She was my sunshine and from the moment she was born, she stole the heart of this proud uncle. When she was baptized, David Semands told her parents they were making a covenant with God. You promised to care for her, and now we are trusting you to keep up your end of the bargain. Carrie Lynn was only about 4 months old at the time. She can't remember that moment, but her parents did, the church did, and most important, God did, and in October, when once again her father walked her to the church's altar, this time as a radiant bride, we all knew God had kept his covenant.
Water is the sign of claiming, cleansing and covenant.
My guess is that at some point in our lives, either as a child or adult, most of us in this room have been baptized. Our United Methodist symbol is a Cross and Flame. A flame in the heart, The burning desire to know God and to experience His grace, The warmth of fellowship, The zeal for social justice and peace, A passion for needs of others. Neal Fisher is the President of Garrett-Evangelical School of Theology in Evanston. The logs are artificial, ashes are fake.