One of the joys of ministry for me is getting to baptize new Christians, whether they are eight months old or eighty years old. The symbolism of baptism is so powerful, especially in this season of Lent. According to Paul in Romans, we are baptized into Jesus Christ and therefore baptized into His death. When we baptize, we are symbolically buried with Christ and raised into new life.
Our old life is left behind and we find a new life in Christ. Galatians says we clothe ourselves in Christ.
One baptism I specifically remember was for Miranda Weaver, who joined our church and was baptized about four years ago. Miranda has graciously allowed me to share her story. She was a young lady in her 30s and I was asked if I could baptize her in the beautiful little chapel in the Mansion. Of course, I agreed and what really struck me was how her parents, Ben and Cathy, came all the way from Ohio to be here for this special moment. Like many adult baptisms I do, this one was emotional, and you could see it in the faces of Miranda and her mom and dad. There was a special bond here between parents and daughter.
There is something sacred when in baptism we proclaim that a person has been joined or grafted into the body of Christ. It is through the grace of Jesus Christ that we receive new life and are called to live a life of love.
As circumstances would have it, Miranda eventually moved back to Ohio to be close to family. That move turned out to be a grace moment as her mother, Cathy, was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in 2018. Miranda has continued to stay connected to our church family. She told me St. Luke’s was the only church she ever felt like she really fit in.
When we found out about her mother’s illness, we assigned a Congregational Care team member to Miranda. Over the course of the last year, one of our wonderful care team members constantly stayed in touch with Miranda, sending her a prayer shawl for her mother. More recently, she sent Miranda the Gospel of John Bible study we are doing as a family of faith.
In late January, Miranda’s mother died after valiantly battling cancer for so long. We sent our prayers and rejoiced that in death, just like in baptism, we are raised to new life. For Miranda, the promise of her baptism unites her with Christ for all eternity. It is the promise of Easter that Cathy has a new home… one where there is no more illness, no more mourning, and God wipes away all our tears.
Rev. Dave Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
