THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ - ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐๐บ
Last Sunday, three children of Godโtwo infants and one adultโwere baptized at our 10 am worship service. In baptism, water is the sacramental sign, the outward and visible sign that can be seen and tasted, and which is essential for life. It points us to the inward and spiritual sign of the Holy Spirit that can be felt, received, and which renews our lives. In baptism, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are brought into membership with Christ's Body, the Church and we are sealed and marked as Christ's own forever. In baptism, our life and our life in God's kingdom of love meet and embrace. What could be more holy or more beautiful?
I love baptizing infants. Holding these precious lives with all their beauty, innocence and promise is a sacred privilege and a deep joy. But I also love baptizing adults. Every adult I have baptized has spent much time in thought and prayer about this decision. When the baptism takes place what often happens, as it did on Sunday, is that hearts melt and tears flow as this sacred moment of embrace and welcome transpires. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, lives are transformedโthe lives of the newly baptized and all of us who welcome a newborn Christian into โour church family. Thanks be to God!
Andrew+
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข ๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ช๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ญ๐๐!
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ข'๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ -- son of Margaret & Ross O'Connor and brother of Eliza. The O'Connor family participates in our Mommy & Me program and Margaret has been one of our coordinators for this ministry.
๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ -- daughter of Diana Hernandez and Alex Perez; The Hernandez-Perez family are relatives of long-time St. Gregory's members Tony Hernandez and Teri Heemstra-Hernandez.
๐ง๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฎ (๐ง๐ฎ๐ฏ) ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ -- Tab has sung with our choir many times and is the granddaughter of Norma Jenkins, a beloved friend of St. Gregory's who has served as our interim choirmaster and substitute organist. Tab is also part of our Young Adult Ministry and is currently studying music at Stetson University in Deland FL.
We congratulate everyone on this momentous occasion and wish them much joy in their new life in Christ!