Baptism in the sea at Sha Ha beach was performed for four people on June 4 by the Reverend Chris Ponniah. The pastor of Pak Sha Wan’s Resurrection Church baptised two adults, Melody Espiritu and Nonie Yung, plus two children, Yuan Yung Simoneau, 7, and Jack Lambe, 4. Anglicans believe Baptism is the sacrament by which a person is initiated into the Christian faith. It has the effect of receiving the individual into the household of God.
Chris said the ceremony followed a simplified form of Anglican rites. Up to their waist in lapping waves, the adults were told they were making the decision to follow Jesus. Parents were instructed that they were undertaking to raise the children according to the Christian faith.
As beach-goers and swimmers watched, the pastor asked: “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject evil powers and repent of your sins? Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, repression in whatever form? Do you confess Jesus as your saviour, put your whole trust in his grace and promise to serve him as your Lord?”
To the parents, Chris said, “Will you nurture your son in the Christian faith so by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, profess faith openly and lead a Christian life?”
Then he pushed the baptism candidates under the water, fully submerged them, and pronounced,”I baptise you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
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