Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that He commanded the children to be brought unto Him; ye perceive how by His outward gesture and deed He declared His goodwill toward them; for He embraced them in His arms, He laid His hands upon them, and blessed them. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe that He likewise willeth favorably to receive this present infant; that He will embrace him with the arms of His mercy, and that He willeth to make him a partaker of His everlasting kingdom. say: The Congregation shall now rise, and the Minister, addressing the Parents, shall In this baptism with water we typify the dedication of this Child to God, according to the command of our Saviour Christ, that His disciples should baptise with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Is it your desire that this Child should now receive the Christian rite of Baptism? The Parents: It is. The Minister: Will you solemnly promise to seek the grace of God for yourselves and for this Child, that you may instruct him in the principles of our most holy religion, that you may set him a godly example, and that you may bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? The Parents: We will. The Minister: Name this Child. THere the Christian name or names of the Child shall be given by the Parents. ¶ The Minister shall then take the Child in his arms, and, repeating the Christian name or names of the Child, shall say: I baptise thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord bless and keep this Child unto Eternal life. Let us pray. The Minister shall here pray for the welfare of the Child and the Parents, during which the Congregation shall be seated. After the prayer a suitable Hymn may be sung (See Baptismal Hymns), and the service shall close with this Benediction. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. AMEN. |