Chuntian Academy International

Baptisms
For babies or children, the parents pledge that they will bring their child or children up in the knowledge of Christ, so that they can make their own decision when they become of age whether or not to confirm at "confirmation" that Dedication done in their childhood. At which time they will confirm their dedication in a "Confirmation Ceremony". The following is a typical baptism ceremony. This is a fairly quick ceremony.

Pastor to People:
On behalf of MOTHER’S NAME AND FATHER’S NAME, I would like to welcome all of you here today. Each of you has given something of yourself into their lives, and they want you to know that they will always treasure your love, guidance, and encouragement. And, because you are all so special to them, they feel that it is important that you be here with them today as they begin this baptism and Christening of CHILD’S NAME .

We are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the baptism of CHILD’S NAME / MIDDLENAME / . Through Baptism, we are initiated into Christ’s holy church. We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit. All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.

"When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove." Luke 3: 21-22 Because it is in this spirit that MOTHER'S NAME AND FATHER'S NAME has brought CHILD'S NAME here today -- it's appropriate that we pray together.

Let us pray --

O Lord, our hearts are filled with happiness on this BAPTISM day of CHILD’S NAME -- whose parents, MOTHER’S NAME AND FATHER’S NAME, have come before You pledging their lives and their hearts to raise CHILD’S NAME in Your knowledge and spirit. We ask that they be ever true and loving. Be with them so that, together, may meet all that life has to offer. May their home truly be a place of love and harmony. Bless this day we pray and walk beside them forever.
Pastor asks everyone to pray 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 sins As we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom And the power And the glory forever. Amen.

Pastor to the parents and Godparents (if any): Will you nurture these children in Christ’s holy church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian Life? Parents./Godparents answer: "We will."

(Godparents) Will you also assist MOTHER’S NAME AND FATHER’S NAME to nurture these children in Christ’s holy church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian Life? "We Will."

Pastor's Message:

Baptism is God’s word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace and our word to God promising our response of faith and love. Those within the covenant constitute the community we call the church. There are definitely two parts of ministry that I enjoy over all others: weddings and baptisms. That’s because they are special moments in the lives of people and they are a blessing and an honor to be a part of. The Bible has a word for times like these, called ‘kairos,’ which means fulfilled time. It’s when something special happens like the long awaited birth of Jesus. It’s an ordinary time that has been filled with a rich and unordinary meaning. The meaning of this special time shapes and orders the rest of our lives.

My wife is a scrap booker. That means she takes photographs from our boxes of snapshots and organizes them into works of art. When we look at family pictures, we see people standing around talking, posing and more often than not, eating. I have some pictures of my wife while giving birth to our children. When I look at these pictures, I am filled with emotion because I remember that time as the beginning of our children’s lives – and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives as well.

There is a long chain of events that follows from a moment of fulfilled time, things which you cannot now envision because you cannot yet see the future’s opportunities or trials. But that is the nature of a fulfilled time. Today is one of those “kairos” moments. Baptism is a sign that signifies a change of life. Although today we will do a baptism ceremony by sprinkling some water, it signifies a complete immersion in water, which symbolizes a death to the old self and the birth of a new self.

Today, CHILD’S NAME is too young to remember what is happening here today. So, it is up to you to tell him about this day. What will you tell him? Well, I hope that you will tell him that you thought about this for quite some time and that you wanted to make a promise to him, to one another and to God that you will raise CHILD’S NAME to know God and live in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I hope that you will describe the weather, the location, and the minister. But most of all, I hope that you will tell CHILD’S NAME that this was a “kairos” moment for you; that this day marks the day that you promised to live your lives and to raise CHILD’S NAME as a Christian.

MOTHER’S NAME AND FATHER’S NAME, you’ve gathered your friends and family together to celebrate this special day with you. And you’ve brought your children for their baptism, to be witnessed by all of these friends and relatives. I’m sure that they will be sharing their love toward CHILD’S NAME through the rest of the day. Today, I’d like to talk about that love. You see, through baptism we join together in the universal church and experience God’s salvation. This is offered free to all of us because of God’s love.

There is no better definition of this love than this: Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not boast, Love is not proud. Love is not rude Love is not self-seeking, Love is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. --1 Corinthians 13
And it’s important that we remember that this love is from God and that you represent LOVE to CHILD’S NAME. It’s important that you give teach him both by example and by education. That you nurture him and teach him of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit; so that, when the day comes when they mature in their understanding of these things, they will affirm their baptism.

And so, I am going to ask you to repeat these words, together, after me:

With God’s help We will proclaim the good news And live according to the example of Christ. We will surround CHILD’S NAME With a community of love and forgiveness That he/she may grow in service to others. We will pray for him/her, So that he/she may be a true disciple, Who walks in the way that leads to life.

Let us pray:

Pour out your Holy Spirit, God, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that, dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory. Amen

Baptism:

CHILD’S NAME, I baptize you in the name of the Father And of the Son, And of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit work within you, That being born through water and the Spirit You may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen

Pastor to guests: At the beginning of this ceremony, I said that your love, encouragement and support have been important. That is true and will always be true. And so now I say to you: Friends and relatives of CHILD’S NAME I present CHILD’S NAME to your love and care Do you promise, by God’s grace, To do everything in your power, To increase their faith, Confirm their hope, And perfect them in love? If so, answer, “I do.” People: “I do!!!!!”

Pastor to people:

Through baptism You are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God’s new creation And made to share in Christ’s royal priesthood. We are all one in Christ Jesus With joy and thanksgiving we welcome CHILD’S NAME As a member of the family of Christ.

Pastor to guests:

Too often, we view a baptism simply for the people in front of you right now. Of course, the truth is, that baptism is much broader; and while it’s true that this family has been Christened here today, it is not true that the rest of you are not included and I hope that this baptism reminds you of your baptism. I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Ladies and gentlemen, May I present CHILD’S NAME Your BROTHER or SISTER in Christ.