“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Do you hear any sounds when you think of these words? 

I think it might be important to hear the sound of pouring water. In many congregations, as the invocation is spoken at the beginning of each worship service, all eyes are on the baptismal font, which stands at the front center of the church. How often haven’t we seen the water poured from the cupped hand of the pastor as it cascades over the head of an infant. We may be too far away to hear the sound, but the gentle splash is part of every baptism. The words we take for granted so often at the beginning of worship are connected with the water of Baptism. Those words are always a reminder of the tremendous treasure God has given each of us through this sacrament.

Worship reminds us of our baptism

Perhaps you have never connected the words of the invocation—or the sign of the cross that the minister makes as he says those words—with your baptism. But think back to the last baptism you witnessed. What words did the minister say as he poured water on the head of the person being baptized? “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” And what sign did the minister make on the head and heart of the person being baptized? “Receive the sign of the cross,” he said, “on the head and heart to mark you as a redeemed child of Christ.” Every time we begin worship with the words of the invocation, we return to that momentous event in our own lives when, as water was poured over our heads, those powerful words were spoken over us. And every time the sign of the cross is made, we are reminded that Baptism ties us to the cross of Jesus as his redeemed children. That tie remains throughout our lives.

It is not by accident that we begin worship with such a powerful reminder of our baptisms. Worship, after all, is that incredible time when the Lord of the universe, whom angels serve unceasingly in heaven, invites us poor sinners to come into his presence so that he might serve us. While our service to God is an important part of our worship, it is not the heart of our worship. God’s service to us stands at the heart of all our worship, for without God’s service to us we could never serve him.

God gives us his gospel through Word and sacraments