The Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
All: and also with you.
The priest introduces the service
We are here today to baptise this child, to give thanks for them with their family and friends, and to support their parents in their responsibilities with prayer and love.
God became one of us in Jesus, and understands all that surrounds the arrival and upbringing of children. It is God's purpose that children should know love within the stability of their home, grow in faith, and come at last to the eternal city where his love reigns supreme.
Let us begin with a reading from Psalm 139 that speaks of the wonder of creation:
For it was you Lord who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
All: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
All: Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
The works of the Lord are great
All: his mercy endures for ever.
Mary gave birth to a child and called him Jesus:
All: he will save his people from their sins.
He will be called the Prince of Peace:
All: his kingdom will last for ever.
Gospel Reading
After his resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples;
‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to keep everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you all the days, to the end of the age. (St Matthew 28: 18-20)
The Profession of Faith
Before we come to the baptism itself we make our declaration of faith to remind ourselves of the beliefs of the Christian faith that the child is being baptised into.
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
All: 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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
All: 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. Amen.
The Presentation of the Candidates
We rejoice today with this family as they thank God for the gift of life and bring their child for baptism.
What name have you given your child?
Parents: His/her name is
The priest replies
May his/her name be written in the book of life and be inscribed on the palm of God’s hand.
The priest asks the candidates or the parents and godparents
What do you ask of God’s church for your child?
Parents: Baptism into the faith and family of Jesus Christ
The Promises
The priest addresses the parents and godparents
Parents and godparents,
the Church receives this child with joy.
Will you pray for them,
draw them by your example into the community of faith
and walk with them in the way of Christ?
P & G: With the help of God, we will.
In baptism this child begins 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?
P&G: With the help of God, we will.
The priest addresses everyone
Faith is the gift of God to his people.
In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome this child
and uphold them in their new life in Christ?
All: With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The priest addresses the parents and godparents. The parents and Godparents answer for themselves and on behalf of their child. All those who wish to reaffirm their baptism vows can join in.
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.
Therefore I ask:
Do you turn to Christ?
P & G: I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
P & G: I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
P & G: I renounce evil.
Baptism is Belonging to God - Signing with the Cross
The priest makes the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead, saying
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
All: Amen.
The Baptism
We move to the font for the baptism. Please come and join us around the font if you wish to.
Prayer over the Water
The priest stands before the water of baptism and says
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 thanks and praise.
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water
to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel
from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John
and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ,
to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,
we baptise into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, this child may be cleansed from sin and born again. Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Baptism
The priest baptises the child pouring water over them three times and saying:
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 his 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.
We return to our seats
Prayers
Faithful and loving God,
bless those who care for this child
and grant them your gifts of love, wisdom and faith.
Pour upon them your healing and reconciling love,
and protect their home from all evil.
Fill them with the light of your presence
and establish them in the joy of your kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
God of giant steps
Look down with favour on the tiny steps taken by this child
As they are welcomed by this church, your Church
And as we commit our support individually and collectively
To their faith journey
Which starts today and continues tomorrow,
Full of hope, full of promise
We pray for the future that lies before them.
Guard and guide them all the days of their life.
All: Amen
Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit
you give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,
that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit now and for ever
All: Amen
Our prayers conclude with The Lord’s Prayer which we say together
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Giving of a Lighted Candle
A candle is lit from the Paschal (Easter) Candle which is given to the child. The priest says
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.
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.
Presentation of the Baptism Certificate
The child is presented with a baptism certificate.
The Welcome
The priest and the congregation welcome the newly baptised child.
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.
All may greet them with a round of applause..
The Conclusion
The priest blesses the child
The love of Christ surround you and protect you
The words of Christ inspire you
The peace of Christ be with you
The joy of Christ fill you
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit always be upon you
The priest says to the parents:
Enfold your children in your love, Be happy with each other, and the Lord be with you.
The priest blesses the congregation saying:
The peace of God, which passes all understanding
Keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God
And of his son Jesus Christ our Lord
And the blessing of God almighty, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Be with you and all who you love, this day and always
All: Amen
Let us go in peace, Rejoicing in God’s gift of new life
All: Thanks be to God