Claimed for Jesus

"The Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its' name, I claim you for Christ our Savior. . ."

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Is there anything greater? I felt like I couldn't say "YES" with enough of myself. Make them faithful witnesses to your gospel, make their parents and godparents worthy examples of the faith, lead them by a holy life into your kingdom of joy.

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We recite the creed and hear "This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it." And we are charged to keep our children walking in the light of faith.

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And then a prayer for parents---the mother now thanks God for these children, born into new life, and "may she be one with them in thanking God forever in heaven". May the father and mother "be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith in all they say and do in Christ Jesus our Lord."

A great big charge--to lead God's little children to know and to love Him--but it's given with grace from Him and through his body.

Father David said that what came to him when praying about this particular baptism was the joy of the mother being complete. It fit beautifully with a poem David had found days prior (Baptism by John Keble)


"But happiest ye, who sealed and blest,
back to your arms your treasure take,
with Jesus' mark impressed,
to nurse for Jesus' sake"
. . .

"Sweet one, make haste and know him too,
Thine own adopting Father love,
that like thine earliest dew
thy dying sweets may prove"

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We were surrounded by grandparents and friends. And Grace and Sheldon's godparents sent the most beautiful baptism gift. You can see it here, in a very sweet post.

We are so blessed.