The diaries of most clergy this year tell a story of postponed or cancelled Baptisms and Marriages. Many simply could not be performed during the period of the strictest Lockdown. And even now no more than 15 are allowed in a wedding party and Baptisms taking place outside regular congregational worship are limited to six - with a further restriction to one household in this area. More can attend a Baptism when it's planned to take place in a bigger service - but numbers are still going to be much limited as we have to fit in the regular congregation with social distancing and reduced capacity.
So it's great when we manage to make the arrangements! Most recently we celebrated the Baptism of Arthur Reid at St. Cuthbert's Church. Just Arthur, his parent and his big brother present - but family friends and godparents (by proxy) able to look in via the video filmed by his Dad.
A reminder of what is at the heart of our Baptismal faith: the desire to follow in the way of Christ; to be open to God's love; to be ready to affirm that faith. This was a real celebration. We look forward to welcoming Arthur into our wider congregation in due course. But here and now God's love is real, however small the service in which we celebrate it.
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