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The
minister says these words of EXHORTATION:
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The Scriptures teach that
all people are conceived and born with a sinful nature; and because
our Saviour Christ says that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless
he is born of water and the Holy Spirit, I ask you to call upon God,
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to have mercy on
this child and
to give him that which by nature he cannot have, namely, that he may
be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, received into Christ's
holy church and made a living member of the same.
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The minister
says: |
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Let us pray. |
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Almighty and eternal God,
who in mercy saved Noah and his family
in the days of the flood,
and who safely led the children of Israel
through the waters of the Red Sea,
symbolising thereby holy baptism;
and by the baptism of your Son, Jesus Christ,
sanctified water to represent the washing away of sin:
look in mercy on this child.
Wash him,
and sanctify him with
the Holy Spirit;
deliver him from your wrath;
receive him into the ark of Christ's church;
make him firm in faith and joyful through hope;
and fill him with your love so that,
passing through the waters of this troubled world,
he may finally come to the land of everlasting life,
there to reign with you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
you give aid to the needy, strength to the helpless,
and eternal life to those who believe.
Grant to this child, who comes to
be baptized,
forgiveness of sins and spiritual regeneration.
According to your promise receive him,
and make him an heir of eternal
salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen |
3 |
The minister
reads these words from the Gospel of Mark: |
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Hear these words of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the tenth chapter
of Mark's Gospel verses 13-16:
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, 'Let
the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And he took the
children in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them.
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The minister
continues: |
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You hear in these words that our Saviour Christ invites children to be
brought to him. He rebukes those who keep them from him and he exhorts
us to show childlike trust. The way he embraced and blessed little children
teaches us that he is ready to receive all who are brought to him. Be assured
therefore that he, who encouraged his followers to bring their children
to baptism, will receive, embrace, and give to them the blessing of eternal
life. Therefore we pray: |
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Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we humbly thank you for calling us to know you
and for teaching us to trust in you:
increase this knowledge
and strengthen this faith.
Give your Holy Spirit to this child,
that he may be born again
and made an heir of eternal salvation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen. |
5 |
The minister
invites the parent(s) and godparents to stand, and says these words to
them: |
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You have brought this child to be baptized. You have prayed that our
Lord Jesus Christ will receive him, forgive him, sanctify him with the
Holy Spirit, and make him an heir to heaven and eternal life. You have
heard also that our Lord has promised all these things in his gospel and
we know that he keeps his promises.
At baptism we promise to reject the devil and all evil, constantly to believe
God's Word, and to obey his commands. Children should make their own response
of faith and obedience towards God, but as this child is at present too young
to answer for himself it is proper that this commitment be made in his name until he is old enough to take it upon himself. I ask therefore:
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Do you, in the name of this child, renounce the devil and all his works,
the empty show and false values of the world, and the sinful desires of
the flesh, so that you will not follow nor be led by them? |
| Answer |
I renounce them all. |
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| Minister |
Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his one and only Son, our Lord? And that
he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; that he suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down
to the dead, and also rose again the third day; that he ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from there shall
come again at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead?
And
do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and eternal
life after death? |
| Answer |
All this I firmly believe |
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| Minister |
Do you in the name of this
child desire baptism? |
| Answer |
That is my desire. |
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Will you then obey God's commands and serve
him faithfully all the days of your life? |
| Answer |
I will, with the help of God. |
6 |
The minister
says: |
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Let us pray. |
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Merciful God, grant that
the old Adam in this child may be buried, and that he may be raised a new man in Christ. Amen.
Grant that the sinful desires
of the flesh may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit
may live and grow in him. Amen.
Grant that by faith he may
have power and strength to have victory and to triumph over the devil,
the world, and the flesh. Amen.
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus
Christ shed from his side both water and blood for the forgiveness of
our sins; and commanded his disciples to go and teach all nations baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
hear our prayer. Consecrate this water to signify the washing away of
sin; and grant that this child now to be baptized in it, may receive
the fullness of your grace and be numbered among your chosen and believing
children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
7 |
The minister
baptizes the child with water, first saying to the parent(s) and godparents: |
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Name this child. |
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N, I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| 8 |
THE CHARGE |
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All pray: |
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We receive you into
the congregation of Christ's flock
and sign you with the sign of the cross.
We pray that you will not be ashamed
to confess the faith of Christ crucified. |
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Fight bravely under his banner
against sin, the world, and the devil,
and to continue as Christ's faithful soldier
and servant until the end of your life. Amen. |
9 |
The minister
continues: |
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Now that this child is a baptized member of the Christian church, let
us give thanks to God and pray that he will live the rest of his
life according
to this beginning. |
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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. |
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
now and for ever. Amen. |
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Then the
minister says: |
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We praise you, most merciful Father, that all whom you receive and adopt
as your own are spiritually regenerate and made true members of your church;
and we pray you to grant that this child, being buried and raised with Christ, may have victory
over sin, the world, and the devil, that he may live a righteous life, and
that at the end he may inherit your eternal kingdom along with all your
faithful people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
12 |
The minister
addresses the parent(s) and godparents: |
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It is now your duty as parent(s) and godparents to see that this
child is taught, as soon as he is able to learn, the promises you have made in
his name. And it is your responsibility to ensure that he is taught the
Christian faith and what it means to trust in Christ. |
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To this end you should bring him to church to receive instruction in
God's Word, and in particular you should see that he is taught the Lord's
prayer, the ten commandments, the creed and the catechism. You are to encourage
him to lead a godly, Christian life and to follow the example of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. And you are to ensure that, when old enough,
he publicly confirms his baptismal promises in the presence of the bishop. |
13 |
The minister
may conclude with the GRACE: |
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen. |
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