Holy Baptism is full initiation into the Church, the Body of Christ. By baptism, we are buried with Christ in his death so that we might rise to newness of life in him. We are justified, clothed with grace.
Within the Shoreless Sea of Love
While Holy Baptism as full initiation is a central theological tenant of The Episcopal Church, there are not many accessible Holy Baptism hymns for smaller congregations without choirs to sing. That was an observation by a friend, the Rev. Elizabeth Henry-McKeever, who asked that a baptism hymn be written in honor of her induction as the second rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. She wanted the hymn to connect baptism and mission. That connection is lived daily by the people of St. Michael’s. It was my honor to write the following text for her and that congregation on that theme, set to the exceedingly familiar and delightfully singable Land of Rest.
Working with others to craft a text for an occasion and community is an honor and joy. Elizabeth and I worked in concert as I crafted these words. The first line with its beautiful image of a shoreless sea belongs to Elizabeth’s theological imagination. She would note that a ‘shoreless sea’ is not a real thing. And yet its unreality opens one up to a truer and deeper transcendent Reality, found in each drop of water poured in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Storied Grace 