Baptismal Blessings
Baptism is a visible sign of God's grace.
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” -John 1:12-13
Dear Friends,
As I start my third year with this wonderful congregation, I reflect on the blessings that this church will experience through the rest of 2024.
It is with joy to tell you that over the next five months, there will be several children and one adult coming to be baptized.
All children are precious to God. Psalm 139 speaks to God knowing us before we were born. At our conception we are “children of God.” We belong to God by way of grace. However, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we know that we are children of God (John 1:12). To acknowledge that we are children of God is a sign that our rebirth from above has begun to take place in our lives. It says that we accept the fact that regardless of our age, we need and want to be parented by our heavenly Father.
As Presbyterians, we believe that baptism is a visible sign of the invisible action of God. We are visibly being grafted into the family of God. Both Luther and Calvin agreed that baptism is a sign of God’s grace. Its efficacy does not rest on the person making the profession of faith but on God’s grace given in Christ. of which the sacrament of baptism is a sign and seal. For this reason, I do not hesitate to baptize a child regardless of age. In my last call, as moderator for another church, I baptized seven children and the father all at once. The children had all been newly adopted, and it was their adoptive parents’ wish that they be baptized. You can imagine that it was a joyous event!
For the children being baptized this year, they will be received by our congregation with the hope that one day they will profess their faith in Jesus Christ.
In essence, the sacraments of both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are a sign of hospitality in that the faith community is making a space for each of us. They are an extension of God’s hospitality and friendship to God’s creation.
As a church, we say that people “enter as guest and leave as family. Starting this coming Sunday, we will experience our living out of this mission. In fact, we will be celebrating both a baptism and receiving of the Lord’s Supper. This weekend, we will baptize James Raymond Reid, child of James & Lilly (Mundt) Reid, and grandson of Jeff and Karen Mundt, who became members earlier this year.
At the time of baptism, I say a prayer for the child, which goes like this:
“Lord, uphold by your Holy Spirit this child. Give Him the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, and the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.”
As a pastor, God calls me to be with the people in good times and in tough times. I have always considered it to be a privilege to be present at significant moments of life. Yet I cannot hide the fact that baptizing at least 6 people now through Christmas is going to be a joy! God is truly blessing us in unimaginable ways. May the Lord watch over all our comings and goings this summer!
I thank God for you,
Pastor Kathy Nealand
“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
“ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20
“So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?” Matthew 21:42
"Walk by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . live by the Spirit . . . keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:16, 25
“[Paul Gives Thanks to God] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.” -1 Corinthians 1:4-5
“Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
As we begin a new season in the church, it is good and right to think about what we mean when we pray “give us this day, our daily bread.” It is all about God’s provision. If we see God as a parent, we know that if we have a need, God will provide exactly what we need. The scripture verse above proves the case. Ask and it will be given to you. Knock and the door will be opened.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)
