Many traditions and cultures in and through which the Church has found its liveliness - growing tree-like in different climates and biomes - celebrate…
Tag: Sacrament
Words Destroy or Hallow
“Let’s put him on blast!” I hadn’t heard the phrase before, but I instantly knew what it meant: whatever the business’s misstep had been,…
Jackson Lashier ~ Seeing God’s Glory at a Feast
According to John’s Gospel, the first miracle Jesus performs in his public ministry is to turn water into wine at a wedding. John’s Gospel calls the miracles “signs” because through them we see the glory of God. This sign meant seeing God’s glory at a feast – a wedding banquet.
Omar Al-Rikabi ~ The Stuff of Life
Note from the Editor: Enjoy this...fascinating sermon from Rev. Omar Al-Rikabi. In a first for Wesleyan Accent, we recommend listening for ages 13 and…
John Drury ~ Toward a Wesleyan Theology of Ordination
John Drury presents his paper “Toward a Wesleyan Theology of Ordination.”
Ken Loyer ~ Infant Baptism and Beyond: A Systematic Approach, Part IV
I have found that this is a good way to keep before the family and the child the meaning of baptism and to remind the parents of the promise they made to God during the baptism to do all they can to raise their child in the faith.
Timothy Tennent ~ Marriage, Human Sexuality, and the Body: From the Beginning It Was Not So
For example, we often describe a “sacrament” as an outward sign of an inward and spiritual grace, but then we limit ourselves by thinking of sacraments only in terms of the two which Christ established: baptism and the Eucharist. Wesley, on the other hand, prodded us to think more deeply and expansively about all the means of grace which, for Wesley, is a much larger category than baptism and Eucharist. John Paul II makes the point that Christ is not the only one who provides sacramental means of grace. There are sacraments which flow from the Father and the Spirit. We will actually explore how marriage is the primordial sacrament later in this series. But, for now, let us lay the groundwork that your physical body itself is a kind of sacrament. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual grace, because we have been created in the image of God.
Ken Loyer ~ Infant Baptism and Beyond: A Systematic Approach, Part III
“I hope you’ll always remember that God loves you so much—more than I can even say—and has a wonderful plan for your life. We at the Church are here to help you discover the special life that God made you to live.”
Ken Loyer ~ Infant Baptism and Beyond: A Systematic Approach, Part II
Every year until the child participates in confirmation, in the days leading up to the child’s baptismal anniversary I send a letter marking the occasion. I also include an age-appropriate gift, like a children’s book. I have found that this is a good way to keep before the family and the child the meaning of baptism and to remind the parents of the promise they made to God during the baptism to do all they can to raise their child in the faith.
Ken Loyer ~ Infant Baptism and Beyond
Another factor in baptism pertains to ongoing spiritual instruction and development after the actual baptism. While not limited to infant baptisms—since post-baptismal nurture is important for any person regardless of that person’s age at the time of baptism—this factor has particular significance in the case of infants who are baptized.