A. Introductory Notes
1. Baptism is one of two sacraments accepted by Reformed denominations because
it was commanded and instituted by Christ himself (Matt. 28:18-20). In
the Reformed confessions and theological writings about baptism, as well
as in contemporary ecumenical documents such as Baptism, Eucharist and
Ministry (1982), the following themes are prominent:
a. Baptism means participation in Christ's death
and resurrection.
b. Baptism involves conversion, pardoning, and
cleansing from sin.
c. Baptism signifies anointing by and life with
the Spirit.
d. Baptism is a symbol of incorporation into the
body of Christ.
e. Baptism is a sign of the covenant and kingdom
of God.
2. The history of baptism in the Christian church exhibits
a rich array of biblical images, a variety of liturgical
forms and practices, and some consistently evident features
or elements that characterize this Christian sacrament:
a. The proclamation of biblical text(s) referring
to baptism.
b. An invocation of the Holy Spirit.
c. A renunciation of evil and profession of faith
in God.
d. The use of water (either immersion, pouring,
or sprinkling).
e. A statement about new identity in Christ and
about church membership.
3. In formulating this baptism liturgy, the CRC Worship
Committee kept three basic considerations in mind: tradition
and ecumenicity, flexibility, and brevity. Regarding
tradition and ecumenicity, we have reviewed the baptism
forms of several major denominations and have chosen
to include such traditional elements as a prayer of thanksgiving
and the renunciation of evil (in the case of adult baptism).
Regarding flexibility, we have included many alternatives.
Congregations may exercise considerable freedom in choosing
alternate texts and even in rewording certain statements.
Regarding brevity, we have shortened the form, especially
the segment formerly called "The Meaning of Baptism," which
was a long, didactic statement in older Reformed forms.
Please note that the form is indeed shorter, even though
the many options make it look longer on paper.
Synod 1991 also encouraged "the churches to adapt
as needed all denominational liturgical forms for the spiritual nurture of their
people" (Acts of Synod 1991, p. 707). It should be kept in mind, however, that
a uniform practice of baptism in the CRC is desirable and that certain essential
thoughts and symbols need to be conveyed in any baptismal service. Even when
liturgical freedom is being exercised, certain essential words and elements should
always be included:
a. The scriptural words of institution.
b. A confession about the meaning of baptism (entitled "God's
Covenant Promises" in the form).
c. Confession of faith and vow.
d. The act of baptism with water in the name of
the Trinity.
Other elements could possibly be eliminated or
certainly adapted. We also suggest that if the section "God's Covenant Promises" is
adapted, the essential themes to be communicated are those given above in A,
1, a-e.
4. Outline of the service of holy baptism
Words of Institution
The Covenant of Baptism
God's Covenant Promises
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Our Covenant Promises
The Baptism
The Blessing
The Welcome
B. The service of holy baptism
Words of Institution
Hear the words of Jesus:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20)
[One or more of the following words from Scripture
may be added:]
Genesis 17:7
John 1:12-13
Acts 2:39
Romans 6:3-4
Galatians 3:27-28
Ephesians 4:4-6
1 Peter 2:9-10
The Covenant of Baptism
God's Covenant Promises
[The minister may choose one of the four alternatives
offered here or devise another one, taking great
care to maintain the essential themes of baptism
outlined above in A, 1, a-e.]
1. [First alternative]
Our gracious God has always desired
to hold his people in a covenant embrace.
He declares over and over,
"I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Pursuing this deep desire,
God called Abraham and Sarah to trust in him
and gave a covenant sign to show that they belonged to him.
In baptism God now claims us in Christ
marks us as his own people,
and seals our membership in God's covenant community, the church.
Baptism is the covenant sign that God frees us
from the power of sin and death,
uniting us with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection.
By water and the Holy Spirit we are washed clean from sin.
God's grace in baptism calls us to give ourselves to him
in trust, love, and obedience.
[optional at the baptism of infants] From the
beginning,
God graciously has included our children in his covenant.
All his promises are for them as well as for us.
We are to teach them that they have been set apart by baptism
as God's own children
so that as they grow older they may respond to him
in personal faith and commitment.
2. [Second alternative]
In the sacrament of baptism God gives us a new identity as his people.
In a world that has turned away from its Creator,
where anonymity and rootlessness threaten our existence,
God calls a people into covenant embrace.
God called Abraham and Sarah, gave them new names,
and promised to make of them a new nation
through which he would bless all the families of the world.
God cut a covenant into Israel's flesh, carving out a people for himself.
They would light the path home for all humanity.
In the fullness of time, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to be our Savior.
In his death on the cross our old self is dead and buried;
in his resurrection we rise to a new life and look forward to a new creation.
When we are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
the triune God seals our adoption as his children
and writes his name invisibly on our foreheads.
"You are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people belonging to God . . .
.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the
people of
God." (1 Pet. 2:9-10)
By baptism we have a new identity in Jesus Christ.
3. [Third alternative]
By baptism God assures us that he will be with us always.
When, in the beginning,
the deep dark waters churned,
God's Spirit hovered over them.
When, in Noah's day,
the waters engulfed everything and
destroyed the
world,
God saved his faithful people, whom
he loved.
When, in Egypt,
Pharaoh's army hotly pursued Israel
to the sea,
God parted the waters and led his people
through to
safety.
When, in the dead of night on Galilee's raging
sea,
Jesus' disciples feared for their lives,
he called, "It is I; do not fear."
Time and again, God saved our drowning ancestors,
and he promises also to rescue us.
For Christ, our Savior,
went down into the depths of hell
and rose up victorious from them.
Therefore, we receive God's baptismal promise,
trusting that he will rescue us from the dark depths of sin and death
and bring us to safe shore and firm ground.
4. [Fourth alternative]
[The answer of each Q&A is for communal response.]
[The first Q&A is optional.]
Sacraments are holy signs and seals for us to see.
They were instituted by
God so that
by our use
of them
he might make us understand
more clearly
the promise
of the gospel,
and might put a seal on
that promise.
Q. And what is God's gospel promise?
A. To forgive our sins and give us eternal life
by grace alone
because of Christ's one sacrifice
finished on the cross.
Q. How does baptism
remind you and assure you
that Christ's one sacrifice on the cross
is for you personally?A. In this way:
Christ instituted this
outward washing
and with it gave the promise
that,
as surely as
water washes away dirt from the body,
so certainly
his blood and his Spirit
wash away my
soul's impurity,
in other words, all my
sins.
Q. What does it mean
to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
A. To be washed with Christ's blood means
that God, by
grace, has forgiven my sins
because of Christ's blood
poured out for me in his
sacrifice on the cross.
To be washed by Christ's
Spirit means
that the Holy Spirit has renewed me
and set me apart to be a member of
Christ
so that more and more I become dead to sin
and increasingly live a holy and blameless life.
[When infants are baptized, the following should be
added.]
Q. Should infants, too, be baptized?
A. Yes.
Infants as well as adults
are in God's
covenant and are his people.
They, no less than adults,
are promised
the forgiveness
of sins through Christ's blood
and the Holy
Spirit who produces faith.
Therefore, by baptism,
the mark of the covenant,
infants should
be received into the Christian church
and should
be distinguished from the children of unbelievers.
This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,
which was replaced
in the New Testament by baptism.
(from Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 66, 69-70,
74)
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
Let us now remember our baptism
and give thanks to God
as we celebrate this sacrament of grace today.
[Water may be poured into the font at this time or
at the beginning of The Baptism (below).]
[The following ancient prayer may be spoken in unison
by the congregation or by the worship leader, or
a similar prayer may be used.]
We thank you, O God,
for our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection.
In the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters,
and you created everything that is, seen and unseen.
In the time of Noah,
you destroyed evil in the water of the flood;
and by your saving ark, you gave a new beginning.
In the night of trouble
you led Israel through the sea,
out of slavery into the freedom of the promised land.
In the water of the Jordan,
our Lord was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit.
In the baptism of Christ's death and resurrection,
you have set us free from sin and death
and opened up the way to eternal life.
May Christ, who sank deep into death
and was raised Lord of life,
keep us and our little ones in the grip of his hand.
May your Spirit separate us from sin
and mark us with a faith
that can stand the light of day and endure the dark of night.
To you be all honor and glory, dominion and power,
now and forever,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Our Covenant Promises
[Proceed to either the Baptism of Infants or the Baptism
of Older Children or Adults.]
Covenant for the Baptism of Infants
Since you have presented these children for baptism, we ask you the following
questions before God and his people.
Do you profess your faith in Jesus Christ as your
Lord and Savior and affirm the promises of God made to you and your children
in his Word?
We (I) do.
Do you promise to instruct these children by word and
example, with the help of the Christian community,in
the truth of God's Word,and in the way of salvation through
Jesus Christ? Do you promise to pray for them
and teach them to pray? Do you promise to nurture
them
within the body of believers, as citizens of Christ's
kingdom?
We (I) do, God helping us (me).
[Proceed to The Creed (below).]
Covenant for the Baptism of Older Children or Adults[This
covenant statement may also be adapted for the baptism
of infants. The first sentence would then read, "Since
you have presented these children for baptism, we
ask you, before God . . . ."]
Since you have responded by God's grace
to the call of the gospel to believe and be baptized,
we ask you, before God and his people,
to reject sin
and to profess your faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of evil
that rebel against God?
I renounce them!
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from
the love of God?
I renounce them!
Do you turn to Jesus Christ?
Yes! I trust in him as my Lord and Savior.
Do you intend to be Christ's faithful disciple,
trusting his promises,
obeying his word,
honoring his church,
and showing his love,
as long as you live?
Yes! God helping me.
The Creed
[The Apostles' Creed may be recited in unison;
sung, using Psalter Hymnal 518 or 519; or spoken
responsively, using the following question-and-answer
form.]
With all God's people throughout time and history,
and gathered in this place today,
we ask you to profess your faith in the triune God.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father Almighty . . .
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord . .
.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit . . .
[All may then sing a hymn of faith (for example, Psalter
Hymnal 285, 273, 274, 271, 269).] The Baptism
[If not done earlier, the water may be poured into
the font at this time.]
[At the baptism of children, the minister may say, "Our
Lord said, 'Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these'" (Mark 10:14).]
[At the baptism of children, minister may turn to
the parent(s) of each child and ask, "What is the
name of this child?"] (name) ,
I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Blessing
[The minister may place a hand on the head of each
person baptized or make a sign of the cross on each
one's forehead, saying,]
(name) , child of the covenant,
in baptism you are sealed with the Holy Spirit
and marked as Christ's own. Amen.
[and, or]
[The minister may place a hand on the head of the
baptized person(s) and offer the following (or a
similar) prayer.]
Let us pray.
Gracious God and heavenly Father,
we thank you that you make us new persons in Jesus Christ
through grace alone.
We pray for name(s) .
Bless and strengthen them daily
with the gift of your Holy Spirit.
Unfold to them the riches of your love.
Deepen their faith.
Keep them from the power of evil.
Enable them to live a holy and blameless life
until your kingdom comes.
[At the baptism of children, the minister, upon removing
his hand from each child, may say,]
Look with kindness on these parents.
Let them always rejoice in the gift you have given them.
Grant them the presence of your Holy Spirit,
that they may bring up these children
to know you, love you, and serve you and their neighbor,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Welcome
Brothers and sisters,
We now receive name(s) into Christ's church.
I charge you to nurture and love them
and to assist them to be Christ's faithful disciple(s).
[The congregation responds.]
With joy and thanksgiving,
we now welcome you into Christ's church;
for we are all one in Christ.
We promise to love, encourage, and support you
and to help you know and follow Christ.
[or,]
Brothers and sisters,
We now receive name(s) into Christ's church.
Do you welcome them in love,
and do you promise to pray for, encourage,
and help nurture them in the faith?
We do, God helping us.
Hymn
[A baptism hymn or Bible song may be sung.]
C. Notes on Administering the Sacrament of Baptism
1. Because baptism is a sacrament, it is important that it appeal to the
senses of the congregation. The water should not be poured in the font
prior to the service but should be visibly and audibly poured during
the baptismal liturgy. We suggest pouring the water into the font from
a suitable vessel or pitcher at one of two moments in the liturgy (during
The Prayer of Thanksgiving or at the beginning of The Baptism). This
act needs no verbal interpretation; let the water "speak" for itself.
Instead of using a small baptismal font, churches ought to consider using
something much larger to accommodate a more generous use of water.
2. For the same reason, we also suggest that the water
of baptism be applied as generously as possible. A few
nearly hidden drops do not speak as eloquently as water
poured from a vessel over a person's head or applied
generously from a cupped palm. Indeed, since one of the
things that baptism symbolizes is our dying and rising
with Christ, even full immersion would not be out of
place. It may be thoughtful to have a towel ready to
wipe away excess water, but use it only after the entire
baptism liturgy is over.
3. The minister may want to memorize parts of the form
in order to speak freely and directly to the congregation
without departing from the meanings conveyed in the liturgical
text.
4. It is certainly appropriate to include personal testimonies
and other statements of faith (such as the Contemporary
Testimony) in the baptism ceremony, especially when adults
are being baptized. The best place for these is probably
just prior to the actual administration of baptism. However,
since the sacrament of baptism marks the reception of
an individual into the community of believers, it is
advisable for any such personal confession to be complemented
by a communal confession. Because it is the historic,
ecumenical baptismal creed of the Christian church, the
Apostles' Creed is particularly suited to this purpose,
and its use is strongly recommended.
