This Sunday is a big one, and you're invited to be part of it. We'll be gathering at Nayland St Chapel at 10:30am to celebrate the baptisms of James and Gabe — two people taking a public step in their journey with Jesus. It's the kind of day our whole church family loves to show up for, and we'd love for you to be there too.
Baptism is what we call a sacrament. In the words of the Anglican Prayer Book, baptism is "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace... a means whereby we receive the same." It isn't merely a symbol of something we've decided; it's God's own gracious act, in which he washes away sin, joins us to Jesus, and grafts us into his Church.
The picture is a beautiful one. Going down into the water represents leaving the old life behind, and coming back up represents rising into a new life with Christ. As Paul puts it, we are "buried with him through baptism into death in order that... we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4). Baptism is also a glad public profession of faith. A moment that says, loud and proud, I belong to Jesus.
For James and Gabe, this Sunday is exactly that: God claiming them as his own, and the two of them publicly answering that grace with faith.
People sometimes ask why baptism is a one-time thing. The answer is found in a book of the Bible called Ephesians in which Paul (the author) writes:
"There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (Ephesians 4:4–6)
One faith. One Lord. One Jesus. One baptism. That single act marks a single, decisive moment: the day you were united with Christ. You don't need to do it again, because what it points to is already settled and secure. It's a once-for-all declaration of a once-for-all relationship. That's part of what makes it so special. There's a beautiful finality to it, a line in the sand that you only ever cross once.
Here's how Sunday will run:
It's going to be a joyful morning of worship, water, and a whole lot of cake. Whether you've been around for years or you're curious and just want to see what a baptism looks like, you are genuinely welcome.
It's going to be awesome & we'd love to have you join us!
See you at 10am.
