Feature
Why Baptism Matters for the Work of Dismantling Racism
Perhaps my favorite definition of the word sacrament is “the visible sign of an invisible grace.” Coined during the Council of Trent by Augustine of Hippo, the North African theologian on whose theology much of Western Christianity laid its foundations, it remains one of the most used definitions in both the Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant traditions.
by Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava
Liturgy
Naming God at Baptism
Gail RamshawGail Ramshaw, a retired professor of religion, studies and crafts liturgical language from her home outside of Washington, D.C.While our God is before all time, heard through the ages, God is also with us in this moment. How can we trust that ancient words...
by Gail Ramshaw
Music
Singing around the Font
If your church is at all like mine, baptisms are one of the most joyous occasions of the Christian liturgical life. It is a profound gift to witness the new life that is birthed from the waters and to be reminded of God’s promises to us as we make or renew our promises to God and one another. And, as with so many of our Christian rites, baptism is both solemnized and celebrated with song.
by David Bjorlin
Preaching
Preaching and Baptism: The Power of Living Water
I received the opportunity to baptize a baby during my first call as an associate pastor in a growing, vibrant congregation. I was both excited and anxious because such opportunities are rare while working under a well-established head of staff.
by Larissa Kwong Abazia
The Arts
Art and Baptism: The Choreography of Visible and Invisible Grace
When I think “baptism,” the word “choreography” is not the first word I imagine. Instead I think of my friend Gayden, who says second babies often walk down the aisle to the font because their parents have long given up on making the family baptismal gown fit. I think of congregations holding their breath to see if the baby will wake up and cry when the water hits their universe, only to find their own faces wet with tears of joy.
by Ann Laird Jones
