A Message from Pastor Andrea Chaumont

January 7, 2026

Dear Mt. Baker Park Church,

The lectionary jumps from Jesus’ birth (the magi and the stable) to Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). At first glance this might seem strange, what happened to everything between birth and adulthood? But upon further reflection it makes sense. Baptism enacts a kind of rebirth of sorts. When we baptize someone in the Presbyterian church there is a part of the service called Thanksgiving Over the Water.

It goes something like this…

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

In baptism is the idea of being identified with the death of Christ and also with Jesus’ resurrection. Romans 6 puts it this way “we have been buried with him in baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father’s so we too might walk in the newness of life.” 

Newness of life is in the air at the beginning of a new year (new year - new me). But what if becoming the “new me” was not in gym memberships but in returning to what you and are were always meant to be in Christ - claimed and sealed by God as God’s beloved. 

Blessings,

Pastor Andrea

P.S. If you are interested in learning more about baptism / being baptized at Mt. Baker Park Church, please reach out to me here.

You can also call me or text me here.