Marked as Christ s Own Forever

Transcription

1 Marked as Christ s Own Forever A Family Guide to the Baptism of Infants and Young Children St. George s Episcopal Church Nashville, TN

2 Table of Contents Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Holy Baptism Born Again Salvation Prerequisites for Baptism Godparents / Sponsors The Vows: I Will with God s Help The Church s Responsibilities Water The Holy Spirit comes through Water and Chrism The Light of Christ Celebrating the Anniversary of Your Child s Baptism Page 10 When is Baptism Celebrated? A Prayer for a Child to be Baptized Photography Page 11 Page 12 Jesus, Our Good Shepherd Baptism Class Schedule This booklet is a revision of work compiled by Gail M. Jackins, M.Ed. Used with permission. 2

3 Holy Baptism Then Jesus came near and said to them All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-19) As the last recorded statement of Jesus in Matthew s gospel, these words emphasize the great importance Jesus gives to Holy Baptism. Why is that? It is because Baptism is the first sacrament, welcoming us into His body, the Church. Baptism does not magically make one a Christian. The journey towards becoming mature followers of Christ begins at Baptism, but it takes a lifetime to fully live up to our Baptismal vows. God s gifts given at Baptism start us on our life-long relationship with Him and announce what we are to look more like at the end of our journey: Jesus Christ. God s unconditional love is always reaching out to us and is at work within us even before we are aware of His presence. Ours is a denomination which practices infant Baptism because it demonstrates that one doesn t need a deep knowledge of God to begin a friendship with Him. From the start, children were baptized into the Christian faith along with others in their family (Acts 16:14-15, 29-34). So it is imperative that those baptized as children get instruction and nurture in the faith from both their biological family and their church family. As a result, at the appropriate age, they will feel prepared to make their own mature commitment to Christ. In our church, we call this Confirmation. Once baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, your child will be a member of Christ, and of the Christian Church, not simply of a specific denomination. Baptism does not make us Episcopalian or Methodist or Baptist or Roman Catholic, but incorporates us into the family of Christ s body, the Church. Note there are two uses for the word church. When written with a lower case c it generally refers to the local church; with an upper case C it usually refers to the worldwide Christian Church, Christ s body. Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. (Book of Common Prayer p. 298) 3

4 Born Again Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born again" (John 3:3) The words "born again" may mean different things to different people. Even Nicodemus asked Jesus to explain. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:5-6). Baptism marks the beginning of our spiritual lives, of our relationship with God. We are born again by water and the Spirit. At our first birth we were born into a physical family; when we are born again, God adopts us into His family, the Church. We join the household of God as His adopted children. Baptism begins a life with God that will never end. In our Baptismal service, the priest prays that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior." (BCP p. 307) Furthermore, Baptism is a sacrament. A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. (BCP p. 857) Sacraments are visible signs of what we can t see -- which is God s grace working within us. Sacraments are the principal means God uses to come into our life as He did supremely by becoming flesh and blood for us in Jesus of Nazareth. They are moments when Christ comes to us and acts within us and among us, guiding us. Sacraments have great power and potential to transform us. Salvation We all need a Savior because left to our own resources we will choose sin, just as Adam and Eve did. God's love and salvation are not earned but are a free gift, given to restore a relationship broken by disobedience to Him. Baptism does not save; God saves. Baptism implies acceptance of God's gift of salvation. The little children we bring for Baptism are not yet sinful, but they will one day be forced to contend with the same forces of sin and evil that affect everyone in this world. Their relationship with God in Christ will enable them to fight against the power of sin in their lives. 4

5 Prerequisites for Baptism At least one parent should be a baptized, practicing Christian and a member of St. George s Church because church membership is essential to Christian faith and discipleship. If parents do not have the sincere intention of bringing up their child in the life of the church, there is no reason to request Baptism at this time. It suggests a lack of integrity for parents to have their children baptized and then drop out of church participation for years. As you read this booklet, you will see that the goal is to help you make an informed commitment in good faith and to better equip you to fulfill the solemn responsibilities of Baptism. We pray that you will appreciate anew your own gift of Baptism and God s invitation to a personal relationship with you. Should you decide that this is not the best time to request Baptism for your child, please keep this booklet until you feel you are ready. In addition to reading this booklet, parents and if possible godparents are expected to attend three Sunday morning classes prior to their child s Baptism. Godparents/Sponsors Choosing godparents requires much thoughtful prayer and discussion. It is a great honor, but also a great responsibility. A godparent need not be Episcopalian, but must be willing to have a life-long Christ-centered friendship with your child. There are usually two godparents, although more are allowed. A godparent should be a baptized Christian, regular in church attendance, a godly role model be able to talk comfortably with your child about God and his/her relationship with Him share with parents the task of passing on the Christian faith pray regularly for the godchild take an active interest in the child, especially his/her Christian education and his/her life in the Christian community remember the Baptism anniversary with a card, letter, phone call, visit (not necessary a gift, in order to make this celebration noticeably different from the birthday) Godparents should be persons seeking to grow in their own faith. Life is filled with challenges; the adults who surround this child need to be ones who turn to God in their own times of difficulty and ones who value being connected to a community of faith. Godparents should teach by word and example what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. 5

6 The Vows: I Will with God s Help A vow is a solemn promise made to God. At the heart of the Baptism ceremony, parents and godparents vow before God and the congregation to raise their children as befits children of God. The celebrant will ask if the parents and godparents can guarantee (cf. this strong word in BCP p. 859) that the child they present will be brought up within the church, to know Christ and be given everything (s)he needs to follow Him. They will also be asked to promise to help the child grow into the full stature of Christ by their prayers and example. The sponsors are asked to make six promises on behalf of the child -- the very same promises the young adult will eventually make for him/herself in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The first three renounce Satan, evil powers of this world and all sinful desires. The last three promise to turn to Jesus, trusting in His grace and love in order to follow and obey Him. These promises make clear that the essence of our faith involves a relationship to God and a striving to say No! to sin. After the vows made on behalf of their child, parents and godparents join the congregation in renewing THEIR OWN Baptismal vows. They promise once again to say no to whatever would stand between them and God, and they commit themselves to making friendship with God the priority of their lives. From the words - and more importantly from the actions - of their parents, children will learn to renounce evil in order to grow closer to God in Christ. Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (Proverbs 22:6) 6

7 The Church s Responsibilities St. George s Church is ready to help you, parents and godparents; but we cannot take your place. Whether you intend to or not, you will be your child s first, most important and most convincing teacher. To help you keep your solemn vow to continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers (BCP p. 304), St. George s offers worship, prayer, Bible study, fellowship, healing and nurture for all ages and stages of life. The more intentional you are about living out your Baptismal promises and deepening your relationship with God, the more you will quite naturally guide your child, with God s help, to live into his or her Baptism. Children respond more readily to the Church s teaching when parents are serious about their own Christian growth. The Christian faith and life is a challenging life because it so often stands against contemporary values and customs. Baptized Christians are called to live no longer by the world s standards but in accordance with every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) To live out our Baptismal Covenant we must stay connected to Christ s body, the Church, by committing to Sunday worship, feeding regularly at the Lord s Table, and striving to be faithful in daily prayer. St. George s Purpose To receive, live, and share the abundant life of Jesus Christ. St. George s Vision We are a warm church overflowing with inspired worshipers, steadfast disciples, and passionate Servants for Christ in the world. 7

8 Water The outward and visible sign of the Sacrament of Baptism is water. Jesus said, The water that I will give will become... a well of water springing up within him for eternal life (John 4:14b). Water is essential to our physical life. The water of Baptism is essential to our spiritual life, quenching the spiritual thirst within all of us for God and providing, as necessary, for the cleansing of our sins. Water also reminds us of God s work of creation, the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea and Jesus own Baptism in the river Jordan -- all moments of new beginning. At Baptism, you and your child will enter a new stage in your relationship to God. The water of Baptism is intended to remind us that we are spiritually dying and rising with Jesus dying to self and rising to live as Jesus would have us. Those churches which practice Baptism by immersion provide the clearest symbolism of dying in order to rise again. The Holy Spirit comes through Water and Chrism Before the water is poured over the child s head, the priest holds out his/her hand and lowers it down into the Baptismal font water. With this gesture, the priest prays, asking God to send the Holy Spirit into the water. The water becomes holy and, through it the child becomes filled with the Holy Spirit, who is powerful and active. God anointed His Son Jesus Christ ( Christ means Anointed One ) with the Holy Spirit to do his saving work. The newly baptized has become a member of Christ s Body, the Church, and so is anointed with the Holy Spirit to carry on Christ's ministry in our world. The anointing at Baptism is with chrism, an oil mixed with perfume. The chrism has been consecrated by our Bishop, making him symbolically present at every Baptism which welcomes a child into the Church. Tracing a cross on the child s forehead with chrism, the priest says, You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ s own forever. (BCP p. 308) 8

9 The Light of Christ Throughout the Easter season, the majestic Paschal candle is lit as a reminder of the presence of the Living Christ. At every Baptism, a small candle for each child is lighted from the Paschal Candle, symbolizing the child s sharing in the life of the risen Jesus. This Baptismal light will continue to shine, if allowed to, even in the darkest of life's challenges. As the priest presents a lit candle to each family, (s)he says, This is the light of Christ. Bear it faithfully in the world. This same Paschal Candle is also lit at funerals, reminding us that in death, Life is changed, not ended and that the life which began at Baptism will have no end. Alleluia! Celebrating the Anniversary of your Child s Baptism We recommend starting a family tradition to celebrate the day your child was initiated into the Church. As you light the candle again and look at pictures of the Baptismal day, you could talk about your family's faith journey and ask what the child has learned about God since last year and how his/her relationship with God has grown. Hopefully godparents will observe this special day in ways that are different from birthday celebrations. Rather than a gift, they might choose to send a note, focusing attention on memories of that special day and explaining how it felt to be chosen as a godparent. Using a children s Bible, we suggest you make time to read together a story of Jesus Baptism from Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, or John 1:

10 When is Baptism Celebrated? Baptism is a joyous occasion for the entire church community. Without the congregation present to welcome the child and to promise to nurture and support the child, the Baptismal celebration is essentially incomplete. Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast (BCP p. 298). Baptism is clearly meant to be a corporate celebration. We are further instructed that Holy Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, All Saints Day or the following Sunday, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (BCP p. 312). St. George s Church may schedule additional Baptismal dates throughout the year, if needed. Please choose a Baptism date convenient for you and your family, being careful to reserve the three prior Sundays for required classes for parents and, whenever possible, godparents. You may want to complete your instruction and select a Baptism date even before your child is born. A Prayer for a Child to be Baptized All praise and thanks to you, most merciful Father, for adopting us as your own children, for incorporating us into your holy Church, and for making us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Bless with your grace and favor ( N.) whom we bring to you for Baptism, that learning your ways and living in obedience to your will, (s)he may grow into a strong and beautiful example of Christian character. Defend ( N.) from all evil and lead him (her) into the path of goodness and truth. May (s)he grow more and more into the likeness of our Savior Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit we glorify now and for ever. Amen. (Adapted from BCP p. 311, and a Sponsor's prayer) A Note About Photography Because the Baptismal ceremony is part of our liturgical service of worship, it is not appropriate to interrupt it by taking photographs in an intrusive manner, and it is certainly not acceptable to use a flash. Video cameras may be used discretely. Photographs are best taken after the service when the family and priest can pose by the Baptismal font. We encourage photographs because for children too young to remember it is important to have pictures so they can "see" the special occasion of their Baptism. On Baptism Days, immediately following the service, the church will request a group photo for our own St. George s Baptism Photo Album. 10

11 Jesus, Our Good Shepherd While Jesus has revealed himself to us in many ways, the image of the Good Shepherd is particularly rich in relation to the sacrament of Baptism. At Baptism, Christ, the Good Shepherd, comes to meet us and claim us as his own: he "calls his own sheep by name" (John 10:3). We are marked with His sign, the cross, to show that we belong to Him. Through water and the Word of God, we receive His light and life. We are called into relationship with Christ; we are known personally by Him. As we enter His sheepfold, the Church, we promise to follow and obey Him throughout our lives. Baptism is the beginning of a journey. Throughout this journey we are meant to enjoy the Good Shepherd's presence in our lives, to experience His care and protection, and to grow in love for Him and in our knowledge of His endless love for us. Because in Baptism we are marked as Christ s own forever He will never stop loving us, even if we were to repeatedly turn away from Him. With God s Help we strive to daily deepen our friendship with Him. As our pilgrimage continues, we become more capable of hearing our Good Shepherd s voice, of following where He leads, and of growing and changing to become more like Him. Because no one can become a Christian in isolation, our Baptism surrounds us with faithful Christians from the church community who pray for, support and disciple us on our pilgrimage. During the Baptism service, your child is enthusiastically promised the help of the entire church community to live out the promises you are making for him (her). 11