Each year at Grace Lutheran in Hibbing, we encourage those who have not received God's gracious name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in baptism to receive this great gift. We have baptisms all year long. We especially reach out to those connected with us in our Release Time program, our Open Arms of Grace Child Care and Confirmation classes during the weeks before Easter. This year, during our Saturday Easter Vigil, on April 11, 2009, there were 21 individuals who came to the life giving waters of baptism ! Reason to rejoice!
Those baptized on April 11, 2009 were: Gage Fisher, Benjamin Hardy, Samuel Hardy, Lucas Nelson-Jones, Jessica Wolff, Atreyu Jones-Wolff, Odessa Wolff, Astrea Nelson-Jones, Brittani Samuelson, Holena Sanders, Jarod Sanders, Mason Sanders, Tru Hocking, Hunter Sayre, Cheyenne Schmelzer, Tyler Schmelzer, Whitney Schmelzer, Zachary Schmelzer, Mason St. Germaine, Savanna St. Germaine, and Jolene VanAnda.
In the pre-service set up, you'll notice on the left, just below the wooden cross is a basket full of 21 baptismal candles, one for each participant to remember they have received the Light of Life and are now to shine that light in their lives. Also on the right is a stand holding all the baptismal and sponsor certificates that were handed out by an elder during the baptisms (another elder lit the baptismal candles from the Christ candle, giving them to the one being baptized). Also note the little wooden stand to the right of the baptismal font used by the younger children to step up on in order to get their heads over the font. It was a great day in the Lord!
Savanna, Brittani and Whitney have been attending Youth Confirmation class this year. We raise our voices in praise to God that He has given to each of them His gracious name in baptism during our Easter Vigil service. Their baptisms opened the door for four of their siblings to be baptized also!
