A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby. Luke 2:12 The Message
The video camera at our front porch notified me there was someone at the door. I could see it was a man, but the video image didn’t do him justice, and so I struggled to recognize our visitor. I made my way from the sunroom out back to the front door, where he stood patiently waiting. As I opened the door, a smile came across his face that would light up any room. In his hands was a small card which he handed me. A familiar word was emblazoned in red letters across the top of the card: BAPTISM.
This was our new next door neighbor, Augustine, and he was coming to bring to us an in-person invitation to his daughter’s baptism and reception. We had only had limited conversations beforehand. This day our new neighbors invited us into their lives. And so, last Saturday, Cathy and I joined other family members, neighbors and co-workers in the sanctuary of a local church to celebrate the baptism of Gianna. Our neighbor’s daughter was dressed like a bride for a wedding. She sparkled. So did her mom and dad.
But before she was baptized with water she was anointed with oil and the sign of the cross traced on her forehead by priest and mom and dad and Godparents. The priest announced to us all that Gianna was being anointed as “prophet, priest, and queen;” “prophets who speak the truth, priests who intercede on our behalf before God, and Queen, whose presence reminds us of our royal lineage with Christ, the King.” The priest invited the Godparents to light a candle which had been blessed on the Saturday before Easter (Holy Saturday) and declared that Gianna’s purpose in life is to shine the light of God’s love everywhere she goes. Who says oil and water don’t mix?
Following the baptism there were photographs to take and then the “Godmother” issued the invitation for all of us to return to our neighbor’s home for a celebration; a bountiful meal, a party to celebrate Gianna’s being marked as a disciple, and we were even encouraged to stick around and dance all night long. In short, it was a magical experience. Few times in my life have I experienced hospitality and genuine welcome like I did from my new neighbors and their families. It was a glimpse of Heaven on earth. Cathy and I felt privileged to have been invited, not just to an event, but into the lives of our neighbors.
Taylor Burton Edwards offers the following teaching around our United Methodist practice of baptizing infants and children. “…..infant baptism is truly baptism. It is a sacrament. Infant baptism is not a baby dedication. In fact, The United Methodist Church has no authorized liturgy for a service of baby dedication. While we may not be able to comprehend how God works in their lives, our faith teaches us that God’s grace is sufficient for their needs and, thus, they are appropriate recipients of baptism… the baptism of infants and adults, both male and female, is the sign of this covenant.” Simply put, through baptism, we are initiated into a covenant with God.”
In, By Water And The Spirit, we read: “The baptism of infants is properly understood and valued if the child is loved and nurtured by the faithful worshiping church and by the child’s own family. If a parent or sponsor (godparent) cannot or will not nurture the child in the faith, then baptism is to be postponed until Christian nurture is available.” Our neighbors blessed us by inviting us to join them in providing Gianna that nurture.
In his collection of sermons from the pandemic, Just Tell The Truth, Richard Lischer offers the following image.
In one of Flannery O’Connor’s stories, “A Temple of the Holy Ghost,” a little Catholic
girl—“the child”—lives with her parents and relatives in a small southern town
amidst a sea of Protestants. She enjoys visiting the convent where one of the
sisters always embraces her as she leaves. But every time she gets a hug, the
crucifix on sister’s belt gets mashed into the child’s face. The reader is left to
imagine how the gesture of love always leaves a mark. Baptism is like that. In
Christ, God gives us a hug, but that act leaves the sign of the cross upon us to
remind us of the one whose name we bear.
And THIS shall be a sign unto you,
Jon (the Methodist)
If you would like to view past editions of How Sweet the Sound, follow this link: https://sounddistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/