AA - Liturgy - CHILD - BAPTISM

This liturgy is only for use with children whose parents/godparents are presenting them for baptism.

[INVITE FAMILIES FORWARD]

[Explain sharing our water - invite to bring water as we sing]

SONG

BAPTISMAL VOWS

To Parents/Sponsors/Godparents:

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

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

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

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

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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.

Will you nurture [this child] in Christ’s Holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, profess their faith openly, and lead a Christian life?

I (WE) WILL.

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

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

Those presenting 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.]

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

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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.]

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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)

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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.

[Take the child]

What name is given this child? [PARENTS ANSWER]

BAPTISM

[Name],

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

WELCOME AND RECEPTION

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Let us welcome [Name] as a newly baptized member(s) of Christ’s church.

WE WELCOME YOU AND RECEIVE YOU INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH. ►►►SLIDE

WE PROMISE TO SURROUND YOU IN A COMMUNITY OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AS YOU GROW IN CHRIST, ►►►SLIDE

SO THAT YOU MAY CONFESS THE FAITH OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED, PROCLAIM HIS RESURRECTION, AND SHARE WITH US IN THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD OF ALL HIS PEOPLE,

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TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME. AMEN.

Explain de-greeting

BENEDICTION

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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