E mmanuel from Pastor Kurt Busiek. Hope you're having a nice weekend.
On a Sunday in November a few years ago, a baptism had been scheduled for five people: Dustin Felker, Candy Summers, Michelle Duvall, Frank Hoff and Jerry Wilson. We all met for prayer in my office and went on to baptismal changing area where Earl and Diane Johnson met us to prepare the candidates. When I heard Candy’s prelude conclude, I stepped into the baptismal tank to begin the service.
My first step into the water was a shock. I pulled my foot back out quickly because it stung from the hot water. I thought I was mistaken and tried again; “maybe I could get used to it?” I stepped out again. my foot red from the scalding water. We had a problem. The water heater had worked too well. You can baptize people in cold water but not in scalding water. A decision was made: we would cool the water and try the baptism service again at the end of the service. We had 45 minutes.
The five baptismal candidates remained in their white robes and found a seat on the front row of the sanctuary. I changed back into my suit and rejoined the service in progress. The full extent of the frantic activity behind the scenes may never be fully known but here’s a brief summary of what I know. Earl put a thermometer in the tank. The water was 125 degrees. He began to drain the hot water; a loud gurgling sound could be heard through the rest of the service (some people thought it was my stomach growling). Buck Johnson ran a hose from the furnace room faucet to the tank to re-fill the tank as it drained. Delbert Casto, Brian Raitz and others began to bring pans of ice from the kitchen ice-maker. Other people were sent to nearby convenience stores to buy bags of ice.
My favorite image from this Sunday was when I looked up from the podium and saw Earl through the baptismal opening pulling up his dress pants above his knees. He knew someone had to test the water temperature. He sacrificed his legs to make sure the water was ready. I smiled and thought to myself: these are great people who are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure five people can proceed with their simple act of faith and commitment. After the sermon was over, as people dedicated their financial pledge cards and food pantry offerings, we all gathered again at the baptistery. The water was perfect. The baptism went on without a problem.
I share this story because it reminds me of the kind of Christians we are all called to be: loving servants who work together as team, willing do “whatever it takes” to help others in need.
As we reflect on the Christian story, we think about God descending to the earth to experience our world in the form of the God-man, the baby Jesus. When I saw Earl lowering his bare legs into the baptismal water (and I know this is a stretch), I thought about God’s love. God lowered himself at Christmas to test the waters, to experience our struggles, to reveal himself, to express His deep love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only Son…”
Someone told me recently, “Hey pastor, I heard you’re in ‘hot water’ at the church.” I explained to him that this is the good kind of ‘hot water’: the kind that forces people to work together and live out God’s love in practical ways.