Celebration!

The story of God's people is filled with moments that God calls us to remember, moments when we can look back and remember God's faithfulness and His goodness. Last Sunday was one of those days for Fishes N' Loaves - our brother Dan was baptized at the park.

Billy, one of the pastors at Wellspring, came out to perform the baptism.

And many of us gathered around as witnesses and participants in Dan's story.

...Faith is the gift of God to his people.

In baptism the Lord is adding to our number

those whom he is calling...

As Billy reminded each of us of the significance of baptism,

Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us

that to enter the kingdom of heaven

we must be born again of water and the Spirit,

and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth.

Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean.

Here we are clothed with Christ,

dying to sin that we may live his risen life.

As children of God, we have a new dignity

and God calls us to fullness of life.

there were signs of what was to come.

Billy said a prayer

... We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.

In it we are buried with Christ in his death.

By it we share in his resurrection.

Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit...

and Dan settled into the chilly water.

I baptize you...

in the name of the Father...

and of the Son...

and of the Holy Spirit...

Amen.

May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,

pour upon you the riches of his grace,

that within the company of Christ's pilgrim people

you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,

and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.