In my nearly 25 years in parish ministry, I have never experienced a program year with as many baptisms as this one!  In fact, I would venture to say that very few UCC churches have celebrated as many baptisms from September to June.

This year we have had 11 baptisms (including the upcoming baptism in June).  That is to say, we have had at least one—sometimes two–baptisms every month this year.  Said differently, we have celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at First Congregational Church more often than the Sacrament of Holy Communion this year.

That is surely a sign of a healthy, dynamic church that is in touch with the movement of the Holy Spirit!

Emily Krueger, Caitlyn Krueger, Yenna Lee Lumbra, Ayva MacDonald, Margaret Almeida, Olivia Wallace, Aidan Violanto, Lincoln Shank, Danni Hughes, Jane Silva, and Roman Meehan.  Those are the names that have been proclaimed with joy from our baptismal font this program year.

And remember this: Each time we have had a baptism, your own baptism has been renewed during the service.  That means that 11 times this year (provided you were in worship!) you experienced the restoration of your faith through the waters of baptism.

In baptism, we are claimed by the Holy Spirit.  Hope comes alive in baptism and joy abounds!  We say “yes” to God and find tangible evidence that God is alive and well and working in our world.

This year, I hope you have felt the renewal of your faith at FCC.  I know our church as a whole continues to harness the winds of the Holy Spirit to be a beacon of God’s love, healing, grace, and power in the world.

In baptism, you are given a special role play in the ministry of Christ.  I hope you will allow that call to come to fruition through the many ministries we undertake here at our church—a place that is awash with the grace of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic