Baptism of our Lord and Ourselves

1-19-20

I did something a little bit differently for this sermon - I walked everyone though the baptism liturgy and talked about each part, much like I did last year for A - "Affirmation of Baptism" during our "Season of Baptism" during  the season Epiphany last year. 

Grace to you and peace from God our creator and from our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Last year, Series on baptism do you remember? B – Born Anew, A -Affirmed, P- EmPowered, T- Trust, I – Inspire, S – Serve, M- Multiply

Baptize infants/ kids vs. “Believer’s Baptism”

The reason we baptize babies - symbolizes that we do nothing to earn God’s love

Part 2: Rite of “Confirmation = Affirmation of Baptism (we can affirm this all the time, not just when we’re in the 9th or 10th grade)

P. 227 - Go through Baptism service 

Opening prayer - Big ticket words - Water/word/ death/ resurrection / saints

Presentation: Parents present, or if older, they can answer for themselves (consent)

Go through each promise

TO LIVE WITH (HIM/HER/THEM) AMONG GOD’S FAITHFUL PEOPLE, Be part of a faith community

(HIM/HER/THEM) TO THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SUPPER – bring them to church!

TEACH (HIM/HER/THEM) THE LORD’S PRAYER, THE CREED, AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, (Self-explanatory)

PLACE IN (HIS/HER/THEM) HANDS THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND NURTURE (HIM/HER) IN FAITH AND PRAYER, (pretty obvious)

SO THAT YOUR CHILD MAY LEARN AND TRUST GOD, PROCLAIM CHRIST THROUGH WORD AND DEED, CARE FOR OTHERS AND THE WORLD GOD MADE, AND WORK FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE. DO YOU PROMISE TO HELP YOUR CHILD GROW IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE?

Parents promise, sponsors promise, then WE all as a community promise (we need all of us!!) You are all responsible for each other.

Profession of Faith = early rite of Exorcism. Greek “Eckballo” to cast out, like throw a ball (renounce = turn your back on, cast out)

If you were to add things to “turn our backs on,” what would they be? What specifically “defies” or “rebels” against God? What other things might you add to the list? I would offer adding:

-         Fear and scarcity thinking

-         Too much consuming / big retail

-         Institutional racism and individual discrimination

-         Sexism, gender-based violence, toxic masculinity

-         Unjust economic systems (to name a few)

Creed = What we turn toward/ what we DO profess (can’t just be against things)

Trinitarian Creed – father son Holy Spirit (3 “no,” 3 “yes”)

Thanksgiving at the Font

-         “Flood Prayer” written by Martin Luther

-         Reviews the “Highlights of “salvation history” – the “big times” that God has saved God’s people, ending with Jesus

Actual Baptism: “sprinkling”

Where did we get baptism? John the Baptist, who we have been hearing about a lot! but also the end of Matthew – Command from Jesus to baptize in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit (the promise is that Jesus is with us until the end of the age)

Some traditions are (like ours) give the kid a white robe = made into a new person, and given new life in Christ, related to why pastors traditionally will wear a white robe, called an “Alb” (though it’s optional)

We say, “WE belong to Christ, in whom we have been baptized”

Prayer: same prayer that is later said over confirmands – Holy Spirit

Oil and Cross –oil from  old historical ritual from the tradition of anointing for special purpose - Kings, prophets, Jesus when he was on his way to Jerusalem

-         That cross may be invisible, but it never goes away! It’s always with us!

Candle: the light of Christ that is within us

-         Can and should light on our baptism anniversaries

-         Is where birthday candles come from

Congregational welcome! (Move on into service)

Martin Luther’s small catechism wrote “What gifts or benefits does baptism grant? It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and give eternal salvation to all who believe it….”

An example of what it looks like to live our baptisms – MLK Jr.

Tomorrow we will affirm the life of MLK and all the gifts he had… working for justice and preaching good news to the oppressed – and to accept the cost of doing so, which for MLK was his life.

That was a walk through baptism, which is not just one day – it marks us our whole lives as belonging to God. Which is something of great value that we can take with us in our everyday lives, to walk through the world knowing that we are worthy and loved, and empowered to tell others that they are worthy and loved by God too. Thanks be to God, amen.