Sea Baptism liturgy

A Sea Service in Three Stories

Opening sentences from the service sheet Prayer

So many of the stories about Jesus are told on, about or by the sea. The sea that Jesus knew was the Sea of Galilee…..

Story of Jesus walking on the water (retold)

Matt 14: 22-32 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,[d] for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Hymn…. Be thou my vision

For the Jewish people and for all those who respect the sea there is an understanding that this is a place of death and chaos. It is of course also the place of the beginning of life on earth, as the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, and the sustainer of all life now. The teaching of Jesus is rooted in death and rebirth, death and resurrection, This death and resurrection is daily experienced as the thousand fears and pains that kill our enthusiasm and our moral obligations, that trap us in addictions and tie us to unhealthy patterns of behaviour; the good that we would do crushed by our human failings, our sin. The teaching and being of Jeus says, one more step, rise up again, take my hand, dont look back, be born anew, follow me. Here is Life in all it Fullness.

Beatitudes and Confession from Sheet

The story of Nicodmus (retold)

John 3: 1-10 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind[f] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things.

Liturgy of Baptism

Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again of water and the Spirit, and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth.

Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean.

Here we are clothed with Christ, dying to sin that we may live his risen life.

As children of God, we have a new dignity

and God calls us to fullness of life.

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit you give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.

Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,

that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love, and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit now and for ever.

All Amen.

To the Candidates

Do you wish to be baptized?

I do.

The president addresses the whole congregation

Faith is the gift of God to all people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom are being called. People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their new life in Christ?

All With the help of God, we will.

The Decision

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into Gods marvellous light.

To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?

I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

Signing with the Cross

The president or another minister makes the sign of

Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.

All Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ against sin, the world and the devil,

and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness, restore in you the image of Gods glory, and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.

All Amen.

Hymn……The Lord of the dance

walking to the water

The president stands before the water of baptism

We thank you, God for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.

In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.

Lord of life, All renew your creation.

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 reborn by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,

we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.

Lord of life, All renew your creation.

Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, they may be cleansed from sin and born again. Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Lord of life, All renew your creation.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

All I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

N, is this your faith?

This is my faith.

N, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.

All Amen.

You have been clothed with Christ. As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ

May God, who has received you by baptism into the Church, pour upon you the riches of Gods grace,that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by the anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.

Walk back from the sea

Hymn Jerusalem