Coal Miner Choir & Coal Miner Baptism

I’ve been behind the curve in getting some of these items posted. It has been at least a month since our choir was invited to attend an all gospel service on the other side of the post. CH (MAJ) Goodwin, a warm Southeast Islander (?) Haitian (?) man with an Assembly of God endorsement insisted that we come. He was the consummate shepherd. After inviting him to do a pulpit exchange one Sunday he came back to check on the choir and then sell his program again. CH Goodwin, a twenty year veteran, had a completely charming and disarming way about him. We couldn’t say “no” to him. And it’s a good thing we didn’t. The Gospel Service was packed with at least six different choirs and a variety of instrumentalists. It was truly an upbeat and spirited time. There is so much talent among our service members...and so much diversity even within the realm of Gospel singing. This event also allowed our choir to feel more appreciated than they had.

The choir members had been a little frustrated that our congregation wasn’t the type to get up, sing and clap along with the choir. I attempted to explain to the choir members that most people from PA with predominantly Germanic backgrounds don’t usually get into the charismatic thing… Also, the choir felt a bit overworked so they decided to sing for us every other Sunday. One of our field grade officers (XO) felt it was his duty to remind the choir members that they “should” be in church every Sunday regardless of their singing…and he suggested that they might try some “regular” hymns. The choir leader, SPC A. came to me. I had to smooth her ruffled feathers and let her know that she was in charge of the choir and that I had no expectations of who “should” be in church. And more importantly I told her that they were to sing whatever was a true expression of worship for them…and perhaps throw the XO a bone by singing “The Old Rugged Cross.”

One Sunday, a young energetic black male in the choir came to me and expressed interesting being baptized. I told him “of course” provided that we get through some basic Christian doctrine. Next thing I knew two other members of the choir came forward to request baptism, a white male and a mixed race female. Together they made a wonderful and attentive class, plus a powerful witness to the Gospel. I thought I was going to do the “dramatic” thing and baptize them by total immersion in a hole in the ground. When I attempted to dig, I discovered that the ground was like concrete. My next idea was to disguise a trash can by draping cloth around it. Hargrave nixed this…he said it would still be and look like a trash can. I told him to drop the purity kick because when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan it was likely that there were a few animals upstream… He just looked at me as if I needed psychological help. Eventually, I relented because I was worried that the individuals would feel cold having to stand around in wet clothing. Plus, I stressed the importance of the baptism being part of the worship service… My bottom line for the catechism was “One Lord, One Baptism” and that they should reject any church that would ask them to be re-baptized.

On the day of baptism, the candidates stood with their sponsors. I dipped my hand in the large stainless steel bowl I borrowed from the kitchen and used the ancient formula…”The servant of God, name, is baptized in the name of the Father (sprinkle), of the Son (sprinkle) and of the Holy Spirit (sprinkle). I prefer this formula over “I baptize you…” because it takes the focus off the minister and reminds me of some of the excellent insights of my Greek Orthodox heritage. I gave each candidate a small palm branch, the symbol of victory and a reminder of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I even taught the congregation to sing an ancient chant, “Those who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!” Prior to giving the candidates the palm branches I used them to sprinkle the congregation in order to remind them of their own baptism. At the close of the ceremony, the sponsors hung crosses around the necks of each of the candidates. I then asked the congregation to receive the candidates as members of the Body of Christ. It was a wonderfully affirming day for all of us.