On Sunday afternoon, JTH, ALK, and I went to a private baptismal service at my church at 3:30 pm. The event was informal and I even munched on Everlasting Gobstoppers (as I often do on Sundays) throughout.
JTH’s father CEH (aka “Homer”) and our longtime friend RWW were baptized by the church’s senior pastor, LWF. The baptisms were part of an outreach program implemented by the church. Letters were sent to long-term visitors who had never been baptized informing them that they could be baptized in a private ceremony. The church is using the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) as the model for this practice.
There were many supporters who attended the service. We all sat on the stage to get a good view of the proceedings. CEH’s family was well represented with his wife, both of his sons, his daughter-in-law, his mother-in-law, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and a niece in attendance in addition to myself and ALK. His mother-in-law told him that she could die now. Hopefully, that will not happen any time soon.
RWW also had quite a support group. His parents were there, though they did not know about the 3:30 event until 2:45! This was not especially surprising. His dear friends the Cole and Roberts families were also in attendance. MLM and the Simpson family, who supervise baptisms at the church, were also present.
The preparation for the service took far longer than the event itself. LWF spoke briefly beforehand, acknowledging the two great church families involved. LWF noted that recent health concerns allowed for CEH to get a waiver on the actual baptism but that he wished to be baptized. I taped CEH’s baptism. It took thirty seconds which was fortunate as that was how long my cell phone allows me to record. That also may have been the maximum amount of attention Homer could have stood.
Afterwards, JTH’s family convened at Bravo Italian Restaurant while I returned to my house to lift weights before catching up with JTH and ALK later in the night.
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