Sermon, Trinity Sunday, C

Baptism, if you remember, is one of the two great sacraments of the Church -- the other being Holy Eucharist. In baptism we are adopted as a child of God and made a member of Christ's body.

Today we celebrate and participate in Beth's baptism. We celebrate because this is the day we welcome a new member into the household of God. We celebrate because this day Beth is both reborn by the Spirit and adopted by God. Beth has the added benefit of knowing that from here on out her adoption date into this household is Trinity Sunday.

We not only celebrate this event, but we participate in it. Baptism is a communal event, just like all of our liturgies. We will all promise to support Beth in her life in Christ. We will all renew our own baptismal covenant. We will hear the water and smell the oil, and Beth's first communion will be shared by all.

In baptism, a few things happen. We are buried with Christ as we die to the power of the world. We are then raised to new life as we are resurrected with Christ. By the act of baptism we are adopted as a child of God. And we are infused with the power of the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own for ever.

These are not small things. Death is a major event in our lives. For us Christians, we believe that it is not the end, but a new way of being. The ending of one life leads to rebirth into a new and glorious life. Our baptism -- Beth's baptism -- signifies a death of sorts and that new way of being. Along with that baptism comes the gift of the Holy Spirit, descending upon us as tongues of fire, anointing us with holy oil. Because these are not small things, the water, oil and what they symbolize should also not be small things. We will baptize Beth with large amounts of water and a generous anointing of oil because the gift of baptism and the Holy Spirit is not confined to tiny amounts.

She is being gifted with the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity who is a gift from God and who also bestows upon us a variety of gifts. These gifts include, but are not limited to wisdom, knowledge, healing, faith, prophecy, leadership, miracles and others. Some contend that Paul's list of gifts are the only ones given; but if so, then we severely limit God's ability. And today, the day of Beth's baptism, is about limitless possibilities.

Besides being gifted with the Holy Spirit at baptism and the gifts I mentioned, we receive other gifts as well. We are gifted with adoption into the household of God. Adoption is something very familiar to the McSkis. Beth was adopted into their household, provided with a loving environment and a home to grow. Today she is being adopted into this house, being given a loving environment and a home to grow.

As I said earlier, we participate in Beth's baptism. We participate because we are family members of the household of God, one body with many parts. I also said that we are gifted with the Holy Spirit who in turn gives us gifts to use in our Christian life and ministry.

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts, but does not give us every gift.

This means, if we think about it, that we are also blessed with weaknesses, blind spots, liabilities, and areas that are not our strong point. These are blessings because they help us see that we need others. Christianity is based on community. Our strength comes from our diversity. My weakness can allow your strength to manifest itself. If we understand everything as a gift from God, even our weaknesses, given to us at baptism, then we will be that much closer to reflecting God's kingdom here on earth.

Beth has been blessed with certain gifts. Some she has now -- the gift of laughter and playfulness and inquisitiveness that allow us to smile and see our life and worship through new and excited eyes. Some of her gifts will appear later in life, a vast undiscovered country of Spirit-filled abundance just waiting to break out. She has also been blessed with gaps, weaknesses and liabilities that I'm sure are all too familiar to her family and friends. Our gift to her will be to fill in those gaps, to help her become complete in Christ.

Because of all this, baptism is a big deal. It's a big deal for us. It's a big deal for Beth. It's a big deal for God. As we celebrate and participate with Beth in her baptism, let us celebrate and participate in a way that reflects the abundance of God. And because we are participating in this baptism as well, may you be challenged to live fully and abundantly into your own baptismal covenant.