BAPTISMS | Something to celebrate

There’s a scene in one of my favorite movies O Brother, Where Art Thou where folks are getting baptized. It’s peaceful; almost surreal. Dozens of people, dressed all in white linen are gracefully walking through the woods singing that old spiritual “Down to the river to pray.” One by one they come to the water’s edge and step into the river to be baptized by a waist deep revival preacher.

Although this scene makes for good cinema, such peace and planned choreography are not the case for most baptisms: Especially Jesus’. In the Gospels we are presented with John the Baptist, a wild man who is baptizing folks down at the River Jordan. And he is doing so with uncertainty in the air. Religion scholar Scott Korb writes that at the time “Jewish people chafed under Roman rule, bandits and assassins roamed the countryside, and entire economies and belief systems were being transformed.” And here is this guy out in the woods spouting off prophecies of the power and might of the one who shall come behind him. And then Jesus shows up, is baptized, and begins his earthly ministry as God’s beloved son.

The global pandemic and its effects have changed many aspects of the logistics of church. But it has not changed the call of Jesus saying, “Go and baptize.” There’s a lot to be sad about. However, the growing ministry of DOWNTOWN CHURCH and the reminder that God claims us, loves us, and is with us, is always something to celebrate. 

Since I began working at DOWNTOWN CHURCH in late July there have been 13 baptisms. 13 times the parents of these children said “yes” to God’s claim on their child. 13 times this congregation said “yes” to guide, nurture, and support the newly baptized in his/her walk of faith. 13 times we were able to celebrate with joy welcoming these names into God’s kin-dom. 

James Cassidy 
Miller Wikel
Creek Wentzky
Lola Gillespie
Charlie Foster 
Wyatt Lybrand 
Wilson Lybrand 
Berkeley Hiott 
Penelope McCann
Reese Cypress
Taylor Keenan
Elisabeth Middekke
Satcher Crow

If you find yourself running out of things to pray about, pray for these beloved children of God. Pray for their parents (Lord knows that parents need it now), pray for this community to teach Christ’s lessons of love, grace, and forgiveness to them all, and pray that as they grow up and look back at such wild times they might know that God’s presence and love was with them, with us, through it all.