The
Cayman Islands are within the ancient Episcopal Jurisdiction
Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church
Today's Scripture: Genesis 1: 1-5 Acts 19: 1-7 S. Mark 1: 4-11
Today: 8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Ch. School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6 p.m. Evening Pr.
Tues - Fri: 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers; Sat: 10 a.m. Prison Ministry
Next Sunday: 8.35 p.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP.
FAITH
IN FOCUS:THE BABY AND THE BATH WATER
It might sound a strange thing to say, but baptism isn’t really for babies. We baptise them to include them in the household or family of faith. We initiate them into the community of believers where they will have a chance to hear what God asks of them and offers them in return. Our prayer is that gradually they will come to make their commitment to Jesus as we ourselves have done. Although we acknowledge that the faith of a child is a precious thing, we do not equate this with the adult tussle that is required for a Christian to profess belief in Jesus and agree to a radical and alternative lifestyle from that of secular society. But while we put the baby aside for a moment we must not throw out the bath water.
When Jesus was baptised by his cousin John it was no empty gesture intended to make them both look good. It was at his baptism that Jesus took on the task of revealing the good news that would end in his death. The baptism was Jesus’ way of accepting his mission and of being sealed by the Spirit for what lay ahead.
So if we think of our own baptisms as things that happened years ago when we were babies, then we are missing the point. Baptism is not simply an admission ticket; it’s the programme notes that help us enjoy the show. We have to renew and live out our baptismal promises in a fresh way each day.
Nobody can tell you how this is to be done. That’s because when God accepted you at baptism he gifted you with a mission that is unique to you. No one else has ever been made in the same mould as you, and God will not ordain it that anyone else will ever encounter the same people and circumstances that you do in your life.
Celebrating the baptism of Christ means renewing our commitment to Jesus so that by our lives we bear unceasing witness to the gospel, no matter how demanding this may be. As we pray for guidance on how God is seeking to use us in his mission on earth, we draw strength from the gifts and promises of our baptism And this is something that only an adult can do.
WORD OF GOD
It was at this time that Jesus
came from Nazareth in Galilee
and was baptised in the Jordan by John.
(Mark 1:9)
WORD FOR TODAY
Most of us cannot remember our own baptisms. But like Christ we too were commissioned: as priests who offer our daily lives to God, as prophets who speak up for God by our words and actions, and as kings and queens who accept the responsibility of caring for those in God’s kingdom on earth. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord redirects us in our mission.
CHRISTIANS ARE MADE not born.
(St Jerome)
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
People noticed that Louis IX of France never signed himself as “King Louis” but simply as “Louis of Poissy”. When asked why, he replied, “Poissy is the place where I was baptised. I think more of the place where I was baptised than of Rheims Cathedral where I was crowned. It is a greater thing to be a child of God than ruler of a kingdom”.
THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS
Mon: Gen 1: 1-19, Matthew 21: 1–17, 1 Cor 1: 1-17
Tues : Gen 1:20 – 2:3, Matt 21: 18-23, 1 Cor 1: 18–end
Wed: Gen 2: 4-end, Matt 21: 33–end, 1 Cor 2
Thurs: Gen 3, Matthew 22: 1-14, 1 Corinthians 3
Fri : Gen 4: 1-16, 25-26, Matthew 22: 15-33, 1 Cor 4
Sat: Gen 6: 1-10, Matthew 22 :34–end, 1 Cor 5
NEXT SUNDAY : 1 Samuel 3: 1-20, Revelation 5: 1-10, S. John 1: 43-end