After launching in May 2019, Wednesday Night Live (WNL) a Fresh Expression in Ramsey, has been delighted to see the growth of faith and engagement with both existing members of the church as well as new people. With weekly meetings on a variety of topics the group have supported each other in the various stages of their journeys. At the end of September, the group were overjoyed as two adults ‘took the plunge’ to be Baptised.
The beauty of God at work in the community and further throughout the Diocese was evident in the co-production of this event illustrating “the body is not one member, but many." (Corinthians 12:14);
Thanks St Martin church Cambridge who allowed us to hire their baptism pool, Ramsey Baptist church for lending us their heating stick to keep the water warm, and the C3 Church Cambridge for providing us “I have decided” T-shirts for baptism. It is so impressive that a baptism of two people breeds collaboration and unity between different churches.
Two days before the baptism service we received news that unscheduled major building works would begin at St Thomas a Becket church which will affect our baptism service immensely. A day before the baptism, we couldn't get mains water supply to fill the baptism pool from our church kitchen and we couldn't get water from the other vestry room due to the building works and health and safety concerns. We serve a big God, the firemen of Ramsey came to our rescue and helped us fill the baptism pool with a fire hose.
Tracey made an amazing commitment to get baptised, she comes from a journey of overcoming hardships and personal setbacks.
James is new to church and he quickly settled into WNL. He occasionally attends our Sunday services.
On the baptism day, Janet our resourceful Evangelism Coach made last minute checks of the baptism water temperature only to find it too hot! Janet and a team of volunteers rolled up their sleeves got stuck in took out some of the hot water with buckets and added a bit more cold water to get the baptism pool to a desired comfortable temperature. All of this was done just in time before the start of the service, one of those fine margins moments!
Reverend Canon Richard Darmody brought a good sermon, which touched the congregation and the new people who attended WNL for the first time. Tracey has lost both parents, but she brought lovely photos of her parents to the service. It was so touching because she placed the photos deliberately on the table as a respect to her parents and for them to witness her special baptism.
James had his sister and her husband supporting him. He made a very brave step to commit to baptism having had challenging times of broken relationships and disappointments.
The baptism of both James and Tracey was an emotional special moment, both James and Tracey came out of the pool renewed, transformed with a new joy on their faces.
We are excited for the new chapters in Tracey and James lives. James has signed up and now attends our church discipleship course. Tracey continues to serve diligently as a volunteer at WNL.
Two members of the congregation have now put their names forward for our baptism next year. Exciting times lay ahead for what God is doing at WNL.
Wednesday Night Live is hosted in St Thomas a Becket Church in Ramsey on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Please email information @ramseyandupwood.org
Written by Leo. E. Orobor (Community Mission Worker Ramsey)