May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
You are the salt of the earth!!!!
Jesus speaks to us just as clearly now as he did 2000 years ago. You, Christian, are the salt of the earth.
What does it mean to be the salt of the earth?
Well, salt serves several purposes. What happens when we add salt to food? It tastes better. It brings flavours to life. What happens when we add too much salt? It becomes bitter. It loses all flavours except saltiness.
Salt – essential for all animal life. Too much salt – deadly. Dries out the body.
So if we think of ourselves, and all Christians, as salt, what does that say about us?
We have an essential role in the world.
We bring out the natural flavours in the world. We help the world to understand love.
If we lose track of our purpose we can do terrible things. Just think of what “Christian” explorers did throughout the world. The horrible things done in Christ’s name did not stop there. They still happen.
Too much saltiness is not only deadly to others, it loses its appeal. It no longer draws us to eat. This has happened to our church as well. Our gospel tells us that when salt loses its taste it is good for nothing and must be thrown out. Well, we’ve been there. But we didn’t throw anyone out, they just left.
How do we become salty again?
Our gospel talks about that too.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and in gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
This year I believe we have made good progress. We have done a good job of becoming “more salty.” We have shown our light to others. We need to keep doing it.
We also have to be careful. It is easy to look at our lives, at our church, and see only what hasn’t worked. When we focus on our failures, our light gets dim. When we use our failures as an excuse to not try something else, our light goes out. It is overwhelmed by the darkness.
So as we move into our annual meetings, starting today, let’s look at where we have succeeded. Let’s build on our successes. We can let our light shine. Our church can become a beacon. Not because this building will be seen in our community. This building is not the church. You are.
And you are the salt of the earth!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
John the Baptist - the First Example of our Christian Calling
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
”After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”
Whew!!! What a mouthful.
John the Baptist tells us that he is not the Messiah. He is not Elijah. He is not the prophet (or Moses).
So who is he?
John the Baptist also tells us that he is the one who has come to prepare the way.
“After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”
I think this confusing sentence is the key to what John means.
“After me comes a man.” Jesus was born about one month after John. Jesus is also the “Son of Man” which in Hebrew is Adam or in capital letters MAN.
“Who ranks ahead of me.” John is telling us that Jesus will be a much more important spiritual leader than John, himself, is.
“Because he was before me.” Jesus is the Word made flesh. The first words in the Gospel of John, the Gospel from which this story comes, are “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Jesus, although he was born after John the Baptist, existed long before John was born.
That’s a lot to pack into one sentence. That’s what it meant to John the Baptist … but what does it mean for us?
There is a central part of our Christian faith which we call our statement of faith. In its shortest form it is three very short sentences. You are welcome to join me in saying it.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Our statement of faith says tells us that we are just like John the Baptist.
Christ has died. … “He was before me.”
Christ is risen. … “He ranks ahead of me.”
Christ will come again. … “After me comes a man.”
So if we are the same as John the Baptist in this way, maybe we are like him in other ways.
John was called to prepare the way of the Lord.
So are we. We are called to make the world a better place. We are called to work towards the Kingdom of God. When the time is right for the Kingdom of God, Jesus will come again.
John was called to witness to the Truth.
This is exactly what we do when we proclaim the Gospel. Whether we do this by our words or by our actions, we are being witnesses to the Truth of Jesus Christ our Lord.
John was called to give up his life for his beliefs. He was a martyr.
We are also called to be martyrs for our faith. Most of us will not be called to die for our faith, but there are other kinds of martyrdom. We will all be called to make hard choices. We will all be asked to make sacrifices, to forgo luxuries, to serve when it would be easier not to, all in the name of God. This is martyrdom.
This is a large order. God is asking a lot of us and none of it is easy.
So how do we do it?
We have one clue in the last verse of our Gospel today.
“He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”
Simon is the brother of our very own St. Andrew the Apostle. Simon’s example can help us to follow Christ. Cephas in Hebrew or Petros in Greek translate a rock in English. “You are to be called Simon the Rock.”
Simon was called the Rock because he had an unshakable faith, not only in God and Jesus, but in his friends and in himself. Simon never tried to do it alone. He worked with his fellow disciples. He encouraged them and built them up. He led them by his example of faith and devotion. If we follow that example, we will fulfil every part of our calling to prepare the world for the Kingdom of God.
Thanks be to God.
”After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”
Whew!!! What a mouthful.
John the Baptist tells us that he is not the Messiah. He is not Elijah. He is not the prophet (or Moses).
So who is he?
John the Baptist also tells us that he is the one who has come to prepare the way.
“After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”
I think this confusing sentence is the key to what John means.
“After me comes a man.” Jesus was born about one month after John. Jesus is also the “Son of Man” which in Hebrew is Adam or in capital letters MAN.
“Who ranks ahead of me.” John is telling us that Jesus will be a much more important spiritual leader than John, himself, is.
“Because he was before me.” Jesus is the Word made flesh. The first words in the Gospel of John, the Gospel from which this story comes, are “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Jesus, although he was born after John the Baptist, existed long before John was born.
That’s a lot to pack into one sentence. That’s what it meant to John the Baptist … but what does it mean for us?
There is a central part of our Christian faith which we call our statement of faith. In its shortest form it is three very short sentences. You are welcome to join me in saying it.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Our statement of faith says tells us that we are just like John the Baptist.
Christ has died. … “He was before me.”
Christ is risen. … “He ranks ahead of me.”
Christ will come again. … “After me comes a man.”
So if we are the same as John the Baptist in this way, maybe we are like him in other ways.
John was called to prepare the way of the Lord.
So are we. We are called to make the world a better place. We are called to work towards the Kingdom of God. When the time is right for the Kingdom of God, Jesus will come again.
John was called to witness to the Truth.
This is exactly what we do when we proclaim the Gospel. Whether we do this by our words or by our actions, we are being witnesses to the Truth of Jesus Christ our Lord.
John was called to give up his life for his beliefs. He was a martyr.
We are also called to be martyrs for our faith. Most of us will not be called to die for our faith, but there are other kinds of martyrdom. We will all be called to make hard choices. We will all be asked to make sacrifices, to forgo luxuries, to serve when it would be easier not to, all in the name of God. This is martyrdom.
This is a large order. God is asking a lot of us and none of it is easy.
So how do we do it?
We have one clue in the last verse of our Gospel today.
“He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”
Simon is the brother of our very own St. Andrew the Apostle. Simon’s example can help us to follow Christ. Cephas in Hebrew or Petros in Greek translate a rock in English. “You are to be called Simon the Rock.”
Simon was called the Rock because he had an unshakable faith, not only in God and Jesus, but in his friends and in himself. Simon never tried to do it alone. He worked with his fellow disciples. He encouraged them and built them up. He led them by his example of faith and devotion. If we follow that example, we will fulfil every part of our calling to prepare the world for the Kingdom of God.
Thanks be to God.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Jesus Baptized? -- Why?
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
John the Baptist said “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” Then Jesus answered “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”
Well, that clears everything up. Jesus’ answer makes perfect sense.
--- Not ---
Now we just have something else to figure out. What does Jesus mean by that?
First we need to know what baptism meant to Jesus.
Before this time, baptism was a Jewish ritual of cleansing. You would be baptized every time you became “unclean” by doing something like touching a dead body so that you could enter the temple and worship.
Second, we need to know what righteousness is. Being righteous means to be in right relationship with God.
So by being baptized, someone would become ritually clean, or, in other words, righteous.
But Jesus says that he is being baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness. Ordinarily someone would be baptized to fulfill their own righteousness only. I believe that Jesus is telling us that his baptism was to make EVERYONE right with God. This is one of the great moments of salvation which we can find in the life of Jesus.
This is a “Thanks be to God” moment.
But it is only the first part of what the Baptism of our Lord is about. Our Gospel doesn’t end there.
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
And in that moment, Christian baptism was born.
Was Jesus changed?
Sort of. Jesus did not become something different from what or who he was before being baptized. What changed was that he was revealed to be the Christ. It was a moment of transfiguration. In that moment, God showed John his divine grace.
So what does that mean for us today?
What happens when we are baptized?
Are we made righteous? No, Jesus already did that for us in his own baptism. Jesus was baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness.
Are we changed in some other way?
Sort of. We do not become different people. We don’t suddenly become God’s beloved. We are already that.
What does happen is a moment of transfiguration.
That means that what was hidden become clear to us.
Just as with Jesus, the spirit of God descends upon us, not to change us, but to wake us up.
God marks us as his own; as his sons and daughters.
God shows us that we are beloved.
God tells us that with us, he is well pleased.
Nothing has changed, but at the same time, everything is different.
Thanks be to God.
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
John the Baptist said “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” Then Jesus answered “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”
Well, that clears everything up. Jesus’ answer makes perfect sense.
--- Not ---
Now we just have something else to figure out. What does Jesus mean by that?
First we need to know what baptism meant to Jesus.
Before this time, baptism was a Jewish ritual of cleansing. You would be baptized every time you became “unclean” by doing something like touching a dead body so that you could enter the temple and worship.
Second, we need to know what righteousness is. Being righteous means to be in right relationship with God.
So by being baptized, someone would become ritually clean, or, in other words, righteous.
But Jesus says that he is being baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness. Ordinarily someone would be baptized to fulfill their own righteousness only. I believe that Jesus is telling us that his baptism was to make EVERYONE right with God. This is one of the great moments of salvation which we can find in the life of Jesus.
This is a “Thanks be to God” moment.
But it is only the first part of what the Baptism of our Lord is about. Our Gospel doesn’t end there.
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
And in that moment, Christian baptism was born.
Was Jesus changed?
Sort of. Jesus did not become something different from what or who he was before being baptized. What changed was that he was revealed to be the Christ. It was a moment of transfiguration. In that moment, God showed John his divine grace.
So what does that mean for us today?
What happens when we are baptized?
Are we made righteous? No, Jesus already did that for us in his own baptism. Jesus was baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness.
Are we changed in some other way?
Sort of. We do not become different people. We don’t suddenly become God’s beloved. We are already that.
What does happen is a moment of transfiguration.
That means that what was hidden become clear to us.
Just as with Jesus, the spirit of God descends upon us, not to change us, but to wake us up.
God marks us as his own; as his sons and daughters.
God shows us that we are beloved.
God tells us that with us, he is well pleased.
Nothing has changed, but at the same time, everything is different.
Thanks be to God.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Are You Ready To Be Counted?
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Could all of the kids please come up here?
Are you ready to be counted?
Do any of you know what a census is?
Why did I ask you about a census?
Why did we come to church tonight? What is special about tonight?
We are all here tonight because we believe that there was something special about a baby who was born more than two thousand years ago. We are here because we believe that boy has something to offer to us in our lives today. That boy who lived so long ago can still change our lives for the better.
Do you ever insist that God give you something?
Do you pray and expect that your prayer will come true?
Good. That little baby was just one of the people talked about in the Bible who told us to do that. God wants us to ask for things. God wants to give us things.
Does God insist that we do anything?
(Love God, love ourselves, love each other … love)
What happens when we don’t do what God asks of us?
(God forgives us)
What happens when God doesn’t do what we ask?
?
Are there other things that God asks us to do, not what we must do but some things that would be a good idea?
- Taking care of the poor and the sick
- Helping each other
- … (lots more)
Why do we go to church?
- Worship God
- Pray
- Learn
- Community
God asks us to go to Church. In church, we learn about what God wants us to do. In church, we gather so that we can do God’s work together. In one way, church is kind of like that census: we are counted by God and by each other as helpers who are trying to make the world a better place.
Are you ready to be counted?
Could all of the kids please come up here?
Are you ready to be counted?
Do any of you know what a census is?
Why did I ask you about a census?
Why did we come to church tonight? What is special about tonight?
We are all here tonight because we believe that there was something special about a baby who was born more than two thousand years ago. We are here because we believe that boy has something to offer to us in our lives today. That boy who lived so long ago can still change our lives for the better.
Do you ever insist that God give you something?
Do you pray and expect that your prayer will come true?
Good. That little baby was just one of the people talked about in the Bible who told us to do that. God wants us to ask for things. God wants to give us things.
Does God insist that we do anything?
(Love God, love ourselves, love each other … love)
What happens when we don’t do what God asks of us?
(God forgives us)
What happens when God doesn’t do what we ask?
?
Are there other things that God asks us to do, not what we must do but some things that would be a good idea?
- Taking care of the poor and the sick
- Helping each other
- … (lots more)
Why do we go to church?
- Worship God
- Pray
- Learn
- Community
God asks us to go to Church. In church, we learn about what God wants us to do. In church, we gather so that we can do God’s work together. In one way, church is kind of like that census: we are counted by God and by each other as helpers who are trying to make the world a better place.
Are you ready to be counted?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Jesus Emmanuel
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
There two very important words in our Gospel today. Well, there are more, but I’m just going to look at two of them.
Jesus and Emmanuel.
Jesus – he will save.
What does Jesus save us from?
(Sin) But what is sin?
Sin is turning away from God. That is why we are called to repent. The word which we translate as repent does not mean to be sorry for what we have done. It means to re-turn. It literally means to turn back around and continue on a different path.
When I first felt called to become a priest, I sinned against God. I turned away from that call. I put my head in the sand and pretended that I didn’t hear. This is a common reaction to any call from God. When God calls to us, we don’t always want do to what God asks of us. This is sin – resisting God’s call, acting in ways which we know we shouldn’t, doing things which we know we shouldn’t.
This is what Jesus saves us from – ourselves.
But how?
Emmanuel – God is with us.
God understands us, not only as our creator, but as a fellow human being. God walks with us through all of our lifelong journey.
When we experience the joys of our life, God is with us.
When we experience the pain of loss, God is with us.
When we follow God’s call, God is with us.
When we turn away from God and walk in the path of sin and despair, God is with us.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is the incredible grace of God. God is with us.
There two very important words in our Gospel today. Well, there are more, but I’m just going to look at two of them.
Jesus and Emmanuel.
Jesus – he will save.
What does Jesus save us from?
(Sin) But what is sin?
Sin is turning away from God. That is why we are called to repent. The word which we translate as repent does not mean to be sorry for what we have done. It means to re-turn. It literally means to turn back around and continue on a different path.
When I first felt called to become a priest, I sinned against God. I turned away from that call. I put my head in the sand and pretended that I didn’t hear. This is a common reaction to any call from God. When God calls to us, we don’t always want do to what God asks of us. This is sin – resisting God’s call, acting in ways which we know we shouldn’t, doing things which we know we shouldn’t.
This is what Jesus saves us from – ourselves.
But how?
Emmanuel – God is with us.
God understands us, not only as our creator, but as a fellow human being. God walks with us through all of our lifelong journey.
When we experience the joys of our life, God is with us.
When we experience the pain of loss, God is with us.
When we follow God’s call, God is with us.
When we turn away from God and walk in the path of sin and despair, God is with us.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is the incredible grace of God. God is with us.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Slow Down
May the words of my (our) mouth(s) be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Where has all the time gone?
Before Advent started, Bishop Sue sent a message out to all of the clergy telling us not to plan too much. She told us to make sure that we had time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. After all, that is what Christmas is really about.
It is not about buying things. It’s not even really about giving presents to our friends and families.
It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives. It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into my life.
Where has all the time gone?
This is supposed to be a time of preparation. It is supposed to be a time when we slow down, when we take a step back and take a good look at our lives.
My last week started as usual with a very busy Sunday. On Monday I had a morning meeting in Truro followed by the AGM for the co-op in the evening. Tuesday – catch up on reading, try to clean my office, Cape Smokey Christmas concert. Wednesday – laundry, the rest of the day is a blur but there was some family time. Thursday – visiting, service preparation, invites for next Sunday, bulletins, vestry meeting and getting a start on this. Friday – meeting in Sydney, celebration of new ministry for Gloria McLure-Fraser. Saturday – visioning session in Ingonish, visiting and finish writing this. Plus finding time for prayer at least twice a day. And now we’re back to Sunday.
Where has all the time gone?
And after all that, I know what I want to talk about today, but all of you are going to have to help me. There just hasn’t been time to put it all together.
With all that we have going on in our lives, how do we find the time to make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord?
…
How do we find the time to slow down and take stock of our lives?
…
Please help me, because I don’t know. All I know for sure is that we need to do it. Even in Jesus’ time someone with as much insight as John the Baptist had trouble being sure that Jesus was the Christ. How, in my overly busy life, am I ever supposed to see what is Christ-like in those around me let alone recognize Christ, himself, when he steps into my life.
…
The busier my life gets, the more often I think I have to do it alone.
When I get overwhelmed, I forget to ask for help.
I have a feeling that I’m not alone. Is there anyone else here who has that problem?
Who can we ask for help? Who do you turn to when there just isn’t enough time or energy to do everything you need to do?
… (God)
Let us share a repeat after me prayer.
Gracious God,
When life is easy
I forget to give thanks.
When life is busy
I forget to take time for you.
When life is hard
I forget to ask for help.
Please God,
Help me to remember
To look for you in my life.
Help me to remember
To slow down and pray.
Help me to remember
That you are always there to help me.
Help me to be ready
For your birth.
Amen.
Where has all the time gone?
Before Advent started, Bishop Sue sent a message out to all of the clergy telling us not to plan too much. She told us to make sure that we had time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. After all, that is what Christmas is really about.
It is not about buying things. It’s not even really about giving presents to our friends and families.
It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into our lives. It is about the coming of Jesus Christ into my life.
Where has all the time gone?
This is supposed to be a time of preparation. It is supposed to be a time when we slow down, when we take a step back and take a good look at our lives.
My last week started as usual with a very busy Sunday. On Monday I had a morning meeting in Truro followed by the AGM for the co-op in the evening. Tuesday – catch up on reading, try to clean my office, Cape Smokey Christmas concert. Wednesday – laundry, the rest of the day is a blur but there was some family time. Thursday – visiting, service preparation, invites for next Sunday, bulletins, vestry meeting and getting a start on this. Friday – meeting in Sydney, celebration of new ministry for Gloria McLure-Fraser. Saturday – visioning session in Ingonish, visiting and finish writing this. Plus finding time for prayer at least twice a day. And now we’re back to Sunday.
Where has all the time gone?
And after all that, I know what I want to talk about today, but all of you are going to have to help me. There just hasn’t been time to put it all together.
With all that we have going on in our lives, how do we find the time to make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord?
…
How do we find the time to slow down and take stock of our lives?
…
Please help me, because I don’t know. All I know for sure is that we need to do it. Even in Jesus’ time someone with as much insight as John the Baptist had trouble being sure that Jesus was the Christ. How, in my overly busy life, am I ever supposed to see what is Christ-like in those around me let alone recognize Christ, himself, when he steps into my life.
…
The busier my life gets, the more often I think I have to do it alone.
When I get overwhelmed, I forget to ask for help.
I have a feeling that I’m not alone. Is there anyone else here who has that problem?
Who can we ask for help? Who do you turn to when there just isn’t enough time or energy to do everything you need to do?
… (God)
Let us share a repeat after me prayer.
Gracious God,
When life is easy
I forget to give thanks.
When life is busy
I forget to take time for you.
When life is hard
I forget to ask for help.
Please God,
Help me to remember
To look for you in my life.
Help me to remember
To slow down and pray.
Help me to remember
That you are always there to help me.
Help me to be ready
For your birth.
Amen.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What is Baptism about anyway?
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
What is baptism all about?
What was baptism about in the time of Jesus? Does anyone know?
Well, the Jews had a ceremony called Mikvah. It was a ritual of cleansing. It was not really about sin. It was about being ritually clean so that you could enter the temple. For example, if you had been defiled by coming in contact with the dead you had to go through the ritual immersion of Mikvah to return to the temple. It was also required of those who wished to convert to Judaism. You could go through Mikvah more than once if you needed to.
John the Baptist took this ritual and adapted it as a rite of conversion to his particular branch of the Jewish faith: those who believed that the time of the Messiah was upon them. For him, baptism was about being ready to enter into the presence of the Messiah, not the temple.
In the early church, what age do you think people were typically baptised?
Usually, they were baptised as adults. Baptism gave you full entry into the church. The only time children were baptised was when a whole family got baptised together.
As Anglicans, what do we believe baptism is all about?
If you open your BCP to page 532 and read the paragraph starting “Dearly Beloved” you will see what the church believed in 1662. These explanations and prayers have changed only slightly from that edition of the prayer book.
What does this paragraph tell us?
1. Without baptism, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
2. Through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.
3. Through baptism we become part of the Christian community.
4. Through baptism we become members of the body of Christ.
… …
What has changed in our understanding of baptism since these words were written?
Now we turn to the BAS. Please open it to page 156 and look at the last paragraph read by the celebrant. What does this paragraph tell us about the change in our understanding of baptism?
…
It is the sacrifice made by Jesus that frees us from sin, not anything that we can do. It goes on to talk about baptism as being a way to be made one with Christ and to be cleansed from sin.
This is a very important distinction. Christ’s sacrifice frees us from the bondage of sin. By baptism we are cleansed from sin and enter into the community and body of Christ.
This is a very subtle difference, but worth thinking about.
If you haven’t already done it, please open your BAS to page 158 and we will renew, together, our baptismal covenants.
What is baptism all about?
What was baptism about in the time of Jesus? Does anyone know?
Well, the Jews had a ceremony called Mikvah. It was a ritual of cleansing. It was not really about sin. It was about being ritually clean so that you could enter the temple. For example, if you had been defiled by coming in contact with the dead you had to go through the ritual immersion of Mikvah to return to the temple. It was also required of those who wished to convert to Judaism. You could go through Mikvah more than once if you needed to.
John the Baptist took this ritual and adapted it as a rite of conversion to his particular branch of the Jewish faith: those who believed that the time of the Messiah was upon them. For him, baptism was about being ready to enter into the presence of the Messiah, not the temple.
In the early church, what age do you think people were typically baptised?
Usually, they were baptised as adults. Baptism gave you full entry into the church. The only time children were baptised was when a whole family got baptised together.
As Anglicans, what do we believe baptism is all about?
If you open your BCP to page 532 and read the paragraph starting “Dearly Beloved” you will see what the church believed in 1662. These explanations and prayers have changed only slightly from that edition of the prayer book.
What does this paragraph tell us?
1. Without baptism, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
2. Through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit.
3. Through baptism we become part of the Christian community.
4. Through baptism we become members of the body of Christ.
… …
What has changed in our understanding of baptism since these words were written?
Now we turn to the BAS. Please open it to page 156 and look at the last paragraph read by the celebrant. What does this paragraph tell us about the change in our understanding of baptism?
…
It is the sacrifice made by Jesus that frees us from sin, not anything that we can do. It goes on to talk about baptism as being a way to be made one with Christ and to be cleansed from sin.
This is a very important distinction. Christ’s sacrifice frees us from the bondage of sin. By baptism we are cleansed from sin and enter into the community and body of Christ.
This is a very subtle difference, but worth thinking about.
If you haven’t already done it, please open your BAS to page 158 and we will renew, together, our baptismal covenants.
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