Service of Holy Baptism at Calvary Lutheran Church
Candidates for baptism, sponsors and parents come forward to the baptismal font.
Pastor: In baptism, our heavenly Father frees us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. By water and the Holy Spirit we are born again as children of God and made members of the church, the body of Christ.
Parents and sponsors, whom do you present?
Parents and sponsors: We present ____name____ for baptism.
For those able to speak for themselves
____name____, called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you desire to be baptized into Christ? If so answer, I do.
He/she answers: I do.
Pastor: Do you desire to have your children baptized into Christ? If so answer, we do.
Parents answer: We do.
P: As you bring your child to baptism, you are entrusted with responsibilities:
+To live with ___ among God’s faithful people,
+Bring ___ to the Word of God and the Holy Supper,
+Teach ___ the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments,
+Place in ___ hands the Holy Scriptures,
+Nurture ___ in faith and prayer,
+So that ___ may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ, care for others and work for justice and peace.
P: Parents, do you promise to help ___ grow in the Christian faith and life? If so answer, we do.
Parents answer: We do
P: Sponsors, do you promise to nurture ___ in the Christian faith and help ___ live in the covenant of baptism and in communion with the church? If so answer, we do. Sponsors answer: We do.
P: People of God, do you promise to support ___ and pray for ___ in __ new life in Christ? If so answer we do. We do
P: Parents, sponsors and all of you, I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.
Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? If so answer, I renounce them.
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? If so answer, I renounce them.
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? If so answer, I renounce them.
I renounce them.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 death. 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 in God 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.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family, and through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By the baptism of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you set us free from the power of sin and death and raise us up to live in you. Pour out your Holy Spirit, that those who are washed in the waters of baptism may be given new life. Amen.
____name____, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
____name____, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen.
A candle is given to the newly baptized or sponsor.
Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let’s welcome this new member of Christ’s church and of Calvary with a round of applause.
Give the baptismal party the baptismal certificates and other gifts from the congregation.
If the newly baptized is a baby, introduce him/her to the congregation during the next song or hymn.