Bishop Eric Menees
Following the litany and concluding prayers, the candidates,
sponsors, and clergy proceed to the baptismal pool or the baptismal font. I
personally prefer a pool which allows for full immersion but the majority of
our congregations use fonts for the obvious practical reasons.
Once all are around the pool or font the celebrant bids the
congregation to join in the blessing of the water with the invitatory. Note
that this is essentially the same invitatory used at Holy Eucharist. This is a
wonderful reminder that Baptism, like Holy Eucharist, is not the act of the
priest alone but of the Body of Christ, the Church, gathered together.
Following the invitatory, the celebrant continues with the
prayer. The first paragraph is a reminder of God’s use of water in creation,
the exodus, and the baptism of Jesus.
This reminds us of the direct connection between creation
and this particular baptism.
The next paragraph speaks specifically to the waters of
baptism. We are reminded of the threefold process in baptism of death,
resurrection, and regeneration. Those being baptized will experience these
three blessings simultaneously as they are either lowered into the waters of
baptism or the water is poured over the crown of their heads. This paragraph
also reminds us that one is baptized into and in the name of the Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A baptism not done in the name of the Trinity is
not a Christian baptism.
Lastly, the celebrant asks God the Holy Spirit to bless the
water and in doing so bless those who are being baptized with this particular
water.
I bid you to take a moment and read through the following,
asking God to remind you of your baptism and what occurred at that time. If you
are not baptized, I would encourage you to speak with a trusted Christian
friend and ask about being baptized.
The Deacon, or the
Bishop, pours the water for Baptism.
Bishop The Lord be with you.
People And with your
spirit.
Bishop Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them up
to the Lord.
Bishop Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
The Bishop continues
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 in the River Jordan when the
Holy Spirit descended upon him as a dove.
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 made regenerate by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in joyful obedience to
your Son, we bring into his 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.
Here the Bishop
touches the water and says
Now, Father, sanctify this water by the power of your Holy
Spirit. May all who are baptized here be cleansed from sin, be born again, and
continue forever faithful 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 forever. Amen.
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