Each year in early January, our liturgical calendar marks the baptism of Jesus when we remember that Christ himself was baptized and named by God as a beloved child. Every baptism we celebrate claims that promise again and is a covenant of grace between God, the baptized person, their family, and their community of faith.  Our baptism vows are the promises we make to let God’s love continue making us anew each and every day of our lives. 

This new year, we’ll begin a worship series called “Wade in the Water: Living Our Baptism” when we examine our baptism vows and the faithfulness they call us to embody as the church. We’ll begin with a chance to renew our baptism promises as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and then move through the language of our baptismal vows and liturgy. 

“Wade in the Water” is, of course, a well-known African American spiritual that also contained encoded instructions for people escaping slavery to move into the water where they could not be easily tracked. “Wade in the Water” was a call to resistance in the face of injustice and a literal invitation to new life. It is a fitting call to examine what our baptism calls us to in the world today. 

Whether you have been baptized or not, I hope this series will be an opportunity for all of us to consider how we wade into the waters of God’s grace and let Christ’s love continue to make us anew. 

– Pastor Jenny

Wade in the Water: Living Our Baptism

Jan. 12: Baptism Renewal: “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?”

Jan. 19: Human Relations Sunday: “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?” Rev. Kendall Hughes preaching

Jan. 26: UWF Sunday: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord in union with the Church which Christ has opened to all people?”

Feb. 2: All Church Meeting: “Will you nurture this person in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example, they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?”

Feb. 9: “Do you, as Christ’s body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?” 

Feb. 16: “With God’s help, we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ…”