"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19
Today was a day for rejoicing...
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19
Today was a day for rejoicing...
We had our annual once a year baptismal service this afternoon in the chapel. Five men who had each professed faith in Messiah Jesus within the past year or thereabouts, were now making their faith public through the humble act of being baptized in water.
This was an act that Jesus himself commanded to be done, if possible, for those who have put their faith in Him. The act of baptism serves as a witness that we now belong to Christ, and have also become members of His spiritual family, known as the Church.
In addition, it symbolically portrays how our old unregenerate fallen nature has now been put to death by going down into the water. Which is then followed by the individual's coming back up from the water, thus representing being resurrected to begin a new life in Christ. In other words, baptism demonstrates one's dying to his sinful ways and then being raised from death to begin a brand new life in Christ.
But setting up the chapel in order to prepare for our baptismal service required a lot of work. So my coworker and I, who are both clerks for our chaplain, along with a handful of other men from our congregation, had to set everything up. We put out extra chairs and had to place towels along the aisles leading up to the restroom in order to allow for those with soaking wet clothes, to change into dry ones. All who were scheduled to be baptized had to come to the chapel with an extra set of clothing for that purpose.
Watching the men as they participated in the rite of baptism was exceedingly special. One by one they went into the large tank. I could see their expressions. Big smiles. Followed by moments of shock as they stepped into a pool of very cold water that the prison's maintenance staff provided by taking the water from a fire hydrant just outside the building to fill the tank.
Each made his public confession as to having repented of his sins and having placed his faith on Christ's finished work on the cross at Calvary. Two of them shed tears as they came out of the water, while the others stood in awe of the moment, obviously in deep thought.
It was a beautiful day. It was also the last time our chaplain will conduct a baptismal service here at the prison. Next Sunday will be his last day at Shawangunk. He's retiring next week. And what will become of our congregation after he's gone? Only the Lord knows.
D.B.
This was an act that Jesus himself commanded to be done, if possible, for those who have put their faith in Him. The act of baptism serves as a witness that we now belong to Christ, and have also become members of His spiritual family, known as the Church.
In addition, it symbolically portrays how our old unregenerate fallen nature has now been put to death by going down into the water. Which is then followed by the individual's coming back up from the water, thus representing being resurrected to begin a new life in Christ. In other words, baptism demonstrates one's dying to his sinful ways and then being raised from death to begin a brand new life in Christ.
But setting up the chapel in order to prepare for our baptismal service required a lot of work. So my coworker and I, who are both clerks for our chaplain, along with a handful of other men from our congregation, had to set everything up. We put out extra chairs and had to place towels along the aisles leading up to the restroom in order to allow for those with soaking wet clothes, to change into dry ones. All who were scheduled to be baptized had to come to the chapel with an extra set of clothing for that purpose.
Watching the men as they participated in the rite of baptism was exceedingly special. One by one they went into the large tank. I could see their expressions. Big smiles. Followed by moments of shock as they stepped into a pool of very cold water that the prison's maintenance staff provided by taking the water from a fire hydrant just outside the building to fill the tank.
Each made his public confession as to having repented of his sins and having placed his faith on Christ's finished work on the cross at Calvary. Two of them shed tears as they came out of the water, while the others stood in awe of the moment, obviously in deep thought.
It was a beautiful day. It was also the last time our chaplain will conduct a baptismal service here at the prison. Next Sunday will be his last day at Shawangunk. He's retiring next week. And what will become of our congregation after he's gone? Only the Lord knows.
D.B.