Preached by: Venerable Stephen Taylor In the days of John the Baptist, people we asked to make a stand for their faith, align their lifes with Gods and be baptised.…
Preached by: Venerable Stephen Taylor
In the days of John the Baptist, people we asked to make a stand for their faith, align their lifes with Gods and be baptised.
I received a Christmas card from the pope this year. On it, he says:
Every yes to Jesus is a bud of hope.
This morning, Charlie, Oscar and Emmeline will be saying yes to Jesus and joining in a tradition of millenia where Christians have sought to stand up and be counted.
Every generation has needed people at all levels to stand up as disciples of Jesus Christ and uphold a lifestyle of loving God and loving others.
In the days of John the baptist
Jewish boys were circumcised either on the eighth day if they were of Jewish families or at a later stage when they became a Jew.
As the Christian faith grew out of the Jewish faith, the question of circumcision became relevant, especially as more gentiles were coming to faith.
In the end, it was concluded that entry into the Christian faith was to be by baptism. For infants
Baptism replaced circumcision as a sign of identity. (To the relief of Charlie and Oscar)
Jesus’s baptism was him identifying himself with humankind. And our baptism (and those being baptised today) identify us with Jesus and the values of the Christian faith.
As adults, we make our statement of faith at our baptism, infants make their own statement of faith when they are old enought to speak for themselves at confirmation, when they confirm the promises made on their behalf by parents and godparents.
Jesus at his baptism, stood up and embraced the public mjnistry that was before him.
And Gid responded.
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
God the Father blesses God the Son by the Holy Spirit
When we stand up for our faith, we make a difference that impacts positively in the world. And God honours that
At the end of each service we attend, the priest pronounces God’s blessing. His honouring of us identifying with the faith.
Last week we considered the differences we might by choosing forgiveness over holding a grudge, understanding over aggression, love over blame, and generosity over indifference.
Making a stand has two parts. The statement of faith and the living out of that faith. The latter happens constantly as we seek out God’s intention for our daily living and choices.
But the decision to make that statement is a conscious decision we make, which identifies us as a Christian, and if you haven’t been confirmed, I encourage you to consider that.
Two roundels either side of the east window. The only religious pictures in any of our stained glass. The lamb of God depicying Jesus. And the doce dipcti g the Hlly Spirit.
They were painted by James Pearson in 1796, when he was at the height of his fame. The Lamb to the north remains Pearson’s work, but the Dove to the south was shattered by a V1 in 1944, and restored by Joan Howson.
IHS
Iesus Hominum Salvator: A Latin phrase that translates to “Jesus, Saviour of Mankind.” It is the most common interpretation of IHS
Also
IHS is a combination of the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus: Iota (I), Eta (H), and Sigma (S).
As you come later to the communion rail, consider these windows, one a sign of Jesus accepting you as you are and assuring you of your salvation, the other a sign of Gods blessing, and empowering you to live the Christian life.
This morning, may we each receive the words from God for ourselves.
You are His beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”
Amen
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