It was a real joy to welcome Tianna Marie Louise, her family and friends to our service this morning. She and her big sister looked absolutely wonderful if their beautiful dresses.
Rev Sarah Jemison led the service of baptism where she spoke about the symbolic meaning of water and light. We use water to wash in, and in the same way water is used in baptism to represent the repeated washing away of the things we do wrong through God's loving forgiveness. We also reflected on Jesus's baptism where he was completely immersed in the river symbolic of his death and resurrection. Tianna's family was also given a candle, representing God's light in our darkness. Sarah reminded us that baptism does not mean that all the bad things in life are taken away from us; it does mean that in the dark moments of life, God will always be there, offering the light of hope.
One of the hymns we sang, Colours of day, picks up the theme of light and darkness.
We pray for God's blessing on Tianna and her family.