Open my heart to speak truly your words. 

AMEN

Today we open our hearts and our spiritual circle to four children, Mary, Elsbeth, Robin and Craig, who have been brought to join the Christian faith and to attain salvation. 

In a few moments Bishop Yu will pour water upon their heads, make the sign of the cross on their brows in oil and we will welcome them into Christ’s flock. 

In this very simple ceremony, this sacrament of Baptism, their lives will be changed forever. 

They will be marked as Christ’s own. 

They will enter into the company of God’s chosen people. 

For while we think that we choose to follow Jesus:  in truth, long ago we were claimed by Him when He came into this world to save us all forever.

The water that is poured over the child’s head symbolizes God’s desire to wash us clean from all that separates us from heaven.   In baptism we come to live in Christ, dying so we may be reborn cleansed of the sin that divides us from all that is good.

In the act of signing a cross with his thumb upon the forehead, Bishop Yu is anointing the child with oil, and claiming that child for Christ. 

We offer to God our Christian names in Baptism:  the names chosen by our parents:  that He may call us to Him by the name we know.

We light Baptismal candles from the Pascal Candle to remind us that Christ IS the light of the world. 

And, as the smoke rises from the candle, it rises to heaven, just as do our prayers: carried by our guardian and emissary, the Holy Spirit.

The parents and god-parents have come today bringing their children.  But why?   . . .  because they love them and want only the very best for them.  And truly, the greatest gift they will ever give these children is the one they give them today:  when they make them lifetime, indeed eternal, members of God’s family. 

But the parents and godparents will also make promises today:  promises that will take their entire lifetime to fulfill: 

They are promising to nurture these children in faith;

to pray for them

and care for them

and to live their lives in such a way that their children in following their example will grow in Christ. 

And,      MOST OF ALL,         these families are promising to follow the great commandment of love that Jesus gave us:  the one true test of how to live our lives as Christians. 

Jesus made it simple, because, having lived with us, He knew us. 

He knew that when things were complicated, humans look for loopholes. 

So He told us “Love God with all your heart. 

And love your neighbour and yourself equally.” 

And that’s it. 

That’s the test. 

 That’s what you need to teach.

That’s all you need to know.  

Love is what it is all about. 

God loves you. 

Love God. 

Be good to everyone you meet and treat them just as you hope they will treat you. 

Use your free will to follow that simple commandment. 

AND WE, as the community of Christ at St Monica’s,    also make OUR PROMISES this day.  We promise to do everything we can do to support these children in their life in Christ. 

That doesn’t mean having a Sunday School or Church services on Sunday morning or having an after-school programme or running a food bank or serving community lunches.

It means being there to confront their fears and share their sorrows; to celebrate their joys and triumphs.

It means that we too must follow Jesus’ Commandment.  We must be for these children what we would hope they would be for us.  And, that is what we promise.

Remember Jesus’ instruction to His disciples:  “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven.”  Today the keys to that kingdom, are given to Mary, Elsbeth, Robin and Craig.

For, like Jesus, in baptism we all become children of God. 

We become sisters and brothers of Jesus. 

We become members of the family of faith.