Baptism is in the air, folks.

Did you know that historically one of the most popular occasions to hold a baptism is the Easter Vigil? That dead (pardon the pun) time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday when the disciples had fled, and Jesus was in the tomb. Or was he absent the tomb, harrowing Hell? Either way, that day is the day that new disciples (called “catechumens”) would finish an extended period of instruction in the faith and finally be baptized into the church. In ancient times, this would be the moment that allowed them to participate fully in the worship service, and life of the church. Because of the death and resurrection imagery associated with baptism – this seems appropriate.

Another time that people are traditionally baptized is Baptism of our Lord Sunday. This celebration occurs on the first Sunday after the Feast of Epiphany, usually some time around the 2nd week of January. Believers might elect to be baptized on that day as a way of symbolically identifying with Christ’s journey and following his example. This, too, seems appropriate and meaningful to me.

But the very best time to be baptized is TODAY. Whatever day it is when you realize the significance of baptism, and that it’s something that would be meaningful to you. One of our readings this Sunday is from Acts, about an Ethiopian eunuch who has the gospel explained to him, and immediately exclaims – “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

This Sunday we’ll begin our service with a Thanksgiving for Baptism – a liturgy that many congregations use throughout the season of Easter. That liturgy echoes the exclamation, “Look, here is water!”

Toward the end of our service we’ll celebrate an actual baptism with a great story.