Welcome to the Saints' Club Amelia

The Church of England recognizes two Sacraments, two holy practices that point to the big and marvelous works of God. These are Baptism and Holy Communion.

We make a lot of Holy Communion. So much so that we give it lots of names: Eucharist, Mass, the Lord's Supper, the Breaking of Bread. But we don't spend so long thinking about Baptism. It's something that happened to us when we were young and not totally with it, and for some of us (your Vicar included !) that's a long time ago......

The last Bishop of Warrington used to encourage candidates for Baptism to remember the anniversaries of their baptisms by lighting the candle they were given.  After all, those of us who are married remember our wedding anniversaries, why not remember the anniversary of our baptism? Why not have another party, exchange gifts ?

We have two names for this sacrament: Baptism and Christening.  I rather like the term of Christening, it brings in to our consciousness the life and work of Jesus Christ to whom in a Christening we commit ourselves, and seek to model our lives after. As the spirit of God worked in his life so we know that it can work in our lives. Of course you could say the image of God is already within little Amelia and within each one of us.  That's true.  But we seek to commit ourselves to developing and growing all that is of Jesus Christ within us and to grow in his life and in his potential.

This is the season of All Souls and we remember the faithful departed, those Christened before us who committed themselves to the way of Christ,  at a special this evening at Saint Mary's in the Baum. At the service we will remember those who have died this year and the others whose anniversaries and memories are special to us. There is a theme of death in the baptism service today because  - listen to the words - we bury our old life in the waters of baptism and we emerge from the water of baptism reborn in Christ, a new creation. And when we are in Christ there is no death, only life in all it's fullness. That's good news for us old ones.

This is indeed a sacrament which tells is all about all God's marvelous work. That work goes on day to day.  Baby Amelia welcome to this new community - the Church. You are part of this new creation .., and you have lots of new friends in what we call the Communion of Saints. Look around you see at all the windows, notice the Martyrs, the Apostles, the Saints - you are now part of their family as well.  And there are others whose picture should be there; think for a moment about who is missing.  There are no pictures of the "ordinary" people of this town who have lived and loved, done acts of love and mercy and charity.

We will remember the departed when All Souls is celebrated this evening. This morning we celebrate the living in the festival of All Saints The Communion of Saints is a great club to belong to ... you'll get your membership card later - where people work together for the Kingdom of God, a time and a place where all will be just perfect. That's an important job... it needs you.

Baptism and Holy Communion - two great Sacraments. On this festival of All Saints we are having both.  We can remember our christening all those years ago and the great promises made by our godparents.  Let us live up to those promises and together with you Amelia we shall build the Kingdom of God in this green and pleasant land.