Baptism Liturgy (revisited)

Our Father, source of grace and mercy, we gather today at the watery grave of baptism to celebrate the new life that You alone can give. Thank You for Your grace which was so powerfully shown by the work of your Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly gave up his life on the cross so that we may know the power of the resurrection of Your Son. 

God, we ask that those who come today may have the Spirit work in them love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May they be faithful, even to the point of death, and receive from Christ the crown of life. For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, we thank You, Lord. We love You. And we know that You love us because of Your Son. It’s in his name that we pray, Amen. 

The Explanation 

Reader 1: Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17). 

The Word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God. 

Reader 2: Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 
Reader 1: Jesus said to him, “I am the way…” 
Reader 2: “…and the Truth…” 
Reader 1: “…and the Life.” 
Reader 1 & 2: “No one comes to the Father except through me” 
Reader 1: The Word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God. 

Reader 2: When you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:12-14) 

The Word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God. 

Leader: We come to the banks of this water to celebrate the act of baptism. Those who chose to follow the Lord’s example by being baptized are choosing to participate in the sacrifice of Jesus, who chose to give up his life for our sins. Three days later, he rose from the dead, defeating death and its powerful hold on all of humanity. The water reminds us of the grave in which Jesus’ body was placed and was found empty by Jesus’ disciples. Baptism is not an act to enter into lightly. Those who choose to be baptized are making a public statement that Jesus Christ is Lord and they hope to pursue him in all of their ways. They acknowledge their sinful ways and choose to renounce that lifestyle in pursuit of God’s holiness. 

Who comes today to follow Jesus’ example, joining him in the watery grave of baptism? 

Candidate(s): I do. 

The Candidate’s Story 

Leader: (Name) comes before all of you to publicly declare his/her desire to follow Christ and his example. (If the Candidate is comfortable sharing his/her testimony, including what has led the Candidate to this decision. This is the preferred way to share the Candidate’s story. If the Candidate is not comfortable speaking in public, the Leader may share the story of what has led the Candidate to come to be baptized.)

Analysis of the Candidate 

Leader: (Name), do you renounce Satan? 
Candidate: I renounce him. 
Leader: Do you renounce all his works? 
Candidate: I renounce them. 
Leader: Do you renounce his kindgom? 
Candidate: I renounce it. 
Leader: Why do you wish to be baptized? 
Candidate: In obedience of Christ. 

Confession of the Candidate 

Leader: (Name), who is Jesus? 
Candidate: I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 
All: Amen. 
Leader: To Congregation: Based upon this confession, does anyone here see any reason to hinder (Name’s) baptism? 

Pause. 

To Candidate: Because of your Good Confession, there is no reason to hinder your baptism any longer. If there are multiple Candidates, each one will complete the Story, Analysis, and Confession, individually. Upon completion of the introduction of the Candidates, the service will continue. 

Song 

Congregation will sing a hymn/chorus that praises God for the new life He gives. 

Prayer 

Leader: Great are You, O Lord, and wondrous are Your works. No song will suffice to tell of Your wonders. You hung the stars in the sky and formed the planets a mere word spoken by Your mouth. By Your own hand, you formed humanity into Your own image. And because of Your love for us, You wrapped Yourself in humanity to save Your own creation. You hallowed the streams of the Jordan River, sending down Your Holy Spirit from the heavens. We ask that You make Your presence known in this water today as we celebrate the new life that only You can give. We ask that (Name[s]), who is about to follow Your example be transformed therein to the putting away of the old and putting on the new, and in so doing, will look forward to the day in which your son returns and becomes a sharer of the resurrection. It is only because of You that we are here and it is only You that we seek to honor. It is in Your son’s name, the name that is above any other name, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that we pray. Amen. 
All: Amen. 

Challenge to the Church 

Leader: Let us rejoice together in our baptism into Christ, recalling our own births in the living waters and committing ourselves anew through the death and resurrection of Christ to God’s covenant of life. Who do you, the church, believe Jesus is? 
All: We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 
Leader: Do you commit to continue running the race? 
All: We do. 
Leader: Do you accept the challenge to continue discipling (Name[s]) as iron sharpens iron? 
All: We do. 
Leader: Do you commit to praying with him/her and for him/her all of the days of your life? 
All: We do. 
Leader: May the Lord, who has birthed us into new life, keep you safe and faithful until the end. 
All: Amen. 

Leader and Candidate(s) enter the water. 

Song 

Congregation will sing a hymn/chorus that praises God for the new life He gives 

Immersion of the Candidate 

Leader: (Name), because of your Good Confession and your desire to follow him all of your days, I now baptize you in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Leader immerses the Candidate. 

All: Amen. 

Clothing of newly Initiated 

Initiate leaves the water. An Assistant (preferrably an Elder) helps him/her to the bank and clothes him/her in a clean, white robe. 

Elder: (Name), you are now clothed with the garment of righteousness, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is your armor, which will protect you from the flaming arrows the Evil One will hurl at you. May you continue to pursue the Father and His righteousness. 
Initiate: Amen. 
All: Amen. 

Anointing of newly Initiated

The Elder makes a sign of the cross on the Initiate’s forehead with oil 

Elder: Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has renewed you when you passed through the watery grave has given you forgiveness of your sins. The Holy Spirit Himself anoints you as a sign of your salvation. 
Initiate: Amen. 
Elder: You are part of the priesthood of all believers. Serve God and His church in all you do. 
Initiate: I will. 
Elder: You have been adopted into the King’s royal family. Pursue godly things, as your Father is holy 
Initiate: I will. 
All: Amen. 

Other Candidates will be baptized at this time and repeat the Clothing and Anointing individually. 

Leader comes up onto the bank. 

Reader 1: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4& 5) 
Reader 2: This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:6 & 7)
Reader 1: The Word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God. 

Welcoming of the Newly Initiated into the Family of God 

Leader: Let us pray. 

Lord, as you have welcomed (Name[s]) into your royal family, may we welcome them as well. We celebrate with you as new members have been added to Your Body. We ask that You grant us unity of purpose and spirit as we continue serving You and pursuing Your holiness. We ask that you bless (Name[s]) as he/she/they grow in faith. 

We look forward to the day where we will share in the Great Banquet with Your Son as our holy Bridegroom. You promised Your people a land flowing with milk and honey, where peace shall reign and Your glory shall illuminate everything. Lord, we look forward to that day. While we wait, we ask that You make us one and reveal Yourself in amazing ways. We are Your people and You are our Lord. May You be glorified in all we do. Amen. 

All: Amen. 

Milk and bread with honey are distributed to the Initiates and the Congregation. 

Leader: We are family, but this world is not our home. This milk and honey are only a taste of the Great Banquet that is to come. Take, eat, drink, and anticipate the days to come. 

The congregation eats the bread with honey and drinks the milk. 

Leader: Peace be to all. 
All: And with your spirit. 
Leader: Go in peace to serve the Lord, shining the light of Christ.