Baptism

I attended a Baptism of Alice, the child of good friends of ours yesterday.  Her parents wanted her baptism to be at the church at the centre of their primary family group, so we went to a lovely church near Brighton.

We went to the family home, and met for the first time the family, who surround our good friend, and I am impelled to say that they were wonderful.  Welcoming, friendly and already having a great deal of background knowledge of us, from our friends, although, we knew little or nothing of them, as our friend has always been quite reserved about such detail.  He is a professional, a Doctor and Pschiatrist,  who while outgoing and a wonderful person, always seems to hold a watching brief for what is going on around him.   However, seeing him with Alice is a revelation, all of the outer coat disappears and he is the epitome of a doting father.

Baptism means a lot to them as practicing Anglicans, and we found their family to be also life long Anglicans - regular church goers and committed to their faith and living accordingly.

So, seeing Alice being welcomed into the family of the church was an experience full of joy and with the opportunity to feel again and to understand the true meaning of Baptism for us.  In particular the promises made by the Parents and God parents on behalf of Alice, but the mutual recitation of the Creed.

I actually felt  instinctively, that those making this profession of faith alongside and for Alice and ourselves, really felt, and believed the things they were professing and that is a wonderful thing. To feel in both the presence of God as a happy occasion, but knowing that believers together were praising and worshiping God as well.

So, when we think of Baptism as the start of our life in Christ - we also look further forward to living the life fully human, in the way that God wills us to - in companionship, harmony, love, fellowship, compassion, community, loving and worshiping God.   The Kingdom of God perhaps?