This Sunday we will be celebrating the baptism of Tommy and Theo Daniels! We’ll officially welcome them into our church family and reaffirm our own commitment to follow the way of Christ, while the parish community promises to help them and their family grow into their baptismal promises. In honor of that joy, I want to tell you the story of the absolute BEST baptism I’ve ever seen.
During my time as a deacon, finishing up seminary and my internship at St. Clement’s out in Berkeley, I had the chance to assist at the baptism of a very sweet, happy baby of about eight or nine months old. St. Clement’s is a more formal church than St. Clare’s—not so formal that people get in trouble for making mistakes or laughing if something funny happens, or anything like that, but certainly more traditional in their liturgy and service structure. They can come across as a very serious congregation before you get to know them.
The baby seemed delighted to be the center of so much attention. She was wiggly and giggly and enjoying herself thoroughly. Well, one of the things babies of that age like to do, as they learn about how being human works, is to move their bodies and figure out how all these parts work together. This baby, like some others I’ve seen, liked to swing her head vigorously back and forth, as if she were saying NO in a very enthusiastic way.
And Baby began to do this just as Rev. Bruce began asking the questions of her parents and godparents.
“Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?”
Adults: I renounce them.
Baby: *shaking her head NO NO NO NO NO*
The congregation laughed. The baby got EVEN MORE ENTHUSIASTIC in her head-shaking.
“Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?”
Adults: I do.
Baby: *giggling loudly and shaking her head even more NO NO NO NO NO*
By now the congregation was LOSING IT. But we got Baby baptized successfully, she managed to lean over to get her hands into the font and splash all of us standing nearby, and we finished up the service and went to eat celebratory cake. (Baby was not given control of her own slice of cake, probably much to the relief of the coffee hour hosts.)
The promises we make in baptism are indeed solemn and should be taken seriously, but they are always based in joy!
—Rev. Toby