We had a blessed Pentecost. It was so wonderful to celebrate this feast with family and friends. The Holy Spirit's presence was all around us.
You can notice in some of the pictures the kids wearing their flames made in Sunday School. Sunday School was also special with a Happy Birthday Church! Cake.
The Baptism of all three of our children was so moving. I was struck during the Baptismal Liturgy on the emphasis on God's action during Baptism, rather than our own. I grew up thinking of Baptism as merely being our public statement of faith and yesterday it was clear how much more it means! It also felt wonderful to know our children were surrounded by their sponsors and the congregation, not just us, as we raised them and welcomed them into the family of God.
It was so sweet to watch each child be their own self and to have their own experiences as well. G, ever quiet and observant, was demure and awestruck by the experience. She strongly said "Yes" she wanted to be baptized and at the font gently bowed her head and raised it simply radiant. On the car ride home, she said felt different now because she "knew the Holy Spirit was in her heart" and later she added, that she "felt so many people loved her."
G. with my brother and sister-in-law as godparents.
M, ever enthusiastic, was so proud! He too had a firm yes and a little strut up to the font. Somehow he always gets a laugh. He was so struck by the physicality of the baptism and afterward kept repeating the words and motions of being baptized. (M.'s godparents from WI couldn't attend, so my parents stood for him as sponsors.)
And our sweet baby was full of smiles for everyone! She didn't cry at all and seemed to love being paraded around by our pastor.
We had a lovely day for our luncheon with sun and a slight breeze to keep things cool. We were so blessed by everyone's encouragement and generosity. It felt good to have our second floor filled with sleeping babies. The first floor with food preparation and playing. And outside people feasting and chatting and even debating the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives(they are friends of the Snells after all!). The children played so well together. I don't think an adult ever had to intervene as they made up their own games and snacked!
It was a day we will never forget and will remind our children of often.
Well, don't forget The Carnival of the Church Year: Pentecost is up at Homemaking Through The Church Year. I've just gotten to read a few of the posts and they are a delightful mix of meditations, ideas for celebrating and more!
5 comments:
Amy, so glad to find you! We celebrate our children's baptisms each eyar like birthdays-- your cake reminded me-- with cake and a "Holy Spirit" themed gift, like a handmade dove ornament, a candle, or a water-toy, etc. Blessings! Thanks for posting
What a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing. They will love that. I can't wait to tell them tonight!
It was a great day and we had a great time. A lovely group of people and we enjoyed seeing the kids respond to the Lord at this stage of their lives! Keep up the good work!
You remind me so much of us! We baptized three at once, too--numbers 2, 3 and 4! #1 was baptized as a 7 yr old, after he made a personal profession of faith, but then our Baptist upbringings were overshadowed by our Anglican sensibilities, and we baptized the rest...then two more as babies, as they came along.
Many blessings to the newly baptized--and to you and your husband! What a lovely day.
Jeanne
Thank you for the blessings! We had long talked about baptizing our children since the first was born. I think I was convinced of it, the first time I attended your church in Kenosha, a service with a lovely baptism. It was so beautiful as the children and then the entire congregation gathered around the font. I finally understood what my husband meant!
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