It was a busy weekend, but a great weekend, enjoying lots of fellowship, our institute class focusing on the Lord Jesus, and then of course our Sunday service!
Two people were baptized on Sunday, and as is tradition I’m sharing a video of the baptisms (and a couple of pictures). Praise the Lord with us!
…actually, it’s already here!
We’re looking forward to a full weekend. On Saturday morning we’ll be heading over the the church building in Jesús María to clean in preparation for our service on Sunday. Why are we going to Jesús María? Because they’re the ones with a baptismal tank! Actually, it was just over four years ago that the tank was being constructed…
On Saturday afternoon, we’ll head to the next class of Biblical Doctrine, with our teachers from Dallas with us in person this weekend. A few tacos together, and then some reflection on the doctrine of Jesus Christ – it should be a great afternoon/evening! Care to join us?
And then, Sunday morning, back “up the hill” to Jesús María for our Sunday morning service, and the baptisms. Please be in prayer for the baptismal candidates and their families! Pray also for the health of everyone in the church, so that everyone can attend and celebrate with us.
Pray also that the Word of God would be clearly shared – multiple times – on Sunday morning/afternoon!
Anyway, I have lots more to do today, so I’ll run for now. Lord willing sometime next week I’ll be able to report about the weekend.
Back in 2011 we were doing baptisms at a nearby water park. We would have a service on the grass, and then “take over” a section of one of the pools for the actual baptisms.
Here are the believers, from two churches, with their baptism certificates, 10 years ago today on a Sunday morning! (And by the way, check out this post from before the baptisms…)
Yes, let’s associate 2020 with baptisms – because, as I’ve been reminded lately – 2020 is the “Year of our Lord” (just like the year before)!
So yes – this past Sunday we had our first in-person service in 18 weeks. We used the building in Jesús María, because they have a baptismal tank (thanks to all those who donated to help build the building!).
It was wonderful to be together! Reading Scripture together, singing and praising God together, listening to God’s Word together (continuing our study in Romans, our friend Ezequiel preached). That word together really does mean something when you haven’t been together for so long.
Three people were baptized – all from one family – what a blessing! (Am I overusing exclamation marks?!) (No, I don’t think so!)
Lord willing we will continue meeting next week – although we haven’t worked out where yet (but we have some options, so we’re not in a panic. Hopefully we’ll know by the end of today.). This coming Sunday will be another major celebration – a Communion Service – The Lord’s Supper – together! 🙂
So as I traditionally do, I’m including a video so you can see the baptisms for yourself, and pray for these people. It’s only a minute long, but it’s a BIG minute.
(One more funny thing – before the baptism, I was talking to Rod to make sure that we were either both wearing masks, or both not wearing masks. As you can see, in the end, my hard work all came to nothing. I didn’t really realize it until it was too late, because I was focused on the baptisms. But just so you know – it wasn’t a case of a rabid anti-masker versus a rabid pro-masker!)
Below is a video of the baptisms from this past Sunday. A few words of explanation…
Ok – here you are! About three and a half minutes of people you can pray for.
We’ve been thinking a lot about water lately. Frankly, it’s hard to avoid.
As many of you know, we’ve gone from having very little water pressure, and having to resort to buckets to get clean – to now having wildly unpredictable moments in which we have more water pressure than we’ve had in years (no exaggeration), to water that is black, to not even a drop anywhere.
Our water was off all night – but did come on this morning. A little black, but certainly better than no water at all.
But really, that’s not the water that’s most important at the moment. The important water is in a rectangular tank up in the community of Jesús MarÃa. I imagine it’s filled by now, ready for a special service tomorrow, in which many believers will be baptized!
We have enjoyed spending a little time with some of the people who will be baptized, hearing how God has worked and is working in their lives. So we’ve been able to have an extended “time of rejoicing”, which will continue with the celebration tomorrow morning.
Please pray for these people, who may be in front of a bigger crowd than ever in their lives, 🙂 but who will be making a public confession of the inward reality of faith from the Holy Spirit!
I don’t know if the water will be clear or black – but it doesn’t matter much, because it’s only a symbol of the reality. The cleansing that God has done in hearts is perfect – and purifies us completely. And it is done with blood – imagine! But a blood so pure it cleans our souls.
I’ve been studying for an upcoming sermon in Hebrews, and these words seem very appropriate…
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Amen!