Holy Baptism

A great service of thanksgiving and rejoicing today in Saint Nicholas' when baby Sophie was baptised.

We had a fun time looking at the various symbols used in the service and the young people and small children did a tour of the church, interviewing some of the parishioners and finding out what it means to live the Christian life.
Baby Sophie was, as they say, "as good as gold" and met everyone in church.  Her Godparents and Parents took the vows on her behalf with great clarity and sincerity.

Sophie's big sister and big brother were there as well and helped to fill the font with water ... afterwards they "pulled the plug" to allow the water to seep down into the earth.
It is always a great moment in the life of a church when we have these baptismal services and our prayer is that this family will find with us, not just a welcome, but also their spiritual home.
This photograph includes not only Emma, our Parish Reader who assisted in the service, but also the Mothers' Union banner.  The MU will continue to care for the babies who are baptised and send cards on their birthdays.
The windows in the baptistery depict the old man Simeon with the infant Jesus (on the left) and Jesus' welcome to the little children (on the right).

As the family stood at the front of Saint Nicholas' the choir sang the beautiful Aaronic Blessing over them ... it was a deeply moving moment in the sacrament.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

make his face to shine upon you,

and be gracious onto you.  

May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you 

and give  you peace.