Celebrating Baptisms
According to the Church calendar, just as Christmastime is not one day but twelve, the Epiphany season beginning January 6 on the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ lasts from four to nine weeks, ending as Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6.
Epiphany means “revealing” and the wonder of Christ coming into the world needs a lot of time and effort to tell the story. It’s been going on for centuries! The Gospel and lessons on Epiphany Sundays reflect some of the ways Christ is made known in the world, from the visitation of the Magi who represent gentiles through to the Transfiguration on the Last Sunday of Epiphany season. In between we hear of the miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana along with other miracles through which Christ, the Son of God, is made manifest to all people.
Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. As at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost and All Saints’ Day, initiation into the Church through the rite of Baptism is especially appropriate on this Sunday.
The story of Christ in word and song always invites participation in the drama of salvation: yours, mine, and the world’s. Our baptisms shape our roles in the church and in the world. Please pray for Isaiah David Tulipan, Baylen Keaton Collinsworth-Henderlite, Will Long and Olivia Grace Steilberg as they begin their journey with us.
~Allen+
The Rev. Canon Allen LaMontagne, Sub-Dean