatives in our daily lives? If we have been struggling in any of these areas, today is a great day recommit ourselves to the call of our baptism. The Father has shared his love greatly with us and confirmed us as his children; let us return our love back by living into our baptismal vows.

Pastor Henry