Looking Forward to January 13, 2018 -- Baptism of Christ Sunday

One of the Sermon suggestions received last summer was a series on Sacraments. This is actually morphing into a series called "practices of the Church" which will mainly be during Lent. But this week we have a precursor to that series, because it seems very natural to talk about Baptism on the Sunday of the Church year designated "Baptism of Christ".

The Scripture readings for this week are:

• Mark 1:1-11
• Matthew 28:18-20

The Sermon title is Why do we do this?

Early Thoughts: At one level the answer is easy. We baptize people because a) Jesus was baptized, and b) the Risen Christ tells us to go out and baptize people.

Wow, that would be a short sermon! There must be something more to it...

And of course there is.  Why do we baptize children over adults? What do we think Baptism means? What does is accomplish or signify?

These are the big questions.

One of my seminary profs wrote a book called Eager for Worship about United Church of Canada worship practices.  While I intend to re-read her comments about Baptism this week (because I first read the book 17 years ago) I do remember that Charlotte suggests that a number of understandings of Baptism exist in the United Church. I think to know "why we do this" we need to look at those understandings and ask which ones mean the most to us as individuals and as a congregation.

Oh and for the record the liturgy for Baptism is one of the very few places where we are required to use specific language in worship in the United Church of Canada. Come on Sunday to find out what that language is and why it is required.
--Gord