Easter Sunday Baptisms

Steve writes that using tools of community organising has helped us engage with our community in an intentional and meaningful way. Sometimes it can be slow and hard work, but this past Easter Sunday felt like the culmination of many months of listening, praying and action.

During our Easter Sunday morning service, we celebrated 22 people being Baptised or renewed their Baptism vows.

These families and individuals have connected to our church through various activities and events, including.

Summer Fayre

Soup for the Soul Café

5 pm Tea and Toast service

Funeral Ministry

Lighthouse Holiday Club

Advent and Lent reflections

Steve says, as we deepen relationships with people in the local community, we provide opportunities for them to explore who Jesus in a way that is appropriate for them.

We put on an open invitation for any who wanted to find out more about being Baptised through a series of 3 Sunday evening preparation classes. The material was written by us so to make it appropriate and engaging for all ages. It included thinking about why Baptism, did some dwelling in the word as we looked at different Baptism stories in the bible and worked through the meaning of the promises in the service words.

We asked each person to respond to the following question.

I want to be Baptised because….

They shared their responses during the service and spoke powerfully about the difference Jesus has made in their life, a new commitment to following Him and the opportunity for a fresh start. There was a real sense of the Holy Spirit at work as a few people in the congregation responded by coming forward to renew their Baptism vows there and then.

It was a joyful celebration as we saw people responding to the life which God has for them and brought a greater meaning to the words that we sang together,

Oh, happy day, happy day

You washed my sin away

Oh, happy day, happy day

I’ll never be the same

Forever I am changed

Happy Day – Tim Hughes