As we begin the journey of Advent, the churches I serve are following the theme ‘There is Room’, and in week 1, thinking about how, when God reigns, There is Room for You and Me.
Last Saturday, I had an experience while leading a baptism service that took the truth about how There is Room in God’s story for all to a whole new level.
I’ve done numerous Baptism in the last few years, but always for toddlers. So last Saturday was the first time I baptised a baby.
The baby I was baptising was about 6-7 months old, and as I held this helpless, dependant, innocent child in my arms, looking at his peace-filled, sleeping face, and spoke some of the baptism liturgy over them, I was somewhat overwhelmed…
for you Jesus Christ came into the world;
for you he lived and showed God’s love;
for you he suffered death on the Cross;
for you he triumphed over death,
rising to newness of life;
for you he prays at God’s right hand:
all this for you,
before you could know anything of it.In your Baptism,
Methodist Baptism Liturgy, Methodist Worship Book p.92-3.
the word of Scripture is fulfilled:
‘We love, because God first loved us.’
I had to take a breath to remind myself I was in front of a room full of people and was leading a service! In that moment, it had become as if it was just me and this innocent baby. Like nothing else mattered but the words of truth I was speaking over them – that the truth of God’s gift to them is that There is Room.
It took the grace of God to a whole new level for me. An innocent baby who cannot yet comprehend or communicate an understanding of God’s grace – yet God outpours his grace anyway. “All this for you, before you could know anything of it.”
I had the great privilege of declaring that truth to them, their family and friends, and welcoming them into God’s family.
God’s grace transcends our human understanding. Transends our western obsession with needing to be deserving, to earn and achieve all we have.
God’s grace is outpoured on the world – through the life and love of an innocent baby, born in a manger. A baby who declares There is Room in God’s Story for you, for me, for us, for all.
Find out more about Advent & Christmas events at Bognor Regis, Felpham and Westergate Methodist Churches as we declare There is Room .
Advent & Christmas 2022 at Bognor Regis Methodist Church
Advent & Christmas 2022 at Felpham Methodist Church
Advent & Christmas 2022 at Westergate Methodist Church
Rev Dan Balsdon's Blog 