Presentation and Examination of the Candidates - The Baptismal Covenant - The Baptism


Holy Baptism

  

 

 

 

A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.

The people standing, the Celebrant says

                 Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People          And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

In place of the above, from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost

Celebrant      Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People              The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

In Lent and on other penitential occasions

Celebrant      Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins;
People          His mercy endures forever.

The Celebrant then continues

                  There is one Body and one Spirit;
People          There is one hope in God's call to us;
Celebrant      One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
People          One God and Father of all.

Celebrant      The Lord be with you.
People          And also with you.
Celebrant      Let us pray.

 

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The Collect of the Day

People          Amen.

At the principal service on a Sunday or other feast, the Collect and
Lessons are properly those of the Day. On other occasions, they are
selected from "At Baptism." (See Additional Directions, page 312.)


The Lessons

The people sit. One or two Lessons, as appointed, are read,
the Reader first saying

A Reading (Lesson) from______________.

A citation giving chapter and verse may be added.

After each Reading, the Reader may say

                The Word of the Lord.
People         Thanks be to God.

Or the Reader may say Here ends the Reading (Epistle).

Silence may follow.

A Psalm, hymn, or anthem may follow each Reading.

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying

                The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ
                according to_____________.
People         Glory to you, Lord Christ.

After the Gospel, the Reader says

                The Gospel of the Lord.
People         Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

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The Sermon

Or the Sermon may be preached after the Peace.

 

Presentation and Examination
of the Candidates


The Celebrant says

The Candidate(s) for Holy Baptism will now be presented.


Adults and Older Children

The candidates who are able to answer for themselves are presented
individually by their Sponsors, as follows

Sponsor        I present N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

The Celebrant asks each candidate when presented

                 Do you desire to be baptized?
Candidate    I do.

Infants and Younger Children

Then the candidates who are unable to answer for themselves are presented
individually by their Parents and Godparents, as follows

Parents and Godparents

I present N. to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

 

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When all have been presented the Celebrant asks the parents and
godparents

Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present
is brought up in the Christian faith and life?

Parents and Godparents

I will, with God's help.

Celebrant

Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow
into the full stature of Christ?

Parents and Godparents

I will, with God's help.

Then the Celebrant asks the following questions of the candidates who
can speak for themselves, and of the parents and godparents who speak
on behalf of the infants and younger children

Question     Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces
                of wickedness that rebel against God?
Answer        I renounce them.

Question     Do you renounce the evil powers of this world
                which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Answer        I renounce them.

Question     Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you
                from the love of God?
Answer        I renounce them.

Question     Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your
                Savior?
Answer        I do.

Question     Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
Answer        I do.

 

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Question     Do you promise to follow and obey him as your
                Lord?
Answer       I do.

 

When there are others to be presented, the Bishop says

The other Candidate(s) will now be presented.

Presenters    I present these persons for Confirmation

or                I present these persons to be received into this
               Communion.

or             I present these persons who desire to reaffirm
              their baptismal vows.

The Bishop asks the candidates
Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil?

Candidate I do.

Bishop
Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

Candidate
I do, and with God's grace I will follow him as my Savior
and Lord.

After all have been presented, the Celebrant addresses the congregation,
saying

Will you who witness these vows do all in your
power to support these persons in their life in Christ?

People      We will.

The Celebrant then says these or similar words

Let us join with those who are committing themselves to Christ
and renew our own baptismal covenant.

 

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The Baptismal Covenant

 

Celebrant      Do you believe in God the Father?
People          I believe in God, the Father almighty,
                 creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant      Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People          I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
                    He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
                        and born of the Virgin Mary.
                    He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
                        was crucified, died, and was buried.
                    He descended to the dead.
                    On the third day he rose again.
                    He ascended into heaven,
                        and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
                    He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant     Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People          I believe in the Holy Spirit,
                    the holy catholic Church,
                    the communion of saints,
                    the forgiveness of sins,
                    the resurrection of the body,
                    and the life everlasting.

Celebrant      Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
                 fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
                 prayers?
People          I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant      Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
                 you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People          I will, with God’s help.

 

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Celebrant     Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
                 News of God in Christ?
People          I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant      Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
                 your neighbor as yourself?
People          I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant      Will you strive for justice and peace among all
                 people, and respect the dignity of every human
                 being?
People          I will, with God’s help.

 

Prayers for the Candidates

The Celebrant then says to the congregation

Let us now pray for these persons who are to receive the
Sacrament of new birth [and for those (this person) who
have renewed their commitment to Christ.]

A Person appointed leads tho following petitions

Leader      Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and
             death.
People      Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader      Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
People      Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader      Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
People      Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader      Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy
             Church.
People     Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader      Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.
People      Lord, hear our prayer.

 

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Leader      Send them into the world in witness to your love.
People       Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader      Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.
People       Lord, hear our prayer.

The Celebrant says

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death
of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his
resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who
lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

 

Thanksgiving over the Water

The Celebrant blesses the water, first saying

                 The Lord be with you.
People         And also with you.

Celebrant    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People        It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Celebrant

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water.
Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage
in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus
received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy
Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death
and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are
buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his
resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his

 

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fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in
the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.


At the following words, the Celebrant touches the water

Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your
Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and
born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus
Christ our Savior.

To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Consecration of the Chrism

The Bishop may then consecrate oil of Chrism, placing a hand on the
vessel of oil, and saying

Eternal Father, whose blessed Son was anointed by the
Holy Spirit to be the Savior and servant of all, we pray you to
consecrate this oil, that those who are sealed with it may
share in the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

The Baptism

 

Each candidate is presented by name to the Celebrant, or to an assisting
priest or deacon, who then immerses, or pours water upon, the
candidate, saying

N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

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When this action has been completed for all candidates, the Bishop or
Priest, at a place in full sight of the congregation, prays over them, saying

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy
Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the
forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of
grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them
an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to
persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy
and wonder in all your works. Amen.

Then the Bishop or Priest places a hand on the person's head, marking
on the forehead the sign of the cross [using Chrism if desired] and saying to
each one

N., you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked
as Christ's own for ever. Amen.

Or this action may be done immediately after the administration of the
water and before the preceding prayer.

When all have been baptized, the Celebrant says

Let us welcome the newly baptized.

Celebrant and People

We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith
of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with
us in his eternal priesthood.

If Confirmation, Reception, or the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows is
not to follow, the Peace is now exchanged

Celebrant      The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People          And also with you.

 

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At Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation

The Bishop says to the congregation

Let us now pray for these persons who have renewed
their commitment to Christ.

Silence may be kept.

Then the Bishop says

Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and
resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you have overcome sin
and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your
Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in
these your servants the covenant you made with them at their
Baptism. Send them forth in the power of the Spirit to
perform the service you set before them; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

For Confirmation

The Bishop lays hands upon each one and says

Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. With your Holy Spirit;
empower him for your service; and sustain him all the days
of his life. Amen.

or this

Defend, O Lord, your servant N. with your heavenly grace,
that he may continue yours forever, and daily increase in
your Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to your
everlasting kingdom. Amen.

 

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For Reception

N., we recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic
and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship
of this Communion. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless, preserve, and keep you. Amen.

For Reaffirmation

N., may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you,
direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his
kingdom. Amen.

Then the Bishop says

Almighty and everliving God, let your fatherly hand ever be
over these your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with
them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of
your Word, that they may serve you in this life, and dwell
with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Peace is then exchanged

Bishop         The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People         And also with you.

 

At the Eucharist

The service then continues with the Prayers of the People or the
Offertory of the Eucharist, at which the Bishop, when present, should be
the principal Celebrant.

Except on Principal Feasts, the Proper Preface of Baptism may be used.

 

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Alternative Ending

If there is no celebration of the Eucharist, the service continues with
the Lord’s Prayer.

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 tresspasses,
    as we forgive those
        who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
    and 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 in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
    as we forgive those
        who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
    and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
    and the glory are yours,
    now and for ever. Amen.

The celebrant then says

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; through Jesus Christ your
Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Alms may be received and presented, and other prayers may be added,
concluding with this prayer

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from
whom every family in heaven and earth is named, grant you
to be strengthened with might by his Holy Spirit, that, Christ
dwelling in your hearts by faith, you may be filled with all the
fullness of God. Amen.

 

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