Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works and
give glory to your Father in heaven.
We have covered the promises (which we remember means a covenant with God) and the Baptism (which is a Grace of God). As I mentioned earlier - we will now turn our attention back to your parents and God-parents. This illustrates just how seriously we take this idea of covenant making! You might notice that in the Anglican liturgy, we will spend most of our time asking your parents and God-parents questions and encouraging them to teach you to know and love God. You are Baptized as an infant because you come from a "household" dedicated to living as God desires us to live and to submitting to what He teaches (even when we don't "agree" with it or don't like it).
In this next part, as the priest, I will summarize and confirm what your parents and God-parents have agreed to do by bringing you to Baptism. Some people like to skip over this part to save time - but we are not going to do that! Why? Because what mom and dad, and Bryan and Candice are agreeing to is way too important!
THE DUTIES
The Priest shall say to the God-parents and Parents:
†: Stephanie, Adam, Bryan and Candice, as you have brought this Child Cooper to be baptized into the family of Christ’s Church, and you have promised that he shall renounce the devil and all his works, believe in God, and serve Him - you must remember that it is your duty to see that he is taught what a solemn vow, promise and profession he has made here through you, and be instructed in all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul’s health.
USE all diligence therefore to see that he is virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life; and to that end, you should teach him to pray, and bring him to take his part in public worship of our Loving God.
TAKE care that he be taught the Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer, and be further instructed in the Church Catechism; and then that he be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him; so that he may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and may come to receive the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and to go forth into the world to serve God faithfully in the fellowship of his Church.
REMEMBER always that Baptism represents our profession; which is, to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ, and to be transformed into His likeness; that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually turning from all evil desires, and daily increasing in all virtue and godliness of living.
WILL you be faithful in the fulfillment of these duties?
God-parents and parents: I will, with God’s help.
†: GRANT, O Lord, that this Child may by thy mercy grow in health of body and mind, and serve thee faithfully according to thy will all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE DUTIES
The Priest shall say to the God-parents and Parents:
†: Stephanie, Adam, Bryan and Candice, as you have brought this Child Cooper to be baptized into the family of Christ’s Church, and you have promised that he shall renounce the devil and all his works, believe in God, and serve Him - you must remember that it is your duty to see that he is taught what a solemn vow, promise and profession he has made here through you, and be instructed in all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul’s health.
USE all diligence therefore to see that he is virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life; and to that end, you should teach him to pray, and bring him to take his part in public worship of our Loving God.
TAKE care that he be taught the Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer, and be further instructed in the Church Catechism; and then that he be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him; so that he may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and may come to receive the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and to go forth into the world to serve God faithfully in the fellowship of his Church.
REMEMBER always that Baptism represents our profession; which is, to follow our Saviour Jesus Christ, and to be transformed into His likeness; that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually turning from all evil desires, and daily increasing in all virtue and godliness of living.
WILL you be faithful in the fulfillment of these duties?
God-parents and parents: I will, with God’s help.
†: GRANT, O Lord, that this Child may by thy mercy grow in health of body and mind, and serve thee faithfully according to thy will all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Note to Cooper: this next bit is not in the ancient liturgy but in some ways it completes what we have been talking about. Your mom and dad will read a part of the Scripture we started with. They will then light a candle from the Paschal candle and pass it to Bryan and Candice. Why? Because I hope that just as you remember to celebrate your birthday, you will remember to celebrate your new-birth day. As we light candles to mark your birth, I hope you will light this candle to remind of your new birth in Jesus and that Jesus commands you to be a light of the world. Being a Christian is about following Jesus and doing as He has taught. It is an active life, not a passive condition.
Stephanie: ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Adam: In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.'
Together Stephanie and Adam light the Baptismal Candle and hand it to Candice and Bryan
† (taking Cooper and saying to the congregation):
I am pleased now to present to you Cooper, a child of God and an heir through hope of everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Stephanie: ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Adam: In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.'
Together Stephanie and Adam light the Baptismal Candle and hand it to Candice and Bryan
† (taking Cooper and saying to the congregation):
I am pleased now to present to you Cooper, a child of God and an heir through hope of everlasting life.
All: Amen.
That is enough for today!
be blessed
†HE
Saturday, January 28, 2017
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