As the opening hymn concluded the young couple and two sponsors brought their six-week-old son to the baptism font.  The smiling, clerical collared, white Alb, seasonal colored stole and pectoral cross wearing pastor greeted them saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  The pastor informed everyone that this child, conceived and born sinful would be lost forever had not Christ delivered him from sin, death and everlasting condemnation.  The name of the child is revealed after which the pastor puts the sign of the cross on his forehead and his heart “to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.”

Just as the little boy is to be baptized in the name of the Triune God, and before anyone can grab hold of him, his great-grandfather Simeon comes up and declares, “This is the greatest day of my life. Lord, I can die in peace. There still is hope.  This child will save us all.”

And before anyone could get “grandpa” quietly back to his pew, up comes 84-year-old aunt Anna, who was known to show up at every funeral and every wedding and for whom neither cold nor heat, snow nor sleet, cloudy days or days too good to pass up a round of golf, kept her away from church.  She dances up and down the aisles, in a most unlutheran manner, rejoicing and thanking God for this child.

You might want to read Luke 2:22-38, for another version of what happened that day.