I Baptize you ...

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus
 were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with Him in a death like His,
we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6

Dear Cooper:

Now we move to the very ancient rite practiced in the Church in the Anglican tradition.

I hope we will be able to have the font at the back of the Church. Why? Because I love your Great grandma, and she asked if we could do this. When she was a little girl, she was told the font is placed near the entrance of the Church building to remind us all as we come to worship God, of our need for Him, and of His Love and His Grace in our redemption and restoration. The font reminds us of God's purpose in our Baptism. There is significance and wisdom in this - God shapes and forms His Church in Baptism - anything that reminds us of this can only be a good thing.

THE BAPTISM
Moving to and standing at the Font - Bryan or Candice will carry you to the font.

†: THE Lord be with you;
All: And with thy spirit.
†: Lift up your hearts;
All: We lift them up unto the Lord.
†: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God;
All: It is meet and right so to do.

†: IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, that your most dearly beloved Son did shed His most precious blood upon the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins; and after His glorious Resurrection gave commandment to His disciples, saying, all power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

REGARD the prayers of your Church. Sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fullness of your grace and ever remain in the number of your faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, throughout all ages, world without end.
All: Amen.

Here, Cooper is where I finally get to hold you - taking you from Bryan or Candice I will ask your God-parents:
†: Name this Child.
God-parents: Cooper James

†: Cooper James, I BAPTIZE you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

†: WE receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ’s flock, and do *sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and to fight under Christ’s banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue as Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end.

All: Amen.

Adda will sing: No Longer Slaves

During the song we will return to the front of the Church

†: SEEING now, dearly beloved, that this Child is regenerated and grafted into the body of Christ’s Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.

ALL: WE give you thanks, most merciful Father, that it pleases You to regenerate this Child with your Holy Spirit, to receive him as your own Child by adoption, and to make him a member of your holy Church. Grant, O Lord, that being baptized into the death of Christ, he may also be made partaker of his resurrection, so that serving You here in newness of life, he may finally, with your holy Church, inherit your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And that is that. With humble hearts, a desire to do God's will, and a few simple words and actions, it is done. When you think about it - it really is an awesome act of Love ... multifaceted, multi-level, multi-directional, multi-dimensional Love ... a Love that saves and a love that unifies us with God and with each other.

That's enough for today.

Be blessed

†HE
Friday, January 27, 2017