In Matthew 4:18, the first disciples dropped their occupations in the fishing industry when Jesus called them; they all were involved in a highly successful business, and they were doing quite well. But now Jesus was expanding that business in ways that they couldn’t imagine!

Many throughout history have done the same, walking away from jobs of high earnings for the insecurity of pastoring, teaching, becoming a chaplain in a prison, being a monk or a priest or a missionary. Millions of Christians on a regular basis give up practices and attitudes and occupations and jobs to follow, to become part of Jesus portable community in the world. And the only way I can come to grips with this kind of change in people’s lives is Jesus himself: Just as the disciples heard his voice and felt his presence some 2000 years ago, so people still do today, sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a shout, sometimes as a wakeup call in the night (or morning), sometimes as a low ache that won’t go away, or sometimes dramatically, suddenly, and powerfully. 

However it may happen, Jesus has ways of getting through. There is a visible change in behavior, habits, loyalties, priorities.

Now, to be sure, we cannot always know where this change is going to lead us, but we can be sure that Christ will go with us. We can be pretty sure that Peter, James, and John and Andrew had no idea where their lives would end that day on the Sea of Galilee. And we can be pretty sure that we don’t either. 

That’s how big the mission of God is! The Holy Spirit blows where it wills! The Spirit nudges us and, hopefully, we hear Christ’s voice, calling us and waking us up to follow him, giving our lives over to him. May it be so!
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Pastor Andy Kinsey

One of two sacraments we practice in the Methodist church, baptism is often described as an outward sign of an inward grace, and the way in which those who believe in Jesus are marked for discipleship.  In other words, it is two fold:  1. it is a public display of an inner decision to accept the love and grace given to us by God.  2.  It is the way believers mark their life in Jesus and the church. 

It is a long time practice of the church, rich in symbolism and meaning.  And whether it is done by pouring or sprinkling water over the head, or immersing the entire body, the meaning / purpose is the same - to tell all those who gather, “I have given my life to Jesus and will do all I can to let go of the life symbolically buried beneath the waters of God’s love and rise into the new life given me in Jesus’ name.”  And for those bringing their baby or young child for baptism, it is the moment they say, “I remember that which I believe in Jesus and chose to stand against the evil injustices of this world, and want you, the church community, to help raise my child into the follower of Jesus he/she is meant to be.”  

For the 75-80 percent or more of you that already know all that, great.  Good job.  Well done.  To you I say, remember your baptism and be grateful.  For the remaining 20-25 percent who maybe didn’t know some of that, or wasn’t brought up within the church, it’s o.k., don’t worry.  To you I say, baptism is personal and communal.  You have to decide if it is the next step for you and where you are in your faith.  It is something you and God decide to share and celebrate with the body of believers. 

Baptized or not, hear this church, baptism is not your ticket into heaven.  It is not a requirement to fulfill some holy expectation.  It does not make you any better a believer than any other believer.  It is not a free ride to continue acting in ways that hurt or ignore others or to do things that keep God at arm's length.

It is simply and profoundly…plainly and beautifully an act of joyful obedience representing the transformation happening from within, or as Frederick Buechner put it: “Baptism consists of getting dunked or sprinkled.  Which technique is used matters about as much as whether you pray kneeling or standing on your head.  Dunking is a better symbol, however.  Going under symbolizes the end of everything about your life that is less than human.  Coming up again symbolizes the beginning in you of something strange and new and hopeful.  You can breathe again.” 

Read Matthew 3:13-17

Why did he do it?  He certainly didn’t have to.  Of all people, he should be exempt from baptism.  Why didn’t he just stand high on the bank and watch the others?  Why didn’t he just let all the others come for baptism, those who need a second chance, messed it up, and those who waded out so deep into trouble they weren’t sure whether to turn back or finish crossing?  Of all people, he didn’t need forgiven did he?  Let the people whose lives are just a tangle of poor judgement, ridicule and criticism, and those rich in things and poor in soul.

Why did he do it?  Because Jesus approached baptism as an act of solidarity with our human condition.  This solidarity is specifically grounded in that which God requires of all humankind, namely, humbly submitting to and trusting in God in all things.  In his humanity, Jesus stands with us in the waters of this life.  In his divinity, he finds us in the river and brings us through to the other side. 

He did it out of loyalty to God.  It is the moment in his life that declares who he is and what is expected as the son of God.  On that level it is personal.  He did it out of love for us, showing us that he is with us, he stands with us, he wades the currents of this life with us. It teaches what is expected of us as followers of Jesus. 

Baptism summons us away from a life saturated in greed, self gratification, judgmentalism, fear, empty promises, and shame to a life dripping with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control.

Luther said, “remember your baptism.”  How can people do that?  In Luther’s church, most baptisms were of infants brought by their mothers and fathers.  How could they remember their baptisms?  Why did he say such a thing?  

Was it to make you feel guilty? “Aha! You’ve strayed from your baptism!”  Everyone of us strays from, forgets, or denies our baptism in ways we may not even realize.  “Show me a bird who can say, ‘I look like my song.’  We all fall short. 

No, what Luther had in mind was this: Remember your baptism by claiming yourself to be a child of God and by going about God’s business - serving other people. It means touching, loving, going, doing, caring for people. The crying and broken-hearted people.  Hungry and diseased people.  Alienated people.  Suffering people.  That is the business of one who follows Jesus - one who through baptism lives out the love and grace of Jesus.
Come to the water, may God find us there - gather with others who are finding their way.  Come to the water and remember the love waiting there for you.  Come to the water and receive blessing, new life, freedom, hope, and healing.  
Come, remember your baptism and be grateful.  
Come, consider baptism and be thankful.
Come, celebrate the waters of story, renewal and identity, and be glad.
Come and remember who you are in Jesus. 

O God, we rejoice and give thanks in your grace.  Grace given.  Grace received. We thank you that you have claimed us.  You wash and strengthen us.  You guide and empower us.  Make us water in a dry and thirsty world. Make us places of refreshment. Establish us in love.  With all your people, may our cups be filled as we fill the cups of others.  May our lives overflow in service and love.  AMEN

Pastor Jenothy Irvine