Baptism!

In five years of training for ministry in the Church of Scotland, I managed to see one baptism while on placement. It was right at the start, so it was with some nervousness, although armed with advice from former supervisors (don't drop the baby), that I approached today's service.

The baby, eight months old, behaved impeccably, sleeping through the whole experience! It was an incredible privilege to pronounce the baptismal formula, and I managed not to cry myself :-/ My branches, as found in the garden in yesterday's blip, were a big hit in the sermon, especially given the huge crowd of relations and friends who were there.

What they don't tell you about is the admin! The parish minister had very kindly left me the baptismal register and fountain pen with black ink on the desk. The church celebrates its sixtieth anniversary next week, and the register dates from the opening of the church. It was fascinating to look back and read the names, places of birth and the celebrants, and to add this child's name, and mine to the foot of this page.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, Oliver,
May He make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you,
May He lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
Amen.