Read an Excerpt

Baptism Services, Sermons, and Prayers

Just in Time

Abingdon Press

Baptism and Congregational Life

Baptism is an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." It is an external action that points to something within—hopefully, an experience of God. At times, the church offers services of baptism or baptismal renewal. At other times, individuals seek out a pastor for the baptism of their child. And at other times, individuals who are drawing nearer to God inquire about the possibility of their own baptisms.

Baptism is about connecting the life-giving waters of God (John 4:14) with the presence of the gathered community and the faithful person. As church leaders recognize, these three elements—water, gathered community, and personal faith—are also related to particular life situations and to the flow of the Christian and civic calendars. For this reason, the thoughtful pastor and worship leader will give attention to these variables, while upholding his or her ordination vows to stand within the integrity of a particular tradition.

Through Christian baptism we are made a part of God's covenant people. By the gift of water we are incorporated into the body of Christ. Baptism is a gift to the whole church, and not to a particular denomination. I have written this book for pastors and worship leaders across a broad spectrum of denominations. Some have the practice of infant baptism; others do not. The reader is invited to translate these liturgies, prayers, and teaching sermons into his or her own setting.

In this chapter, I have offered a number of different resources. Underneath them all is a conviction that ritual orders our life together. We need this ritual of baptism so that we can stay close to the gift of God's grace. And yet I am also convinced that rituals can be adapted to fit the needs of individuals and congregations. And so the act of baptism must be related to life stages, parish situations, and congregational needs.

Life Stages

The Baptism of Infants

In interpreting the baptism of an infant, Romans 5:8 is particularly helpful: "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." The baptism of an infant is a sign of God's grace that goes before our human response.

Since infants will be unaware of their own baptisms, it is important that they be given a document that will interpret the experience for them at a later date. Many pastors write a letter similar to the following, which can be read or opened upon their confirmation of profession of faith:

Dear (Name):

Several years ago you were baptized at (Church Name) Church in (City, State). You were too young to remember the service, or the events that surrounded it. This was, however, a very important day in your life, and in the lives of your parents, and the congregation that gathered that day.

On the day of your baptism, your parents stood before the church, held you in their loving arms, and reaffirmed their faith in Jesus Christ. They also promised to teach you the Christian faith through example, study of Scripture, and participation in the life of the church. The congregation then promised to support your parents in their faith, and to help to guide you toward discipleship as a follower of Jesus.

Baptism is a very simple act. The water that was placed on your head symbolized God's cleansing of sin and gift of new life, promised to those who are blessed with this sacrament (ritual).

The baptism of a child is in part about the grace of God that goes before our human response. God has been at work in your life from the very beginning! But baptism is also a sign that points toward the future, and your own acceptance of Christ through profession of faith.

As you now confess your own personal faith in Jesus Christ, I hope you will look back upon your baptism as a gift that has made your response possible. Give thanks for the faith of your parents and the church that surrounded them. Continue to nourish your relationship with Christ and the church. May the grace of God continue to sustain you in all the days of your life.

The peace of the Lord, (Name), pastor

The Baptism of Youth

Many young people enter into the fellowship of local churches without any prior congregational participation. If they have not been baptized, this is a gift that can be crucial in the faith development of a young person. Young people are especially open to the movements of God in their lives and in need of the traditional practices of Christian faith, including baptism.

Prior to Baptism

The mentor (or pastor) meets with the young person to explain the meaning of baptism. This conversation can include:

• Discussion of several Scripture passages (See part 2 of this book for ideas).

• Attention to the meaning of the baptism of Jesus.

• A time for response to questions such as:

* Will baptism keep me from going to hell (or insure that I go to heaven)? These matters are not the stated purpose of baptism in Scripture.

* Does it matter if I am immersed or sprinkled? In Scripture, baptism seems to happen with both methods.

* What does baptism mean? Respond with comments about new life, cleansing, forgiveness, and God's use of water in the history of salvation.

• Noting that baptism is incorporation into the church and not merely a personal or private experience.

• Discussion of the relation of baptism to other practices (such as Holy Communion, service, etc.).

• Answers to any practical questions the young person might have (which family members to invite, what will happen in the service, etc.).

If this baptism occurs in the midst of a confirmation service, the prior conversation will be helpful. Pray with the young person that they will be receptive to God's spirit and grace.

Following the Baptism

• Ask the baptized young person to write a page about what the experience meant to them. Ask him or her to be specific!

• Ask the young person how his or her relationship to Christ and the church has been since the ritual. This will open the door to a conversation about spiritual highs and lows.

• Ask the young person to make a commitment to at least one traditional Christian practice, such as the study of Scripture, or prayer, or service, or singing in a choir.

• Pray for the young person, that he or she will be faithful to his or her promises to God and to the church.

• Give the young person a small gift—a Bible, a devotional book, a CD of Christian music, or something that is more personal—as a sign of your care for them and for their spiritual journey.

This mentoring relationship, and the young person's participation in the church, will be essential as she or he grows in the faith. For an excellent reflection on the church's ministry with youth, see The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster (Upper Room Books, 1998).

A Prayer for a Young Person, upon His or Her Baptism

God of grace,
You love us even when we feel unloved.
You accept us even when we are imperfect.
You have a plan and a purpose for us.
Gather (Name) into the arms of your embrace.
Help him/her always to know that you walk beside hm/her.
May the waters of baptism
Be a sign of your love for him/her,
And the mark of your salvation
Throughout all the days of his/her life.
In Jesus' name; Amen.

The Baptism of Adults

If an adult has not been baptized, the ritual is connected to their profession of faith. Often, adults have experiences that lead them to the desire for forgiveness, reconciliation, and a new beginning. Water is wonderfully symbolic of these desires and is a sign of God's gift of grace. A conversation prior to the baptism and following will be helpful.

Prior to Baptism

The mentor (or pastor) meets with the adult to explain the meaning of baptism. This conversation can include:

• Discussion of several Scripture passages (including those in the section of sermons in this book).

• Attention to the meaning of the baptism of Jesus.

• A time for listening to the life story of the adult. Often, significant experiences may provide clues about movements of the spirit in his or her life. The sharing of these experiences by the candidate can be a form of testimony.

• Reading Romans 6:1-11 together.

• Noting that baptism is incorporation into the church and not merely a personal or private experience. It will be important that the candidate makes a covenant to participate in worship and, ideally, in a small group.

• Asking if the candidate has any questions about the service itself.

• Prayer with the adult, giving thanks for God's grace and for the candidate's openness to the movement of the Spirit.

Following the Baptism

• Ask the baptized adult to write a page about what the experience meant. Ask him or her to be specific!

• Ask the adult how her or his relationship to Christ and the church has been since the ritual. This will open the door to a conversation about spiritual highs and lows.

• Ask the adult to make a commitment to at least one traditional Christian practice, such as the study of Scripture, or prayer, or service, or singing in a choir, for a distinct period or time. Speak of this as a way of "living the baptismal vows or promises."

• Pray for the adult, that he or she will be faithful to his or her promises to God and to the church.

A Prayer for an Adult, upon Her or His Baptism

God of grace and mercy,
You make all things new.
I thank you for my brother/sister (Name).
I thank you for the cleansing waters of baptism.
I thank you that forgiveness is possible.
Mostly I thank you for Jesus Christ,
And for the gift of baptism in his name. Amen.

The Community's Response

Standing with the Baptized

Baptism is a corporate experience, and is best situated in the worship of the gathered community. How does your congregation participate in baptism? Some churches sing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," or "Jesus Loves Me," as a response. Others applaud as a sign of encouragement to the parents. Others join hands as the pastor prays for the baptized or for the baptized and his or her parents. Others offer gifts: a prayer shawl, or a Bible with names of members written inside, or a rainbow bookmark.

Welcoming the Child into the Community: Hospitality

When a child enters into a family, everything is rearranged! When a child is baptized, the congregation makes room for this new person. The importance of hospitality is central to the act of baptism. Pastors and worship leaders often speak of the newly baptized and our calling to care for them in nurseries, to teach them in Sunday school classes, to shepherd them in youth ministries. How welcoming are we to children and young people?

Representing the Body: The Lay Leader

It is wonderfully symbolic when a lay leader participates in the ritual of baptism. While the clergy performs the baptism and recites the words, a lay leader can represent the congregation in offering hospitality and extending a gentle challenge to the parents to keep their own promises. A representative leader reminds everyone present that baptism is incorporation into the body of Christ.

No Solitary Christians: The Response of the Congregation

Many traditions have particular spoken responses for the gathered congregation within the service of baptism. For example, the following is a part of United Methodist services of baptism:

Now it is our joy to welcome our new sisters and brothers in Christ.

Through baptism
you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God's new creation
and made to share in Christ's royal priesthood.
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you as members of the family of Christ.

(The United Methodist Hymnal, from Baptismal Covenants I, II (c) 1976, 1980, 1985, 1989 United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission)

This response is a reminder that there are no solitary Christians and that baptism is a communal act, one shared by all disciples of Jesus Christ.

Reaffirmation of Vows: Reminders of Our Promises

Throughout this book the reader will reflect on both baptism and baptismal renewal. As human beings, we are often prone to forget important truths (see Deuteronomy 6:12). Visible reminders are helpful, and most congregations welcome occasional services that offer the ritual of baptismal renewal. These services will be most effective if the preacher and the liturgists interpret them.

Singing the Faith

The following hymns and choruses are appropriate to the setting of baptism. You may consult the hymnal in your own tradition for additional possibilities:

• "The Church's One Foundation"

• "Wash O God, Our Sons and Daughters"

• "Come Let Us Use the Grace Divine"

• "This Is the Spirit's Entry Now"

• "Child of Blessing, Child of Promise"

• "There Is a Fountain"

• "God Claims You"

• "Wade in the Water"

• "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry"

• "Spirit of the Living God"

• "When Jesus Came to Jordan"

• "Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song"

• "Spirit of Faith, Come Down"

• "Love, How Deep"

Dramatic Slide Presentation

This slide or video presentation could be shown on Baptism of the Lord Sunday or on Mother's Day. The worship leader or pastor will need to gather pictures of the infants born in the past year, along with other suggested images. In addition, a meditative piece of music can be performed. Possibilities include "Shall We Gather at the River," "Jesus Loves Me," and "Spirit of the Living God." Each text is followed by an image:

"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2b, KJV) Image: the surface of a lake

The righteous are planted by streams of living waters. (see Psalm 1:3) Image: a rushing river

"He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul." (Psalm 23:2b-3a) Image: a seashore

"Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream." (Amos 5:24) Image: a waterfall

"No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." (John 3:5) Image: pictures (and names) of those baptized in the past year

"Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet." (John 13:5) Image: hands clasped, washing each other

"He will lead them to springs of living water." (Revelation 7:17, NIV) Image: a scene of a river (different than before)

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life." (Revelation 22:1) Image: a scene of a river (different than before)

Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (see Matthew 28:19) Image: a dove in flight

"I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b) Image: a cross

Pastoral Situations

At times, the pastor is asked to offer baptism in response to specific life situations. Persons are not to be re-baptized; God's covenant remains strong despite our inattention to it. We do, however, need ways to access what God has done and is doing for us. The following situations call for expressions of the ritual of baptism (some may also call for rituals of Holy Communion and Anointing with Oil). Prayers and acts of worship are offered for each.

---

Excerpted from Baptism Services, Sermons, and Prayers by Kenneth H. Carter Jr.. Copyright © 2006 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---