Preparing for Baptism
This playlist, or menu, is designed for families preparing for baptism at St. Peter’s Church. Some of you are familiar with our worship and our congregation, and some of you are new to St. Peter’s or even new to the church. This list of resources is offered for you to explore over time—it is not a checklist of expectations. Some will speak to you more than others. Spend time with those. However, we will ask you to familiarize yourself with some of these offerings before your Baptismal Preparation session with Father Dirk.
Baptism in the Bible
Baptism is one of the actions that Jesus models to us in his life as shared in the Bible. Therefore, it becomes one of the major sacraments of the church (along with Holy Communion). Explore these resources to get a sense of what this means through the lens of the Gospel.
“John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.” [John said,] “I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within your, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!” But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.””
Watch: The Baptism of Jesus (Luke 3-9) from BibleProject (5 minutes)
Read: The Meaning of Baptism in the Bible from Bible Project (9 minutes)
“Some followers of Jesus are baptized by immersion, and others are sprinkled with water. Some people are baptized as adults and others as infants, and some people are baptized as infants and as adults.
In all cases, the meaning of baptism is about participating in this ancient biblical pattern of going through the waters of death and following Jesus out the other side and into the new creation.”
Baptism in the Church
As a sacrament, baptism is an important and sacred event. As an individual, the baptized person is now irrevocably part of the Body of Christ, as the church is known. As members of the Body of Christ, we welcome each new member into the family of faith, using specific symbolism and language.
“What is Holy Baptism?
Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.
What is required of us at Baptism?
It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.”
Watch: Celebrating Baptism from the Episcopal Church (2 minutes)
Read: What is Baptism? from Earth & Altar (8 minutes)
“[Baptism] is more than just changing your allegiance, it is changing your very nature. Christianity teaches that when Jesus was raised from the dead he was raised as something new, something that hadn’t been seen before in all creation. When Christians are baptised, they become part of this revolutionary life that is born out of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This life is both the life that is promised to us in heaven and the life we should have had, had we not Fallen. The baptised Christian, therefore, has one foot, so to speak, in heaven. He is a micro-demonstration of the kingdom of heaven, of God’s intention for humanity.”
Living into Baptism
Once baptized, a person begins a new life in Christ. Baptism is not one event, but a way of living into that calling as disciples. As disciples, from the moment of our baptism, we are each called and equipped by God to participate in God’s mission of bringing reconciling love to the world. As members of a community of faith, we do this at home, at church, and in the world.
“Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.”
Learn: Read some articles and blogs about Christian parenting in our modern, complex world.
Listen: Hear different voices to equip and encourage you in your calling as parents.
Do: Ideas and guidance for practicing your faith at home, at church, and in the world.
Pray:
“O God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the Spirit through the teachings of your Son Jesus Christ: Make the hearts and minds of your servants ready to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be filled with the strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
“O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us. Amen.”
“We thank you and praise you for the gift of our children. Through our lives as role models, may they come to know you, the one true God. May the Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love, so they may know peace, truth, and goodness. May their ears hear your voice. May their eyes see your presence in all things. May their lips proclaim your word. May their hearts be your dwelling place. May their hands do works of charity. May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.”