Dear Family at Christ Community,

     This Sunday we will witness and celebrate the baptism of Harrison Rein Rooks. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will use Harrison’s baptism to draw him to Jesus by faith early in his life. Baptism does not automatically save Harrison, but it is a means of grace that will point him to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as his only hope in life and death.

     The beautiful truth of the Gospel is that we do not have to do anything to gain God’s grace. We receive God’s grace as a gift in Christ. Romans 12:3-8 also teaches us that Christ gives every believer gifts that we then get to give away to one another through grateful service. Harrison’s baptism will be a sign and seal of these truths. Just as he will receive the water of baptism without doing anything to gain it, so do all believers receive the blood of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit by grace alone. Likewise, baptism will point Harrison to the Giver of all good gifts who gave His only Son so that Harrison might receive Him by faith and then grow up to use his gifts for God’s glory and the life of the world. 

     Ponder these things as you prepare for worship and pray for Harrison, Rasmus and Alicia, and the rest of our church family at CCC as we all seek to use our gifts for one another’s eternal good in Christ!

Yours in union with Christ,
Matt O’Sullivan