A Multi-Church Baptism Event took place on Sunday, August 3rd, at 6:00 p.m. at the Narragansett Town Beach.
Order of Events was as follows: Gathering to music, greeting guests and passers-by, opening with Unity Prayer – Our Father, worship songs, scripture reading and reflection from Psalm 23/John 10, announcement of baptismal candidates by their respective pastors, baptisms on the beach, Closing Prayer – Psalm 29, and communal celebration with mingle, swim, or surf.
We at Stony Lane Church are overjoyed. Three members of our church joined the body of Christ this year.
John the Baptist used baptism in his ministry. For those who received it, it meant that they were repenting of their old way of life, receiving forgiveness of sins, and entering into a new mode of living. By being baptized, the people had aligned themselves with John, they were, in a sense, one with him and one with Jesus Christ, and all his people. They were baptized into Christ, into the body of Christ.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Peter said that, combined with faith, this baptism was part of the process God used to save us, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Another way to think of baptism is alike to receiving a U.S. passport for a child, of a U.S. citizen-parent, who is born and living outside of the U.S., his home country. The passport, with all its privileges and rights, means he belongs to his home country and can go back to it. Similarly, baptism is our passport confirming us as children born again as citizens of heaven. We don’t yet live in our true home. But baptism marks us as those who belong to God through Jesus Christ. Baptism grants us the rights and privileges of the children of God, even while we live in the foreign land – this mortal life.
The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism. A new stage in Jesus’ life has begun – His public ministry which included victory over evil forces, display of miracles, and an ability to preach with authority. Like Jesus, our baptism includes power to minister substantiated by the same divine Spirit that flowed in Jesus. In spreading the Gospel, we become God’s instruments in the world.
The explanation of baptism is taken from https://clearbible.blog/2022/09/08/1-peter-25-the-meaning-of-baptism/
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:38-39
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. – 1 Peter 1:3-4
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.