Living Our Baptism

The Baptismal Covenant is a set of promises that we enter into with God and whole body of Christ -- the Church; all the baptized people of God.  These promises shape and form our Christian life and root us in those things that help guide our Christian lives in a community of faith.

In the Baptismal Covenant we make three statements of faith: in God the Father (the Creator); Jesus Christ, God the Son (the Redeemer); and God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer and Sanctifier).  Following our statement of faith we make five action-oriented promises: to continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers; to persevere in resisting evil, and whenever we sin, to repent and return to the Lord; to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Jesus Christ; to seek and serve Christ in all persons and love our neignor as ourselves; and to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.

These promises of Baptism are the focus of our deepening faith, growing spirituality, and sharing God's love in service to the world.  Living our Baptism is to live deeply into the Great Commission that Jesus gave to his first disciples.  At St. Luke's, extending the Great Commission and deeply living our Baptism is what sets us on God's Mission as a Christian community of the 21st century: to radically invite and welcome all to join us on the journey of faith and helping advance God's Mission of justice, love, peace, and reconciliation for the world.

The promises of Baptism are at the heart of mission, vision, and how we are organizing our life for mission and ministry as a congregation.

You may be interested in reading the article: "Living the Great Commission Today", which appeared in our August 2009 edition of The Evangel.