What more fitting way to celebrate All Saints Day, November 1, than to bring an infant into God’s family through the sacrament of Baptism. Last Friday, the Reverends Art Callaham and Tori Gilliland baptized six-month-old Isla Gray Adams, daughter of Associate Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion Jess Adams and her husband Jeff, during our morning Chapel service with the entire School community in attendance.
Jess explains: “When choosing a place to celebrate Isla’s Baptism, Episcopal felt like the natural choice because of the deep sense of community and connection it embodies for me and my husband Jeff. The meaningful relationships that I have built in this community over the past decade—including with Reverend Art Callaham and Curate Tori Gilliland, who baptized Isla—reflect the support and love I want her to experience in her faith journey. Having Jocelyn Valencia, a student whom I have coached and worked with closely through Diversity in Action, serve as a reader was a beautiful, full circle moment. As a teacher, you pour love, guidance, and support into your students, helping them grow on their journeys. Now, one of those very students is participating in a pivotal moment in your daughter's life—it brings me to tears thinking about it!”
The Reverend Callaham shares the meaning of Baptism in the Episcopal Church:
“According to the Book of Common Prayer, 'Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church’ [298]. Baptism is a sacrament in which we believe that the things we do in the service (washing with water) convey spiritual goods from God (grace and salvation). Jesus instructed the first Christians to baptize people and, as far as we know, Christians have been doing so ever since.
“In the Episcopal Church, we baptize both adults and infants. For us, this signifies the mystery that Baptism is both about our personal commitments and God’s sole action in bringing people into God’s family. In either case (adult or infant), Baptism is something that occurs once in a lifetime. 'The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble’” [BCP 298].
Reverend Callaham explains how Baptism in front of the entire community is important:
“First, there is a key moment in the Rite where all those gathered promise to do all in their power to help the candidate grow in their life in faith. 'Faith is a team sport' is how I usually talk about it in preparation classes. This is an important lesson for a School like ours. Regardless of our individual faith comment, we are all invested in each other’s spiritual growth and welfare.
“Secondly, services like Baptism (and Katie Gould’s ordination last year) provide opportunities for teaching. Jess and her family were very kind to us in allowing me to occasionally break the flow of the service with descriptions of what was going on. All students learn about Baptism in their New Testament and World Religion Classes. But lecture is never enough; seeing a Baptism “demo” engages students in a different way.”
Jess shares the meaning of the sacrament for her: “My love for my students and my belief in the inherent dignity of each individual are core to who I am, and the Episcopal tradition aligns with these values by encouraging each of us to be a light in the world, to uphold compassion, and to see the divine spark in everyone we meet. The entire congregation singing This Little Light of Mine during Isla’s Baptism was a beautiful emblem of the love and commitment this community holds—to nurture her light, honor her dignity, and support her journey as a bright presence in the world. I want Isla to grow up surrounded by this sense of purpose, to know she’s part of a community that cherishes her individuality, and to feel empowered to make a positive impact.”
Baby Isla was a trooper! Passed from parent to godparent to priest and back and sprinkled with holy water, she stayed cool and composed, even smiling. Through the prayers and hymns, explanations and rituals, Isla demonstrated calm and serenity, reflecting the joy of the occasion.