Archive for baptism

Take Me to the Water

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”   Luke 3:21-22

 

Today, on the day we remember Jesus’ baptism, the household of God welcomed many new family members through the sacrament of baptism. It is a day of solemn joy as we remember our own vows, and promise to do everything in our power to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ.  Afterwards we give thanks to God for forgiveness of sins and the new life of grace.  Finally, we ask God to bestow a most precious gift:

Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.

Amen.  And may it be so for all of us.


 

 

To see and hear historic American music and photographs of baptisms, explore Dust to Digital’s Take Me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photographs.

 

On Jordan’s Bank

Luke 3: 2b-3 “…the word of God came to John the son of Zechari’ah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”


Katja Linder plays Martin Gaskell’s chorale prelude on “Winchester New,” the tune of the English hymn “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry.”  Recorded at First Cumberland Presbyterian, Austin, Texas.

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there….

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Who advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.

lyrics from The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #63