Baptisms
There’s something about a baptism that always takes me by surprise – in a good way, of course. The imagery is so powerful – dropping down into the water – disappearing into nothingness, the water swirling and closing over the ‘old’ person – then the sudden reappearance of the ‘new’ person, back from the dead, fully connected to the Savior.
The faces, too, when they come up again – full of delight at having made this public commitment, getting soaked, standing out, a step taken in front of friends; full of joy and a bit of wonder, too, at the occasion that this has become; touched by the awe of the meaning behind the symbol.
Here’s a few videos of the moment:
From Journey Community Church, CA:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcVqUm3lKS8[/youtube]
From Elevation Church, UT:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm9MX6gb9-0[/youtube]
From Forefront Church, VA:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhqG7k20jWQ[/youtube]
Finally, at the National Community Church of DC there’s a feast of 3 videos here – catch them all – National Community Church, DC
Just tremendous.
Click on it, and watch the video clips of the baptisms they do each year in the bay near DC. These never fail to move me as I watch them – the joy in the faces as the sacrament of baptism is received. There are several other clips there, but the baptisms stand head and shoulders above the others for showing such significance in the lives of those captured on camera.