The promise is for you and your children

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call. -- Acts 2:39

Two Sundays ago, we baptized John David. In doing so, we publicly declared our intention to raise him within the body of Christ and, as Kathleen explained just about two years ago, "welcome him into God's family."

We'd been meaning to baptize our not-so-little boy for quite some time, but our plans were thwarted again and again. To our delight, when we finally arranged the baptism, we shared the event with two other families from our community group. (There was a bit of a baby boom for our community group in 2009! Five families, four babies!) Kathleen and her best friend were thrilled to "bath-tize their babies" at the same time! It was a privilege and a joy to be able to share this special event with our friends and their little ones.

Speaking of little ones, between the families, we have a lot of children! There are seven children in this photograph... and that's not all of us!

When Luke (our congregation's musical minister and an ordained minister and, of course, our friend) began the baptism, he summed up our hopes and expectations for our son and for his little friends perfectly:

· That as these parents raise their children, assisted by the Body of Christ, that these kids will become men and women after God’s own heart.
· That these children would learn that salvation is found through Christ alone, and that they will be made alive in him.
· And that through faith, they will see that the promises of God—the ones that they are stepping into this morning—have been at work in their lives as they come to faith, and that the blessings of God would pour forth as blessing in the world.

During the baptism, parents affirm certain questions and promises on behalf of their children. This is normally a reasonably serious undertaking. However, as Luke asked,

Do you acknowledge you child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

Madeline started scrambling over Jim's shoulder. It didn't go unnoticed, because when we answered (heartily), "we do!" the congregation burst out laughing.

Fortunately, the rest of the baptism went more smoothly. John David didn't cry at all when Luke sprinkled him with water and prayed.

I now: Baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the blessings of God descend upon you, and remain with you now and forever, that you would be blessed as God’s beloved, and that you would become a man after God’s own heart.

John David, at nine months old and 26 pounds, didn't fit in the family christening gown. (Not that Jim was at all interested in having his first born son in a dress...) But I think it's pretty darling that he serendipitously matched Luke in a navy blue sweater vest!

We were glad to have John David's uncle (and godfather) Kevin, aunt Marie and cousin Nora with us for the service. Afterwards we joined our friends for an afternoon of food and fellowship. We rejoiced at the blessings of our sweet babes and of the friendships we share.