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Baptism |
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The Font
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The Baptism with Communion Service
If you decide on this option our Sunday Parish Communion Service starts
at 10.30am. You will need to plan so that it is not on a Sunday when
we have Mattins at 10.30 (usually the fourth Sunday in the month) (check
services here). The Baptism will be performed during the middle section
of the service and will involve the whole congregation as we welcome the child,
or indeed adult, into the Christian Faith. In this respect it will be a much
more fulfilling experience than the normal short service.
There follows here the full Baptism service during communion. The parent and godparent responses are shown in Orange and the whole congregation joins you for the text in Pink.
ORDER OF SERVICE - HOLY BAPTISM DURING THE EUCHARIST
The parents and godparents come to the
front of the nave by the Chancel steps.
The priest says:
Parents and godparents, the child whom you have brought for baptism,
depends chiefly on you for the help and encouragement they need. Are you willing
to give it to them by your prayers, by your example, and by your teaching?
I am willing
The priest says:
Those who bring children to be baptised must affirm their allegiance
to Christ and their rejection of all that is evil. It is your duty to bring
up this child to fight against evil and to follow Christ. Therefore I ask
these questions which you must answer for yourselves and for the child Do
you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.
The priest says:
You have brought this child to baptism. You must now declare before
God and his Church the Christian faith into which they are to be baptised
and in which you will help them to grow. You must answer for yourselves and
for this child.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father who made all things?
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in his son Jesus Christ, who redeemed
the world?
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit who gives life
to the people of God?
I believe and trust in him.
The priest turns to the congregation and says:
This is the faith of the Church.
All: We believe and trust in one God, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
We then process to the font, at the
back of the church whist the congregation sing the first part of a hymn.
The priest blesses the water of baptism.
The priest names and baptises the child with the water and says:
I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
The priest makes a sign of the cross on the forehead of
the child and says:
I sign you with the sign of Christ. Do not be ashamed to confess the
faith of Christ crucified.
All: Fight valiantly under the banner of Christ
against sin, the world, and the devil, and continue his faithful soldier and
servant to the end of your life.
The priest says:
May Almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness and lead
you in the light and obedience of Christ.
All: Amen
The priest gives a parent or godparent of the child a
palm cross and lighted candle and says:
Receive this light. This is to show that you have passed from darkness
to light.
All: Shine as a light in the world to the glory
of God the Father.
The priest and the congregation, representing the whole
Church, welcome the newly baptised:
We welcome you into the Lord’s family, we are
members together of the body of Christ. We are children of the same Heavenly
Father. We are inheritors Together of the Kingdom of God. We welcome you.
Parents and godparents return to
their places whilst the congregation sing the rest of the hymn.
Prayers will follow and the Eucharist continues with the Peace.
