Baptism is such a wonderful part of worship.  There are personal feelings of love and pride we have for the one(s) being baptized.  There is gratitude for the new walk of faith being undertaken.  Hopefully there is real commitment, as we professed Sunday, to take personally the responsibility to nurture new Christians.  I hope also that we remembered our own baptism and how it has shaped our life.  I recently read a suggestion to remember the anniversary of our own baptism and mark it with some tradition:  light a candle, dip a hand in water as a ritual reminder, even splash in a creek or a lake.   It is impossible to remember the day without remembering family, teachers, friends, or pastors who helped us along the path toward faith in Jesus and baptism.

In the early church, candidates for baptism spent around three years in preparation.  The customary time for baptism was during Easter Vigil, the Saturday night before Easter Sunday.  The Apostle's Creed derives from the answers individuals were required to give before their baptism.  Baptism was by triple immersion.  The newly- baptized were given new clothing (a white tunic) to remind them that in baptism they have ''put on Christ'' just like they put on their clothes.  They then walked out of the baptistery into the light of a great candle; the symbolism is obvious.  While a solemn occasion, it was filled with great joy.  We are part of this tradition; it has gone on now for more than two thousand years in Christian tradition, much longer in Jewish tradition.  Awe-inspiring, isn't it?  Understanding what it meant in our history helps us understand what it means to us.

Many in our family led us well in worship Sunday:  Roger, Gene, Steve, Sharon, Abby, Carole, Herbert, choir.  Sharon Nicholas, Larry Andrews' daughter, is part of our extended family.  We wish she lived closer!  We are grateful that Anna Kate, Gray, Jessie, Justin and Mike are part of our family, and we look forward to ministry with them.

Sing to the Lord!

Linda