There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

~Ephesians 4:45

Can I Get a Witness?

In the early church, baptism was a significant milestone. By the fourth century, adult converts often spent months or even years learning the Christian faith and preparing for baptism. Often, baptisms would take place on Easter or at the Easter Vigil the night before. Those who had been preparing would enter the waters for baptism (often without their clothing!), then were anointed with oil before joining the rest of their community in worship. Baptism marked their entrance into the church.

For United Methodists today, baptism still marks our entry into Christ's holy church. We wear clothes, thankfully, and we don’t have years of classes. We do ask those being baptized to profess their faith, accept God's grace, and commit themselves to living as disciples of Christ by taking the baptismal vows. As with so much of our United Methodist theology, we understand the sacrament of baptism as a means of grace, as a way God meets us. Baptism isn't simply a box we check and leave behind. It is an open door, an invitation to keep growing deeper and deeper in Christian love.

And baptism is something we do together. We believe something extraordinary happens not only to the person being baptized, but also to all of us who witness and participate in it. Baptism happens in the gathered church, where the congregation promises to surround the newly baptized person with support throughout their lifelong journey of faith.

At Saint John’s, we baptize folks at the front of the church with our baptismal font. Next month on the church’s 78th birthday, we are taking our next baptisms on the road! Join us at Barton Springs on September 12 at 9 a.m. where we have folks to baptize and we need your help to make the gathered community. Trust me, it will be best if you are there. Register here or using the link below, and we'll communicate the day's plans. If you are interested in being baptized, send me an email!

Whether you are being baptized or providing the community of witnesses, you are essential. I hope you will join us.