Holy Water Fonts
I am beyond elated and grateful for the gift of three holy water fonts given by our Altar Guild and Senior Warden, Diane Hendricks, this Easter! Holy Baptism is the foundational sacrament that underlies all we do and who we are as followers of the Risen Christ. Holy water fonts can be wall-mounted, freestanding, highly ornate, or quite simple. St. John’s holy water fonts are located inside our worship space by the Quarrier St. entrance, by the entry through the Leon Sullivan entrance, and at the entry next to our All Saints’ Chapel where our processions begin.
What is a holy water font, you ask? I’m happy to share. A holy water font is a small vessel or basin used to, well, uh. . . hold holy water. The idea behind holy water fonts is that they are used as we enter into St. John’s worship space as an act reminding us of our Holy Baptism, our vows to God, and Christ’s promises to us as beloved children of God.
The water in a holy water font is blessed by a priest. You use the font by dipping your index finger or index and middle fingers into the font, then making the sign of the cross on yourself recalling when you were baptized into the household of God and marked as Christ’s own forever.
But, what if you haven’t been baptized into the household of God? What then? Please talk to me so we can schedule your Holy Baptism. I haven’t turned anyone down for baptism yet. The Book of Common Prayer tells us on page 858 that “Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” In Holy Baptism we formally begin our journey with the Risen Christ; not that Christ doesn’t love us unconditionally before baptism, but in baptism, we are surrounded by the Church asking for and accepting the grace and love of Jesus into our lives.
And so, my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to our Altar Guild and Diane for providing a new spiritual practice for many of us. A joy-filled and holy Eastertide to all! And remember, please let me know if you’ve yet to be baptized. We’ll take care of that in a jiffy!
Grace,
Eric+
