Reading the Bible in a year!
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The Episcopal Lingo, Part 6: Baptism
There were certain rites of passage marked by colonial churches—birth, initiation, marriage, and death for the great majority of its white population and to lesser and varying extents for non-adherents and African Americans as well. We will look at the first one this week – baptism.
The current 1979 prayer defines baptism – “Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.” That part has not changed over time.
Today baptism can run the gamut from children to adults, but in the colonial period, infant baptism was the norm, generally 1-3 months after birth. The difference with today is that recorded baptisms were close to actual recorded births, and since there were no bishops the priest baptized. Those baptized were close to recorded births since all were considered to part of the Anglican Church
The fullest and most remarkable of baptismal registers is that of Albemarle Parish (Sussex) during the ministry of William Willie. Parson Willie baptized 4,958 persons between 1740 and 1775, 4,112 whites and 846 blacks, averaging 138 baptisms annually. In the 1760s the annual average reached 166 baptisms. These figures represent 99 percent of white and 48 percent of black births recorded in the period.
There were two baptism services in the 1662 prayer, one for public and private. A significant number in the upper classes were baptized in the home and there is evidence they made an occasion for it. In diaries and journals, the word “christened” is used in conjunction with baptism.
Continued below…
Christ centered, Biblically based, spirit filled and a place of simple hospitality, we have shared our communal life with our church,our community, and those in need. Your presence enriches us.
September 16 -9:45am Christian Education for children and adults
September 16 -11:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Sunday Readings and Servers
"Gospel on the Rivah", Sunday, Sept. 16th 5pm
Special! Helmut’s history of "Gospel on the Rivah"
"Shall We Gather on the River ? "This year the "Gospel" will be in Portabago Bay as last year at a new time- 5pm. Be prepared for some fine food, fellowship and heartfelt singing. All of this is in view of the beautiful and majestic Rappahannock River providing an additional spiritual component.
Here are some links from previous years:
"History of Christianity", Part 2 continues this Sunday, September 16, 9:45am
During this year in Adult Education we are looking at "Struggles of Faith". How better to show it over 3,000 years with a wonderful video series based on an awarding winning book, Christianity the First 3,000 years, by English professor Diarmaid McCulloch.
This is not a history of just Palestine or Rome. The main character here is not Jesus or the gospels. It is in fact the Church, the institution of Christian faith that has fought its way through history. It also concerns how we have worshipped. He takes you to over 20 countries to show both the successes (two billion members) and failures of Christianity
In Part 1 and 2 his question is"Where do the roots of Christianity lie ?" Jerusalem, Rome. Yes, but the author also makes a case for Turkey and Syria. The story of the first Christianity tells us that the Christian faith is in fact hugely diverse with many identities . Yet, there is a shared core.
Here is a fast moving video that provides scenes from all parts of the series:
We start Christian education at 9:45am on Sundays to allow for 30 minutes of video and 30 minutes of discussion. Did you miss the first session ? Here is a transcript. Adult Ed has other content on the left sidebar, top.
Region One Meeting Recap, Sept. 5, 2012
Region One members enjoying the pizza and fellowship before the meeting. We had a full house at the Sept 5 meeting. Wow! Not pictured are Kent Rahm and Jay Morris
Summary of the meeting is here. Of particular note is the Region One "Dinner with the Bishop" at St. George’s Oct. 24 at 6pm. (See the flyer. Cost is $10 payable to Region One or $12 at the door. Sent a $10 check to Ann Lou Flynn at P. O. 333, Louisa Va. 23093.
General Convention Summary from July’s meeting
Recently a summary of the convention was published. You can download it or view it here
Coming Up!
1. Day to Serve, September 29
We will be collecting food on Sunday, Sept. 16 and Sunday Sept. 23, 2012. This is a coordinated drive through Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and DC to restock food banks. Around September 29, the food will be delivered to the Food Bank.
Here are some suggestions for foods to bring
2. Acolyte Festival, Washington Cathedral, Oct. 6, 10am
We would like to take the acolytes to this festival where they can participate in workshops, meet acolytes from across the nation and have a chance to worship in the magnificent Cathedral Signup is by Friday, September 21 – see Catherine. Their cost is $21, bring your own lunch. Ask Catherine about discretionary money available for the cost.
(baptism, continued from above)
This was not the prevalent practice based on the number of baptisms recorded on Sundays, accounting for 80% or more. The 1662 prayer book also carried a warning concerning private baptismal services.
Virginians observed both in home and church settings the Prayer Book requirement for godparents—two godfathers and a godmother for a male infant and two godmothers and a godfather for a female — to serve as "sureties" by acknowledging on behalf of the infant the articles of faith and promising to lead a godly life. Today we only require “one or more baptized persons” to act in that capacity.
The emphais on the service then was on original sin—Adam’s fall— was removed and the baptized person was received as a member of Christ’s Church: "forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ sayth, none can enter into the Kingdom, of God except he be regenerate, and born anew of water and of the holy Ghost.”
The scripture language provided more examples of the use of water than today as a powerful but ambiguous symbol. As ocean, river, flood, or waves it represented an environment hostile to human activity, an unstable, ever changing, ever threatening, and often life-destroying force. The 1662 prayer book mentioned the example of Noah’s Ark and the flood. But it was also the element essential to life and the agent of cleansing and purifying. The liturgy of the prayerbook at the time called in remembrance of Moses’ part¬ing of the Red Sea water in the exodus from Egypt, and the baptism of Jesus by John, all associating water with God’s providence.
While both services are about “incorporating the Child into the body of Christ or the reception into the Church community, there is less emphasis on the original sin aspect and more about the role of community today. In the service as a community we “do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ. Thus, the idea of private baptisms has fallen out of favor. The direction of the minister then was to exhort the godfathers and godmothers to keep the child in the right direction.
Some similar ideas still remain in both services. In today’s service the baptized renounces “Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God” which is similar to that of 1662. In the actual baptism there is the “forgiveness of sin” and raising “ them to the new life of grace."
There is a section in the colonial service then where the baptismal covenant (Apostle’s Creed) was renewed. However, only those who support the infant said the creed and not the congregation as with today’s service.
Today’s service is more on continuing requirements of parishioners– “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ”, seek and serve Christ in all persons” and “strive for justice and peace among all people."
The requirement for parents were more specific then – call upon the child to hear sermons and the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments. The last part of the service hinted that once these are known then the child is ready for initiation or what we call confirmation.
Today it is more general language – “Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is brought up in the Christian faith and life… Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ”
Thus while the intent of the service was the same – forgiveness of sin and incorporation into the church, the emphais in the colonial period was the former. As the service started “Dearly beloved, all men are conceived and born in sin."