Merciful God, we thank you for these siblings in Christ, whom you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism. You have called them to yourself, enlightened them with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished them in the community of faith. Uphold your servants in the gifts and promises of baptism, and unite the hearts of all whom you have brought to new birth. We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen. (ELW p. 234, adapted)
This prayer can be found in the liturgy for the Affirmation of Baptism, which is most often used each fall when we celebrate Confirmation. In this service, young people who were baptized as infants or young children affirm the promises made on their behalf and become adult, voting members of the congregation. It's also a good prayer for any of us, at any time - for while baptism happens once, the gifts and promises it confers stick with us for life.
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| Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash |
This Sunday we will joyfully celebrate not one but two baptisms at our 9am worship service. In addition to welcoming Alyssa and Lucas to the family of God, the baptismal liturgy provides a wonderful opportunity for all of us to be reminded of God's promises, whether we remember our own baptism, or not.
What are these gifts and promises? In baptism we receive salvation, forgiveness, and new life. While we may first think of salvation as something that happens after we die (and baptism, crassly, as "fire insurance"), it's more than that - the fullness of life with and in God even here and now. The gifts of forgiveness and new life are renewed daily as again and again we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ. In baptism we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens and empowers us, and the gift of one another, as we are made members of the Body of Christ and joined to the saints of all times and places.
There is much to celebrate whenever we are reminded of the gifts and promises of baptism, whether in worship as part of an Affirmation of Baptism liturgy, or anytime we wash or splash in water! What a comfort it is to be reassured of God's never-ending claim on us (no matter what we do!), and God's never-failing presence with us at all times and in all places.
Bonus resources:
- I love to talk about baptism, and would be happy to chat with you or lend resources if you'd like to read more about what baptism means for Lutherans! I especially appreciate the work of Daniel Erlander.
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