Holy Baptism
“Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”, thus proclaims the Ethiopian eunuch today in our Scripture.
And Philip “commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
This is quite an exciting passage this morning! Acts recounts the beginning of the early church and the enthusiasm with which the gospel was spread shortly after Christ’s ascension. The Ethiopian eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship, and Philip led by the spirit, is told to take his chariot up to the eunuch’s chariot and the eunuch is reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip asks him if he understands it and he says, “How can I unless someone guides me?”
This passage is frequently referred to in the calling of missionaries and others to take the gospel to other parts of the world, quoting the Eunuchs words, “How can I (know) unless someone guides me?” It is a catalyst for sending people to places where the gospel may not be freely spoken of or taught.
Philip, after he baptizes the Ethiopian, is snatched away by the Lord - it all had to be a quite shocking! and exhilarating!
This morning we are going to baptize two of our own. Ms. Evie Joyce Jones and Ms. Violet Claire Reynolds.
Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.
This morning Violet and Evie are being presented by their parents for Baptism. You see and feel the eunuch’s enthusiasm for his baptism - he wanted it to happen right away, and without delay Philip baptized him. And we share some of this enthusiasm today as we prepare to baptize two of our own.
Every journey begins somewhere, and every Christian’s journey in the church begins with Holy Baptism. While God may very well be working in our lives before we are baptized, it is this sacrament that unites us with Christ and his church.
Another way to view Baptism is to see it as a gateway to all the other sacraments.
The service of Holy Baptism that we are getting ready to experience together, is full of questions and affirmation - some that the children’s sponsors will make and some that we will make together as a church.
Sponsors and parents are agreeing to a lifetime commitment of raising the child in the Christian faith. Parent’s and sponsors, I encourage you to take your role seriously, and develop some practice that you will form with the child you are sponsoring - some way that you will speak into their lives spiritually.
Raising the child in faith is not just about knowledge and facts; it is about transformation. I am going to ask if you promise to “help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ”.
None of us are ever done in our life journey to be more like Christ, but we work on it each day. In Baptism, we turn toward Christ. We use water in baptism - we must have water- and we must also use the words, “Evie/ Violet, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holly Spirit.” Doing baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is a very important part of the sacrament, because it is these words which are universally recognized, and it is these words that makes the baptism valid.
After the actual baptism when water is poured over the head, we say a prayer for the newly baptized, and then I will anoint the newly baptized with oil. This oil is called chrism oil, and has been blessed by the bishop. I receive it yearly just before Easter when the bishop gathers all priests in this Diocese to renew our vows.
I take this oil and place it on the baptized person’s forehead and make sign of the cross and say, “Evie/Violet, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen”.
Once we are baptized, we have been claimed as Christ’s forever. Nothing we can ever do or say can take away the spiritual mantle of Christ that we have received in baptism.
Baptism is how we get into the family of Christ. The next Sacrament that we will observe today is the Eucharist. The Eucharist is what we do as a family together, and all are encouraged to take it. Baptism and Holy Eucharist are two of our great sacraments that we partake of together.
We are welcoming two members into the body of Christ today, and it is cause for celebration.
It signifies a joining of lives together with Christ forever.
Our Gospel passage reminds us that Jesus is the true vine, and we are encouraged to abide in Christ -to remain attached to the vine - as he abides in us, and to grow fruit.
A branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides with the vine.
Each of you gathered here today are part of the body of Christ, part of the branches and we are all part of the vine.
Today two enter our community. They enter with us into a life of mutual giving and receiving as members of the body of Christ. It may take Evie awhile, she has got to learn to sit up by herself and feed herself first! But she is part of the Body today. Just like Violet.
Who knows what these two precious children will grow up and bring - what gifts God will give them for the kingdom of God? Our responsibility is to love them, be here for them, provide a place of worship and solace, and church family for them. A place that they can learn about God and feel his love. To be here as they grow. We each have responsibility to one another in this.
Being part of community and the family of God comes with responsibility, responsibility to love one another.
Philip wasn’t necessarily drawn to the Ethiopian eunuch in today’s passage from Acts. It says the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it”. Philip was prompted by the spirit.
Being a child of God requires abiding, being sensitive to the Spirit of God, so that when God speaks, we can hear and obey. Even maybe doing something we may not naturally feel comfortable doing. Loving at times in spite of differences.
The Ethiopian eunuch would have been the ultimate outsider to Philip. Racially, religiously, sexually and nationally - he was as different from Philip as was possible.
But in Christ, we are told to love one another, because love is from God. 1 John 4:7 The differences didn’t matter.
As we reflect on what it means to be in the body of Christ today; what it means to welcome new lives into the Body, let us reflect on ourselves as well. Our part in the body. What fruit we are bearing.
We are going to baptize these two precious ones now. Embracing them in our love, having them join us in God’s family. If you have never been baptized and would like to do so- let me know. Joining with the family of God and marking yourself as one of God’s own forever, being baptized into Christ’s Body the church is commanded of us.
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” John 15:8
May it be so. Amen.
And Philip “commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
This is quite an exciting passage this morning! Acts recounts the beginning of the early church and the enthusiasm with which the gospel was spread shortly after Christ’s ascension. The Ethiopian eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship, and Philip led by the spirit, is told to take his chariot up to the eunuch’s chariot and the eunuch is reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip asks him if he understands it and he says, “How can I unless someone guides me?”
This passage is frequently referred to in the calling of missionaries and others to take the gospel to other parts of the world, quoting the Eunuchs words, “How can I (know) unless someone guides me?” It is a catalyst for sending people to places where the gospel may not be freely spoken of or taught.
Philip, after he baptizes the Ethiopian, is snatched away by the Lord - it all had to be a quite shocking! and exhilarating!
This morning we are going to baptize two of our own. Ms. Evie Joyce Jones and Ms. Violet Claire Reynolds.
Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.
This morning Violet and Evie are being presented by their parents for Baptism. You see and feel the eunuch’s enthusiasm for his baptism - he wanted it to happen right away, and without delay Philip baptized him. And we share some of this enthusiasm today as we prepare to baptize two of our own.
Every journey begins somewhere, and every Christian’s journey in the church begins with Holy Baptism. While God may very well be working in our lives before we are baptized, it is this sacrament that unites us with Christ and his church.
Another way to view Baptism is to see it as a gateway to all the other sacraments.
The service of Holy Baptism that we are getting ready to experience together, is full of questions and affirmation - some that the children’s sponsors will make and some that we will make together as a church.
Sponsors and parents are agreeing to a lifetime commitment of raising the child in the Christian faith. Parent’s and sponsors, I encourage you to take your role seriously, and develop some practice that you will form with the child you are sponsoring - some way that you will speak into their lives spiritually.
Raising the child in faith is not just about knowledge and facts; it is about transformation. I am going to ask if you promise to “help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ”.
None of us are ever done in our life journey to be more like Christ, but we work on it each day. In Baptism, we turn toward Christ. We use water in baptism - we must have water- and we must also use the words, “Evie/ Violet, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holly Spirit.” Doing baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is a very important part of the sacrament, because it is these words which are universally recognized, and it is these words that makes the baptism valid.
After the actual baptism when water is poured over the head, we say a prayer for the newly baptized, and then I will anoint the newly baptized with oil. This oil is called chrism oil, and has been blessed by the bishop. I receive it yearly just before Easter when the bishop gathers all priests in this Diocese to renew our vows.
I take this oil and place it on the baptized person’s forehead and make sign of the cross and say, “Evie/Violet, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen”.
Once we are baptized, we have been claimed as Christ’s forever. Nothing we can ever do or say can take away the spiritual mantle of Christ that we have received in baptism.
Baptism is how we get into the family of Christ. The next Sacrament that we will observe today is the Eucharist. The Eucharist is what we do as a family together, and all are encouraged to take it. Baptism and Holy Eucharist are two of our great sacraments that we partake of together.
We are welcoming two members into the body of Christ today, and it is cause for celebration.
It signifies a joining of lives together with Christ forever.
Our Gospel passage reminds us that Jesus is the true vine, and we are encouraged to abide in Christ -to remain attached to the vine - as he abides in us, and to grow fruit.
A branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides with the vine.
Each of you gathered here today are part of the body of Christ, part of the branches and we are all part of the vine.
Today two enter our community. They enter with us into a life of mutual giving and receiving as members of the body of Christ. It may take Evie awhile, she has got to learn to sit up by herself and feed herself first! But she is part of the Body today. Just like Violet.
Who knows what these two precious children will grow up and bring - what gifts God will give them for the kingdom of God? Our responsibility is to love them, be here for them, provide a place of worship and solace, and church family for them. A place that they can learn about God and feel his love. To be here as they grow. We each have responsibility to one another in this.
Being part of community and the family of God comes with responsibility, responsibility to love one another.
Philip wasn’t necessarily drawn to the Ethiopian eunuch in today’s passage from Acts. It says the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it”. Philip was prompted by the spirit.
Being a child of God requires abiding, being sensitive to the Spirit of God, so that when God speaks, we can hear and obey. Even maybe doing something we may not naturally feel comfortable doing. Loving at times in spite of differences.
The Ethiopian eunuch would have been the ultimate outsider to Philip. Racially, religiously, sexually and nationally - he was as different from Philip as was possible.
But in Christ, we are told to love one another, because love is from God. 1 John 4:7 The differences didn’t matter.
As we reflect on what it means to be in the body of Christ today; what it means to welcome new lives into the Body, let us reflect on ourselves as well. Our part in the body. What fruit we are bearing.
We are going to baptize these two precious ones now. Embracing them in our love, having them join us in God’s family. If you have never been baptized and would like to do so- let me know. Joining with the family of God and marking yourself as one of God’s own forever, being baptized into Christ’s Body the church is commanded of us.
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” John 15:8
May it be so. Amen.