Carrying the Light
As we baptize Thomas today, his Aunt Molly converses with children about baptism.
2026-33
sermon preached at Church of the Good Shepherd, Federal Way, WA
www.goodshepherdfw.org
by the Rev. Molly Minnerath
The Day of Pentecost, May 24, 2026
Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23
Good morning, everyone! Today, we are celebrating two very exciting things in the church: Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit - and Baptism - when we remember how much God loves each of us. And we are going to Baptize our friend, Thomas! It’s a really special day.
And what I think is super cool about Baptism specifically is that our good friend, Jesus, was also baptized! I want to tell you a little bit about Jesus’ baptism before we get to experience Thomas’ baptism.
Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized - much older than when Thomas is getting baptized. At this point in Jesus’ life he is getting pretty popular - later in his life he will preach and perform miracles which makes him even MORE popular - but people are starting to hear about him and are curious about his message of love and the way he acts and includes everyone - especially people who are left out.
John the Baptist is the other character in the story of Jesus’ baptism and he is the cousin of Jesus. In the Bible John the Baptist is somewhat of a strange character. He didn’t live by many of the “norms” that others lived by during his life. He tended to live alone, and travel far distances to baptize people. He wore funny clothes and ate food that other people didn’t eat.
READ STORY
I wonder, what did you notice about the story? What was your favorite part of the story?
Or… what do you see in this picture of Jesus’ Baptism?
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Which is a big, rushing river. We aren’t going to go to a river to Baptize Thomas today... But we are going to use the same thing John used for Jesus’ baptism. Water!
I wonder… What are some things you use water for?
When are some times you go in water?
That’s right! There are so many times in our day that we use water. We use water to wash our hands, take baths, and cool off. But today, we are going to use water to Baptize Thomas!
When we baptize someone, we sprinkle a little water on their head. But we aren't washing away dirt!
Instead, this water is like a visible reminder of something we can’t see with our eyes - and invisible truth. The water reminds us that we are part of God’s great big family. And that God's love wraps all the way around each of us… and especially Thomas today… and washes over our heart.
This water is God’s way of saying, just like he did in the story we read, that each of us are God’s beloved child, and that God loves us so, so, so much.
Sometimes I like to think about God’s love like the biggest, tightest hug your parents give you. Give yourself a big tight hug right now!
Doesn’t that feel so good? Getting a hug can feel so good!
And God’s love is even bigger than that. That is what we celebrate with Baptism today - just how much God loves us!
Love is such a bright light in our world, love can look like kindness, empathy, friendship, and care… and God doesn’t want us to sit quietly with all that love! So God sends us the Holy Spirit on Pentecost - which is today - to help us spread that love.
Sometimes, we talk about the Holy Spirit and say it is like fire - or flame! Kind of like the flame on this candle.
Do you ever use candles? I know I do! When do you use candles…?
· On your birthday cake? Maybe you have a bonfire and roast smores in the backyard?
· And we have this really special candle in church!
Candles give us light and they help us to see. The Holy Spirit is like this candle because it gives us warmth and courage. The Holy Spirit helps us shine the light of God’s love all over the world. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be kind, to help our friends, shine brightly for Jesus.
We each have the light of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We each have the light of God’s love within us. And the love and light of this candle can never, ever be put out, because God loves us so much and wants us to spread this love every day of our life!
To remember this, how much God loves us and that God sent us the Holy Spirit to shine our light really bright… I want to teach you one of my favorite songs. It’s called This Little Light of Mine.
