Thought For The Week 16 November 2025

Welcome to our special baptism service today. Today we celebrate the baptism of Jas and her children, Rocco and Zaya. Baptism is a powerful symbol in the Christian faith, rooted in Scripture and tradition. It         represents:

Cleansing – being washed clean from sin.

Initiation – entering the family of God and the community of faith.

New Life – rising with Christ to live by the Spirit.

From Noah’s flood to Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea, water has always signified renewal and transformation. In baptism, we identify with Jesus’ death and resurrection: our old life is buried, and we rise to walk in newness of life. That doesn’t mean we will never sin again, it just means we are placing ourselves in God’s          unshakable grace. Baptism is a public declaration of faith and God’s saving work; an outward sign of the inner transformation God is doing. Thanks be to God that in him we are washed clean thorough the waters of baptism and the blood of Jesus; we are free from our old life of slavery and are called into a new life, raised with Christ to live for his glory.

Next Sunday we have our special ‘Stir up’ service where we make Christmas cake. I hope you will be able to join us for that.

Nga mihi nui,

Brent