The Restoration Of the Christ Lutheran Church Baptismal Font
January 22, 2017

God be praised that his Spirit continues to live and work among us, filling us with faith, hope and love! As the Spirit of God inspired workmen in the constructing of the Old Testament tabernacle, so he continues today. The font from our former church has been restored, and will now be returned to holy service. As this sacred font has cleansed sinners for more decades than any of us can remember, so by God's mercy it will continue to do so into the future.

For much of church history baptisms were performed outside the church in a structure known as the baptistery, symbolizing the fact that one can only enter the church through the Red Sea of baptism – that sacrament which purges our consciences from dead works to serve the Living God.

Though church architecture no longer allows for baptisteries, we gain a powerful symbol by placing the Font just outside the chancel, reminding us that entrance to the Lord’s Altar, from which all blessings flow, is ours by virtue of our baptism!

Further, the aggregation of the font, altar, pulpit, credence table, rail and all the other sacred furniture of worship, keeps the holy incarnation of our Lord ever before our eyes. They serve as a constant reminder that Jesus was "made man" for us. And it is for this reason that the Christian religion is not just a matter of words and thoughts, but is an incarnational, fleshly faith. One that utilizes what is visible: wood, cloth, oil, water, bread, wine etc., to connect us to what is invisible – our true and good Father who created us, sustains us, redeems us, and sanctifies us “by water and the Word” at this very Font!

May the Holy Spirit descend upon this font, as he did upon our Savior in the Jordan, so that each baptized person might hear the same benediction from the heavenly Father, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased.”