Sunday was a day of firsts for St Mark's. Firstly it was a very special day for the Rev Solomon Surwumwe.Our probationer, having now qualified as a priest, baptised four children and three adults into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
But with this came innovation. The children were baptised at the font, but the adults were to experience an immersion baptism, the first time this has been done at St Mark's. It's the end of winter in South Africa, but it was a chilly morning, nonetheless and having changed into their baptism outfits the adults were submerged into a plastic swimming pool, brought for the purpose, with the whole congregation in attendance. This was moving indeed.
What I found to be particularly moving is that old traditions also live on. There was Elder Joy Vardy to hand over the Bibles to the proud parents, for future instruction. One has a sense that St Mark's will live on taking what is good from the past and adding what is needed for the future.
Blessings,
The St Mark's Editorial Team.
NOTE: You can see a slide show of 18 phonographs by clicking on the picture of the baptism in the right hand column.
This is brilliant from a cultural perspective, but are "immersion" baptisms part of the Presbyterian tradition? I have never seen one before and I am therefore curious. Are these done on the request of those about to be baptised?
ReplyDeleteI saw the photo of the baptism on your Marksman site - that must have been a wonderful experience and a moving day! And it is neat that we can share those experiences with you all, from so far away. Heidi.
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