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If you asked me where I was this time last year, then I would be hard pushed to tell you. If you really wanted to stump me, ask me what I was this Sunday 5 years ago say. But if you asked me where I was 32 years ago, that would be a different question. For it was my first weekend in the Navy. And whilst I could not recite everything that happened over those days I do remember a good deal of it. I remember the short dreary Devonian days coupled with the games afternoon on the Saturday and the compulsory church attendance on the Sunday. And why do I recall all that. Well that weekend was a start of something new - something that would change the course of my life - something that was in a way a baptism. And here is at least one reason for Mark to start his gospel unlike Matthew and Luke, with the baptism of Jesus rather than his birth. Because in those few lines we heard this morning, we see all that we really need to know. To know not so much about Jesus himself. Rather all we need know about the start of a ministry that gives us newness - a ministry that gives us a changed life - a ministry indeed that gives us our own ministry. In fact - thinking about it - linking baptism with ministry is no bad idea specifically at this time of year. For where better to get a sense of encouragement at the start of a new year than in a baptism. For where better to get a new sense of purpose than in ministry. Since as we discussed last week we should really be looking to find Gods vision for ourselves in the opportunities of this new year. That means then we should be awaiting a baptism of sorts. We should be expecting the coming of a redirection in our lives. We should in all honesty be hoping for the Gods

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call to us in 2012. Because it is never sufficient for us to know that God has a plan for us - instead it is to know what that plan is and then do something about it! And another word for that doing is ministry. I well remember that when we had inspections, one particular officer seemed always have a obsession with our cabins waste paper basket. It had to be pristine or there was the devil to pay. The solution was obvious. A few minutes before rounds started - the naval name for inspections - Jeff Coy shot off with the offending bin to some unknown hiding place and returned with a brand new basket he had purloined from somewhere. This item was then treated as holy object until the inspection was over and thereupon it was returned to its reliquary. So sacred was this item that is always referred to by my room mates as the bin immaculate. Actually Jeff transferred to the army after two year and needless to say was never talked of, in polite circles, again. And all that long winded reminiscence is by way of saying even the most demanding baptisms are made the easier with companionship. Certainly that is true of our baptism into ministry in this new year of 2012. And what type of companion am I referring to here? Well, that brings us to our lesson from Acts. Because whilst the dove of the spirit descended on Christ at his baptism, his followers had to wait to the day of Pentecost for the baptism of fire with the Holy Spirit. After that the earliest church movement gradually spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean area. Yet it appears despite the best efforts of Paul, and most probably many other now forgotten travelling preachers, Christianity did hit pockets of failure. This seems to have been Pauls experience when he arrives in Ephesus .

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And like most things in life the trick is to ask the right question. So he queries the group of followers who seemed to be failing in their ministry like this. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers? We have never heard of the Holy Spirit, they replied. In that case, Paul went on, what kind of baptism did you receive? Oh, the baptism of John. And that was sufficient for the repentance of sin but did not bestow the holy Spirit .

Knowing now where the problem lay, this group of believers was baptised in the name of Jesus Christ and received the spirit - that spirit that accompanies and assists and encourages the spirit of action and the spirit of successful ministry .

And that solution to the Ephesian problem that Paul found is instructive to us here and now. For when we think of our renewed baptism into 2012 - when we take up a new ministry for a new year - when we look too at todays church, we find a parallel or two with those failing in the early church. Because it has been pointed out in the past, a Church or congregation or an individual that is bereft of the companionship of spirit soon becomes inwardly dead. In truth, that group or person can no longer minister either internally or externally. On the other hand, a Church or congregation or follower that is a beacon of the spiritual life is always a advert of what God can do, in spite of all the odds. Put another way, with the spirit the odds become evens! Strangely, during that hectic first week in the navy, I

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managed to have a conversation with the Chaplain. I well remember me discussing my consideration of full time ministry with him. He told me that I should pursue what he must thought was a call. Well, I am not the fastest acting individual, so I did do so but it was 16 years later. In other words, the Spirit won in the end! Well, if you want 2012 to offer more than 2011, be open to your baptism in the spirit. Be ready for its vision and encouragement and its success. Let it let you into your new life of ministry. Because if you do it wont be your new beginning. Instead, it will be the very beginning of your being. Amen Offering HYMN...........................