Holy Baptism of Mabel Diane Elliott

We were blessed on this Cantate Sunday to witness our Triune God enlarge His family, as Mabel received the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  A good object lesson for the Holy Gospel of the day (John 16:5-15), where we hear our Lord promising His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them, for here, in Holy Baptism, we see that promised fulfilled, as the Holy Spirit takes what is Jesus' and gives it to us, clothing us in His perfect holiness and righteousness.  Yeah, good object lesson indeed!

We also did something we had never done before during a baptism.  Larry set up his laptop in the front pew directly in front of the font and webcast the baptism, so that Angie, one of Mabel's sponsors, could participate all the way from Texas.  Pretty cool!  (I knew that front pew would come in handy eventually! :)

Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted Mabel the new birth in Holy Baptism and made her a member of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and an heir of Your heavenly kingdom.  We humbly implore You that, as she has now become Your child, You would keep her in her baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure she may faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy name and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Some pics:

(This is what happens when multiple people are taking pictures - :)