Hello, Beloved of Prospect Park UMC! Did you know that’s your name? Beloved? Well if not, we’ll dig into why (among other things) this Sunday in worship. This Sunday is the “Baptism of Our Lord” Sunday, the Sunday we remember Jesus’ baptism. Baptism is one of those things most Christians believe they understand, but then if we do, why do various denominations do it differently and for different reasons? This Sunday we are “Breaking Down Baptism”, and I hope also reimagining it and thereby opening it up. -Pastor Paul Baudhuin
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:15-22 (NRSVUE)
15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved with you I am well pleased.”