“The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others...” — See who said it and why it matters at the bottom.
1. From the Pastor’s study…
This coming Lord’s Day we have the privilege of celebrating the other sacrament Jesus instituted for His church: baptism. Four sons of the covenant will receive the sign and seal of the covenant of grace — James Herrington Kosko (son of Mark and Susan Kosko), Lewis Karnes Taylor (son of Madison and Liz Taylor), Knox Lloyd Van Hooser (son of Wilson and Grace Van Hooser), and Robert Watts Ulrich (son of Glen and Emily Ulrich).
Have you ever wondered why Presbyterians baptize the children of believers? A few thoughts as you prepare to come to worship this Lord’s Day:
We baptize the children of believers because we believe that God has commanded His people to do so. In Acts 2:38, Peter tells the Jews who were being cut to the heart by his preaching, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Clearly those who believe in Jesus for the first time are to receive baptism.
But Peter goes on to say in Acts 2:39, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Peter is echoing language from Genesis 17, in which God gave Abraham the covenant sign of circumcision. God commanded Abraham to be circumcised and to circumcise his infant sons, indeed, every male member of his household. The covenant of grace was made with the believing Abraham and with his household, including his infant children, and therefore as members of the covenant community they were to receive the sign of the covenant.
Peter is communicating that the children of believers continue to be members of the covenant community. Since the covenant of grace in its old and new administrations is the same in substance, God continues to make His covenant with believers and their children, and the commandment to give our children the sign of the covenant has never been annulled.
In 1 Corinthians 7:14, Paul calls the children of even one believing parent “holy” - that is, set apart from the world and devoted to God. Jesus tells His disciples to let the little children (even infants) come unto Him (Luke 18:15-17). Paul commands the children of believers, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, to keep the fifth commandment (Ephesians 6:1-3). They are members of the covenant community, the church, by virtue of their having been given to believing parent(s), and therefore they have a right to the sign of the covenant.
In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul teaches us that circumcision has been replaced by baptism as the sign of cleansing and initiation into the covenant community. Thus as Abraham gave his sons the sign of circumcision, so we give our sons and daughters the sign of baptism.
Where is the outcry if suddenly, on the day of Pentecost, the children of believers, who had been a part of the covenant community that morning, were all of a sudden outside of it that evening? Especially in view of the fact that the covenant sign is given to more people in the New Covenant – females as well as males, Gentiles as well as Jews - it makes little sense that there would be a removal of it from children.
B. B. Warfield puts it succinctly in his article, “The Polemics of Infant Baptism” (1899). He writes, “The argument in a nutshell is simply this: God established His Church in the days of Abraham and put children into it. They must remain there until He puts them out. He has nowhere put them out. They are still then members of His Church and as such entitled to its ordinances. Among these ordinances is baptism, which standing in similar place in the New Dispensation [New Covenant] to circumcision in the Old, is like it to be given to children.”
Of course, we do not believe that baptism saves our children, or magically washes away their sins. Baptism is a sign, a picture, and many people who are baptized, whether as infants or as adults, have the sign but do not have the reality to which the sign points (just look at Ishmael and Esau in the old covenant, or Simon the magician in the new). Faith in Jesus Christ alone saves sinners.
The water of baptism signifies and symbolizes the blood of Christ, which washes believers clean from the guilt of original and actual sin, as well as the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, who cleanses believers throughout their lives from the corruption of sin. Baptism is a sign to and unto faith: it declares to those who have received it, “As surely as water washes away the filthiness of the body, so through faith in Christ you are washed with His blood and Spirit from the pollution of your soul – through faith you are forgiven of the guilt of sin, and are renewed by the Spirit of Christ to die unto sins and live unto righteousness.”
As our children grow up, they (and we!) are reminded of the gospel of grace every time they see someone else baptized (see Westminster Larger Catechism #167).
May the Lord be pleased to assure His people of our union with Jesus Christ, and may we draw strength from His death and resurrection for the killing of sin and the quickening of grace.
2. Financial Update
3. Children’s Choirs resume this Sunday evening.
Beginning this Sunday, September 20, children ages 4 years old-6th grade will be dismissed during evening worship to go to Children’s Choirs. At this time, masks will be required for singers. Registration is required for all singers. Click here to register.
Cherub Choir – 4 years old through 1st grade meets in the Outback Room in the Multi-Purpose Building (directed by Liz Taylor).
Praise Troop – 2nd-4th grades meet in the Choir Room #138 in the Education Building (directed by Margaret Sprow).
Covenant – 5th-6th grades meet on the second floor of the Education Building in Room #238 (directed by Laura Herbison).
4. Don’t forget to pay online for Wednesday night supper.
Boxed dinners for families will be served at 5:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria on a pre-order, pre-paid basis each week. If you plan to eat at church on Wednesday night, you need to fill out this registration form no later than the Monday night before it.
On the menu for Wednesday, September 23: Chicken Alfredo Pasta, vegetable medley, Caesar salad, garlic bread, dessert, and water.
If you need the nursery, please register here. You only need to register once. After that, please let Serena (slucas@ccs.ms) if you know you won’t be there.
5. Ladies, join your sisters to learn how to plug in and serve at POPC!
The Women's Ministry Leadership Team is excited to invite you to our Fall Fellowships! On September 24 and 26, you can attend Thursday evening Home Dessert Fellowships or Saturday morning Home Breakfast Fellowships at a time and location convenient to you.
Several small gatherings, limited to about twenty people per home, will replace the traditional Women’s Ministry Fall Luncheon normally held in August.
Come fellowship with other women and learn more about ways to plug into the life and ministries of POPC.
Click here to register. Spots are limited.
6. Come volunteer at the Sonbeams Olympics on September 26!
Ministry opportunities have perhaps felt to be in short supply during this pandemic. So don’t miss out on this upcoming chance to serve our Sonbeams families, special needs friends, and care givers!
We will be hosting our first ever “Sonbeams Olympics” on Saturday, September 26 from 3-5:30.
We will transform the football field into areas for water relays, “Banana Olympics”, chicken slingshot, trash can basketball, an obstacle course, and more.
We will have refreshments, worship in song, and a devotion.
No matter your age, ability, or expertise, we need volunteers to help:
Set up begining at 1:00 p.m.
Run the games
Visit and walk along with our friends and families as they play the games
Play the games with them if they need a partner
Hand out refreshments
Be “pray-ers” to pray for God to be present and on display, building His kingdom in the hearts and lives of us as well as in our special needs friends.
Contact Daphne Clark at dclark@pearorchard.org if you can help.
7. Family Night Supper is Family Night Picnic for now.
On Sunday evening, September 27, we are resuming Family Night Supper in the Multi-Purpose Building.
But because of COVID, it won’t be a potluck. Each family will bring their own picnic dinner, drinks, dessert, and paper products/utensils.
We’ll be doing a Q/A with Pastors Caleb, Carl, and Dean, Dr. John Kwasny, and Mr. Wilson Van Hooser. Get your questions ready!
Masks will be required except while eating.
8. Worship with us this Lord’s Day in person or online!
Join us for corporate worship this Sunday morning (in person or online) at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. and Sunday evening (in person or online) at 6:00 p.m.
Pastor Caleb is preaching on I Peter 5:12-14 in the morning.
Sonny Walker is preaching on 3 John in the evening.
Important links:
Download the Sunday bulletins.
To register for the nursery for Sunday evening, click here.
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Quote: “The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others…” — Westminster Larger Catechism #167
Why it matters: The words above remind us that we are not to be passive spectators at baptism services. Rather, those who have been baptized are actively to “improve” (that is, use to good effect, turn to a profit) their baptisms. WLC #167 goes to tell us how we are to do this:
by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; (Romans 6:3-5)
by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; (I Corinthians 1:11-13; Romans 6:2-3)
by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; (Romans 4:11-12; I Peter 3:21)
by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; (Romans 6:3-5)
and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body. (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:22; Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 12:13, 25-27)
One smile to go:
This is a $5 smart outlet from Amazon, and it gives me great happiness every evening. Through its accompanying app, I have set up a schedule for our back patio lights to turn on at 7:30 and off at 11:00 every evening, and I can control them from my phone. I know I’m late to the smart home party, but I didn’t realize until recently that home automation was so cheap to come by these days. We’re not the Jetsons yet, but I feel one step closer to my flying car every day.