Sometimes things start out all wrong but somehow end up gloriously. Such was the case with an adult baptism service on the shores of Lake Michigan one August Sunday morning.
The night before the baptism, torrential rains hit Chicago, and the road that leads to the beach was closed by flooding. Several of us prayed for sunshine and good weather for the next day, but the morning of the baptism dawned cloudy and cool, and the lake itself was officially closed to swimming. We arrived at the beach to find a local radio station had set up a soccer tournament, complete with six-foot speakers pounding out rock music.
As the worshipers gathered at the beach, however, the sun broke through the clouds. While some people scouted out another possible location, another person explained the situation to the soccer officials. The music was turned down immediately, the lifeguard granted permission for the pastor and new member to enter the water, and the baptism was on.
About fifty people—church members, friends, and family—sat on beach chairs and blankets as we worshiped. A guitarist and cantor led the singing. The new member and pastor waded into the lake and the baptism was done by immersion. As the new member emerged from the water, the congregation welcomed him by singing “Amazing Grace.”
Immediately following, we celebrated communion together, standing in one big circle. The new member, still dripping, was the first to receive the bread and wine.
After the service, the communion table was converted to a fellowship table with coffee urns and a plate of cookies. People brought out picnic lunches and Frisbees and lingered over lunch. As we reluctantly made our way home, we all had a golden glow—and not just from the sun.
Lisa A. Stracks is a former worship leader at Loop Christian Ministries in Chicago, Illinois, and member of the Reformed Worship advisory council.
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