Then through us, warm, the Christ will move                 
with gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.
            O Blessed Spring, Stanza 4, ELW #447

A few weeks ago in worship I was thinking aloud after one of our many recent baptisms. I was wondering what a group of baptisms might be called. A couple of things came immediately to mind:

    How about a “wash” of baptisms?
    Or perhaps a “flood” or “deluge” of baptisms?

But as I was thinking about what baptisms means for us, the words of Susan Cherwien in the wonderful baptismal hymn, “O Blessed Spring” came to mind.

What if we were to call a group of baptisms a “warmth”? Doesn’t baptism warm us and the new one as Christ embraces us through water and the word? Don’t the cold (or at least room temperature ) waters of baptism connect us forever to the lifeblood of Jesus Christ? Doesn’t being wrapped up in the new life of Christ give us sort of holy heating blanket for the rest of our lives?

Maybe I’ll give a call to Noah or Merriam Webster or the folks at the “new words desk” for the Oxford English Dictionary. Maybe the entry could go something like this.

Baptism    A washing into the new life of Christ
Baptisms    A rite in the church when two people are baptized

A Warmth    A time when three or more baptisms occur, and the new life and love of Christ warms everyone’s heart.        

I’m looking forward to their response.

Warmly,

Pastor John D. Morris, Senior Pastor

P.S.  Thanks to all of you for the great response to our “Signs of New Life Project.”  We have already received an additional $21,000.00 toward our new renovations exceeding the original leadership gifts of $20,000.00. For a grand total so far of $41,000.00. Have you made your gift yet? Check out Peace Signs or the display in the Fellowship Hall for more information!