Baptisms

Dear Oaks,

The summer Baptism Service has become one of my favourite meetings of the entire year. I know from some of your comments that it is a favourite with you as well. So I very much hope that you will be able to come along this coming Sunday (12th) at 4:30pm.

Two young people and several adults will either be getting baptised or renewing their baptismal vows. In both kinds this will be done by full immersion in the pool. The one exception is big Dave with whom a different method will need to be employed. I am sure that each of the candidates will so appreciate your support as they testify to the work of Jesus in their lives and yield to His grace and will for their lives.

My hope for my self and for you is that we will not be idle spectators. This is a great opportunity for each one of us to prayerfully reflect on the question ‘are you living a baptized life?’

By this I mean to ask as to how faithfully you are living the resurrection life that you were baptized in to. One way to prepare would be to read Romans 6. It talks about the need to die to sin and to be alive to Christ. In the baptism waters we go under as a sign of dying to the old life, and then as we come up again it speaks of the risen life in Christ. Do you remember how Jesus himself was baptized and how the Dove representing the person of the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as he came up through the waters? See Mark 1:9-13.

And finally this is a great spectacle and a wonderful service to invite friends along to. Even the Radio 1 presenter Chris Moyes spoke recently of the marvel of such a service. It is a wonderful visual representation of the work of Christ to transform us; cleanse us and empower us to truly live.

‘ I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full’ – Jesus of Nazareth (John 10:10)

Blessings,

Mark