Pictured is the baptismal font in the Narthex of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Baptismal fonts are increasingly located near the entrance of the parish church to remind us of how we originally entered the Church – through Baptism. That is what you are meant to think as you walk past it into the nave of Trinity parish.

The baptismal font is the womb of the Church, because from the font Christians are reborn through water and the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-21). This use of the word “reborn” may be confusing as conservative Protestants use the term “born again” in a different way than does John the Apostle and the historic church. This might be something that Trinity folks would like to pursue at a “going deeper” session. There a "going deeper" session this Sunday, the 10th, at 6 PM in the Great Hall.

Have you noticed that there is water in the Trinity font and all others that are located in the narthex of the church? That is not by accident. We remind ourselves of our initiation into the life of grace each time we enter church. Some like me use the baptismal water from the font to make the sign of the cross as a sensual reminder of our baptism.

Some churches, like the Episcopal Cathedral in Orlando, the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, have a font (or "stoup") attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door. These are filled with baptismal water and serve the same purpose as does the font at Trinity in the narthex and are used the same way.

Here is an interesting quote among many from one of the Church Fathers, Tertullian (b. 160):

“For the Christian, water, as the matter of Baptism, is life.”

The background to his quote, above and continued below, is that the Greek acrostic ICHTHYS means fish – an ancient symbol of the Christian faith.

Tertullian went on to say: "But we, little fishes, after the example of our ICHTHYS Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than by permanently abiding in water…” Interesting.

The beautiful font at Trinity parish was designed by Kegel & Associates, Inc., Palm City, FL. The base made of solid brass and the bowl is made of composite stone with foam molding.

Aspérges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbador. Miserére mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than show. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy. -- Psalm 50.