THEME: The main theme connecting these readings is the invitation to participate in baptism and receive God’s Spirit, emphasizing the transformative power of this sacrament and the commitment it entails.
Isaiah 43.1–7: This passage reassures God’s people of His unwavering love and protection. It highlights that they are called by name and belong to Him. This divine calling is a precursor to the invitation to baptism, where individuals are marked as God’s own and promised His presence and guidance.
Embrace Your Identity: Remember that you are called by name and belong to God. This means recognizing your worth and purpose. Start each day with a moment of reflection or prayer, affirming your identity as a beloved child of God.
Acts 8.14–17: This reading describes how the apostles Peter and John prayed for the new believers in Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit after they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. It underscores the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit as a vital part of the baptismal experience, empowering believers to live out their faith.
Seek the Holy Spirit: Just as the new believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit, make it a habit to invite the Holy Spirit into your life. This can be through prayer, meditation, or simply being open to the Spirit’s guidance in your decisions and actions.
Luke 3.15–22: In the Gospel this is the first time God speaks after the birth of Jesus: you are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased. There are plenty of other things that God could have said. In the creation story God looks at all that has been created and says, it is good, it is good. Now Jesus looks at Jesus and says with you I am well pleased. It is Good. God’s generosity and grace we have been given all that is needed to be Church.
What if we look at who we are and where we are knowing that we are and that we have enough – it is good.
What our work in the church and in the world look like them.
In this passage, John the Baptist speaks of the coming of one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus’ own baptism is depicted, where the Holy Spirit descends upon Him, and a voice from heaven declares Him as God’s beloved Son. This event sets the example for all believers, showing that baptism is not only a ritual of purification but also an initiation into a life filled with the Holy Spirit.
FROM THE BAPTISM SERVICE IN THE prayer book:
Baptism is the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When he had risen from the dead, he commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We have come together today to obey that command.
Baptism with water signifies the cleansing from sin that Jesus’ death makes possible, and the new life that God gives us through the Holy Spirit.
In baptism, the promises of God are visibly signed and sealed for us. We are joined to Christ, and made members of his body, the Church universal.
Baptism Vows: which vows do you find easy? Which vows do you find more challenging?
Before God and this congregation, you must affirm that you turn to Christ and reject all that is evil:
Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you reject selfish living, and all that is false and unjust?
I reject them all.
Do you renounce Satan and all evil?
I renounce all that is evil.
Almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness, and lead you in the light of Christ to his everlasting kingdom. Amen.
Will you each, by God’s grace, strive to live as a disciple of Christ, loving God with your whole heart, and your neighbour as yourself, until your life’s end?
I will, with God’s help.
The blessing of the Baptism service:
Go forth into the world in peace;
be of good courage;
hold fast that which is good;
render to no one evil for evil;
strengthen the faint hearted; support the weak;
help the afflicted;
give honour to all; love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Live Out Your Faith Boldly: Baptism is a commitment to live out your faith. Look for opportunities to demonstrate your faith through acts of kindness, service, and love. This could be volunteering in your community, helping a neighbour, or simply being a source of encouragement to those around you.
Acknowledge God’s Generosity: Just as God declared Jesus as His beloved Son and was pleased with Him, recognise the goodness in your life and the gifts you have been given. Practice gratitude daily, acknowledging that you have enough and that it is good. This mindset can transform how you approach challenges and opportunities.
Build Community: Baptism also signifies becoming part of a larger community. Engage with your church or faith community, participate in group activities, and support one another. Building strong relationships within your community can help you grow in your faith and provide mutual support.
Reflect God’s Love: In your interactions with others, strive to reflect God’s love and grace. Be patient, forgiving, and compassionate. This can make a significant impact on those around you and demonstrate the transformative power of living out your baptism.
Together, these readings convey that baptism is an invitation to enter into a covenant with God, receive His Spirit, and boldly live out one’s faith as a testament to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is a call to embrace a new identity in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to uphold the promises made during baptism.