Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit…And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18; 21

This week five or six people will be getting baptized at All Souls. Whenever we have baptism we are reminded what we are involved in as a church. We are working with the Holy Spirit to reconcile people to the Father.

We get to be part of the greatest

thing on planet earth, saving

souls through the preaching

of the Word and the ministry

of the church.

We have prayed for this day. And God has responded with an Amen by calling these folks to our church and opening their ears to hear the Gospel. Amazing! I will never get over the hand of God working tangibly in people's lives.

This Sunday will be a celebration and a day to bask in the glory of the saving work of Jesus. The water speaks of cleansing and forgiveness, new life and possibility, hope and comfort.

We are immersed in God.

For those of us who celebrate from the pews we also have an opportunity to remember our own salvation. 

Martin Luther used to tell his congregation, 

   “Remember Your Baptism!” 

What he meant is that we can recall to mind that we are loved and cleansed by God as well. 

We belong to the Christian Church on earth together. This is something to preach to yourself or write on the bathroom mirror: “Remember your Baptism!”

So let's pray for those getting baptized and celebrate their entrance into the church and the kingdom.

Let’s remember that we also have

been washed and justified

in the name of Jesus

and by the Spirit of our God.

Jesus tells us that when anyone gets found there is “joy in heaven” among the angels. Loud shouting, dancing, cheering, encouragement! Let’s join with heaven this week to celebrate these new family members to the All Souls Family.

See you on Sunday!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey