AA - Liturgy - ADULT - BAPTISM • CONFIRMATION • MEMBERSHIP

This liturgy is only for use with adults who have not been baptized, wish to be baptized and join the local church.

[INVITE THOSE BEING BAPTIZED FORWARD] [Explain sharing our water - invite to bring water as we sing]

SONG

BAPTISMAL/CONFIRMATION VOWS

To those being baptized:

Do you renounce the devil and all his works, and reject the evil powers of this world? I RENOUNCE THEM.

►►►SLIDE

Do you repent of your sin, turn to Jesus Christ, and confess Him as your Lord and Savior? I DO.

►►►SLIDE

Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? I DO.

►►►SLIDE

Do you accept the responsibility to resist evil, injustice, and oppression by the grace and power of God? I DO.

►►►SLIDE

Will you obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in them all the days of your life by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit? I WILL.

The congregation is then asked to affirm their commitment to support the baptismal candidate in the faith.

►►►SLIDE

Will you who witness these vows encourage [these persons] in the faith and do all in your power to support [these persons] in [their] life in Christ? WE WILL.

Baptismal candidates are then asked to confess their faith as contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. [Pastor Chris will typically use the abbreviated responses, omitting the bracketed optional words.]

►►►SLIDE

Do you believe in God the Father? I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

►►►SLIDE

Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD,

[who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.]

►►►SLIDE

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,

[the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.]

Celebrant lays hands upon the Candidate(s)

►►►SLIDE [graphic]

Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty and everliving Father, and we praise you for your infinite goodness and mercy.

Above all, we thank you for your most dearly beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As he hung upon the cross for our forgiveness, from his side flowed both water and blood for our healing and cleansing.

After his resurrection, he commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Celebrant touches the water and says:

We ask you now to sanctify this water by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Grant that [this person] be cleansed from all sin and receive the fullness of your grace, that [he/she/they] may ever remain faithful in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Addressing the baptismal candidate:

By what name are you being baptized? [ANSWER]

BAPTISM

[Name],

I baptize you in the name of the Father, And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen.

Responses written by Pastor Chris Gadlage – February 2024

JOINING THE LOCAL CHURCH

►►►SLIDE

Your baptism makes you a member of Christ’s holy universal church! Being your intention to also join this church, I ask:

►►►SLIDE

Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to keep God’s holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of your life as a faithful member of Christ’s holy church? I DO

►►►SLIDE

Will you be loyal to Christ through the Global Methodist Church and joining with your brothers and sisters around the world do all in your power to fulfill its mission? I WILL

►►►SLIDE

Will you be a faithful member of Bartlett Chapel, doing all in your power to strengthen its ministries through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness as Christ’s representative in this world? ►►►SLIDE I PLEDGE TO DO ALL IN MY POWER TO STRENGTHEN THE MINISTRIES OF BARTLETT CHAPEL BY PRAYING, BY BEING PRESENT, BY GIVING, BY SERVING, AND BY WITNESSING TO MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

This point forward written by Pastor Chris Gadlage – January 2024

COMMENDATION AND WELCOME

To the congregation:

►►►SLIDE

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, These people have/has proclaimed their faith in Jesus Christ, made a commitment to the Global Methodist Church, and vowed to faithfully participate as a member of Bartlett Chapel. Will you have them as a member? ►►►SLIDE WE PRAISE GOD FOR YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST! WE CELEBRATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE DENOMINATION. AND WE WELCOME YOU AS A MEMBER OF BARTLETT CHAPEL. ►►►SLIDE WE GLADLY COMMIT TO LEARN, GROW, AND WORK ALONG SIDE YOU AS WE RENEW OUR OWN FAITH IN CHRIST, ►►►SLIDE AND TO OUR VOWS OF FAITHFULNESS TO THE MINISTRIES OF BARTLETT CHAPEL BY PRAYER, BY BEING PRESENT, BY GIVING, BY SERVING, AND WITNESSING ►►►SLIDE TO MAKE GOD’S LOVE REAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.

Explain de-greeting

BENEDICTION

►►►SLIDE

We shall not rest until all the world knows the Good News of Jesus Christ. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit pour out sufficient grace on us all for that work to which He calls us. AMEN