Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
All of the Churches in the Anglesey Group are planning Baptism Anniversary services this Summer. Baptism is so important to the Christian faith, and it is essential that we take time to celebrate its importance through a special celebration in Church. I love baptising babies, and hardly a week goes by without a parent contacting me to arrange the Baptism of their baby. So I thought that I would take the opportunity of sharing with you something of the significance of Baptism to the Christian Church.
There is a lot of 'mumbo jumbo'associated with the rite of Baptism. Some see it as a rite of passage - which it isn't. Some see it as a 'naming'ceremony - which it isn't. Some see it as a thanksgiving for the birth of a child - which is not it's prime purpose. Some see it as a device to ensure that the child can be buried in consecrated ground - which it isn't. Some see it as ensuring that the child can be married in Church - which it isn't.
Baptism is as old as the Christian faith itself. The Christian Church began when 3000 people were baptised in response to an electrifying sermon by St. Peter 2000years ago. St. Peter was being obedient to his Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded his disciples to baptise his followers "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Jesus taught that Baptism is a sign of cleansing from the 'dirtyness'of our sinful lives. You may not think you are very 'dirty'in a moral or ethical sense, but by comparison with a God, who is the perfection of goodness and love, all of us inevitably fall short. Yet, despite our 'dirtyness', God wants us to be able to stand tall in his presence, and for us to be able to benefit hugely from a day-to-day loving relationship with him, and the opportunity to be 'in paradise'with Him in heaven. Consequently, God devised a plan of salvation. He decided to make a sacrifice that would overcome our 'dirtyness'. The sacrifice needed to be hugely significant to stand the test of time, and to be sufficient to meet the needs of billions of human beings. The only sacrifice that could have the necessary impact to achieve this was the sacrifice of His son. So this is what he did at the first Easter.
God gave salvation to us as a freely offered gift. It costs us nothing, but it cost God a great deal indeed. As with any gift, it only becomes real when it is valued and accepted in the manner in which it was intended, which is where Baptism comes in. Baptism is our way of responding to the free gift of salvation. The cleansing act of baptism reminds us of the saving work that Christ has carried out for us by his suffering and death on the cross, and we emerge from the waters of baptism as 'new' people. The 'old 'dirty'person has been washed clean to become a 'new'person who is acceptable to God.
Now, all this argues for the Baptism of adults, who can understand and participate in the meaning and importance of the rite, and our non-conformist brethren understand it that way. However, once the Church and state became intertwined into 'Christendom', it has been understood that a newly born baby in 'Christendom'can be assumed to be brought up as a Christian and can be Baptised into the Christian faith.
However, we no longer live in the realm of 'Christendom'. We no longer assume nowadays that everyone born in this country is naturally a Christian. So, when we Baptise a baby, we appoint Godparents, whose task is to watch over the child, and pray for them, with a view to guiding them into an understanding of the Christian faith. At the same time the Church seeks to act in partnership with the baby's parents and godparents to work with them to help the child grow up in the faith. That is why we are so keen that Baptism takes place within the context of the Church's main act of worship, allowing the congregation to welcome the child, witness the Baptism, and commit themselves to work in partnership with the parents and Godparents. A Baptism Anniversary Service is an ideal way in which that continuing sense of contact between the Church and the child can therefore be maintained. And every Church has a monthly Family Service where the children can start to learn about the faith into which they have been Baptised.
So, if you would like your child Baptised - don't hesitate to contact me. And, if your child is already Baptised, but doesn't attend Church regularly, look out for details of a Baptism anniversary service in your local Church, and come along and celebrate your child's Baptism with us.
May God bless you all,