The Baptism Service

PRAYER

God our creator, we thank you for the wonder of new life and for the mystery of human love.
We give thanks for all whose support and skill surround and sustain the beginning of life.
As Jesus knew love and discipline within a human family, may these children grow in strength and wisdom.
As Mary knew the joys and pains of motherhood, give these parents your sustaining grace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A READING FROM THE BIBLE

THE PRESENTATION

Faith is the gift of God to his people.
All of us share in the responsibility of making God’s love known in the world. Will you uphold these children who come for baptism with your love and with your prayers?

All: With the help of God, we will.

Parents and godparents move to the front.

Parents and godparents, the Church receives these children with joy. Today we are trusting God for their growth in faith. Will you pray for them, draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with them in the way of Christ?

Parents and godparents:
   With the help of God, we will.

In baptism these children begin their journey in faith. You speak for them today. Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?

Parents and godparents:
    With the help of God, we will.

THE DECISION
The minister addresses the parents and godparents:

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Those who bring children to be baptised must affirm their allegiance to Christ and their rejection of all that is evil.
It is your duty to bring up these children to fight against evil and to follow Christ.
Therefore I ask these questions which you must answer for yourselves and for these children.

Do you turn to Christ?
    I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins?
    I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil?
    I renounce evil.

SIGNING WITH THE CROSS
The minister makes the sign of the cross with holy oil on the forehead of each child, saying:

Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.

All: Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
      against sin, the world and the devil,
      and remain faithful to Christ
      to the end of your life.
      Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE WATER

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

All: who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ was baptised in the river Jordan, we thank you for the gift of water to cleanse us and revive us. Saving God,

All: give us life.

We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea you led your people out of slavery to freedom in the promised land. Saving God,

All: give us life.

We thank you that through the deep waters of death you brought your Son, and raised him to life in triumph. Saving God,

All: give us life.

Bless this water, that your servants who are washed in it may be made one with Christ in his death and in his resurrection, to be cleansed and delivered from all sin. Saving God,

All: give us life.

Send your Holy Spirit upon them, bring them to new birth in the household of faith, and raise them with Christ to full and eternal life; for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours, now and for ever. Saving God,

All: give us life. Amen.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

Let us affirm, together on behalf of those who are being baptised, our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?

All: I believe and trust in God.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?

All: I believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?

All: I believe and trust in the Holy Spirit.

This is the faith of the Church.

All: This is our faith.

      We believe and trust in one God,

      Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

BAPTISM

The minister pours water on each child saying:

.......... and .......... I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

May God who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of grace, that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.

All: Amen.

WELCOME

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
By one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.

All: We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;
      we are children of the same heavenly Father;
      we welcome you.

PRAYERS

The minister says some suitable prayers.

LORD’S PRAYER

All: Our Father in heaven,
      hallowed be your name,
      your kingdom come,
      your will be done,
      on earth as in heaven.
      Give us today our daily bread.
      Forgive us our sins
      as we forgive those who sin against us.
      Lead us not into temptation
      but deliver us from evil.
      For the kingdom, the power,
      and the glory are yours
      now and for ever.
      Amen.

BLESSING

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.

All: Amen.

GIVING OF A LIGHTED CANDLE

The minister gives for each of the newly baptised a lighted candle.

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light.
.......... and .......... you have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.

All: Shine as a light in the world
      to the glory of God the Father.

DISMISSAL

Go in the light and peace of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.