Alleluia! Christ is risen he is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  Can I begin by wishing you all a very joyful Easter!  The season of Spring has returned, with warmer weather, brighter evenings and the whole of creation being renewed with trees and hedgerows all in bud and blossom.  In the Church we celebrate that Christ has overcome the darkness of sin and death and risen from the grave and that in HIM we ourselves are renewed and reborn!

This is the powerful symbolism of the sacrament of Baptism; it is all about death, resurrection and renewal.  It seems to me that this is something to get really excited and joyful about and it lies at the centre of the Christian good news to all humanity.  It is one of the reasons why I am so enthusiastic about the liturgy of Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Day.  Its origins go back to the year 800 when in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem the priest emerged from the tomb in the darkened church bearing the light of Christ and spreading it around.  Later in the Middle Ages the service included the blessing of the baptismal waters and the baptism of many new Christians after they had been preparing for the sacrament in a year of Catechumenate instruction in the faith.  Sinners who had also fallen away from the Church's fellowship repented and were restored to the church's membership.  I sometimes think what an immensely joyful and powerful service that must have been for all involved!  No wonder they all brought bells and rattles to wake the dead and ring out their joy during the singing of the Gloria!

Today we are used to getting everything we want as quickly as possible with minimal effort.  Infant baptisms are arranged over the telephone and often no instruction is given and minimal commitment to weekly worship made.  It has to some extent become a rather empty ceremony with people mouthing promises and declaring positions of faith that have not really been thought through or seriously believed.  Most godparents or the parents themselves are not confirmed.  Sometimes, I have been asked if a Muslim or unbaptised person can act as a godparent.  Our culture has moved so far away from the traditional and profound understanding of the sacrament of Baptism.  But can you imagine what a Baptism would have been like on Easter Eve after a whole year of preparation, prayer and repentance?  When we have had to wait a long time and work towards something we appreciate the immense value of it all the more.  I am sure for those in past ages their Baptism was a life transforming event, highly emotional and full of deep meaning not only for the newly baptised but for the whole Church!  Because before their very eyes resurrection, new life and renewal was becoming a reality.  No wonder people's faith was strong and there was a deep appreciation of the value, relevance and the significance of the Christian faith!

Some weeks ago, the Bishop of Southampton conducted a Vision Day at St Michael's.  We started by sharing a breakfast together and by prayer and he began by getting us all to turn our chairs towards the exit.  This caught some of us out, as the Clergy and Readers and some of the leaders all thought to sit in the front, facing the stage and near the Bishop.  But he moved position, so that the leaders were behind and the members of the congregation were in front.......facing the exit. This was quite a clever symbol.  It reminded us all that the real work in the Kingdom of Heaven was done by ordinary baptised Christians and that our calling was to go out of the church building and into the world.  He said many helpful things, but one of the things that stood out in my mind was to ask us what we thought our church was for?  What is the parish of North Stoneham and Bassett for?  He reminded us of the Grace and generosity of God.  He told us not to be consumed with worries over finances and building maintenance.  All these things sap our joy and enthusiasm.  So what is the Church for?  We need to ask this question over and over, because it will surely help us to discover our vision and get our priorities right.  Then hopefully many of our other concerns will find a remedy.  So a common vision is important and it has to include people not currently of our membership who need to discover the great treasure of faith that we possess.  I believe that being instrumental in helping others to faith will bring renewal, growth and new life to our churches.  It will inspire us and fill us with a deeper appreciation that Christ has risen from the dead.  I wonder if we can learn something from the past and regain something that we have lost.

At the centre of the Christian faith is good and joyful news!  It is news that in Christ we can have new life in all its abundance.  The old order of sin and death is overcome.  All we who share in the death of Christ through the waters of Baptism can share in the Lord's resurrection.  I think more of our time and energy should be spent in helping others to discover or rediscover this truth.

Stephen Holmes