Order of the Baptismal Service
Note: Confirmation,Reception, and Reaffirmation take place in the context of Baptism.
You can follow along in The Book of Common Prayer online at this link. You can learn more about the service here.
You can follow along in The Book of Common Prayer online at this link. You can learn more about the service here.
1. Begin with Word
Liturgy- BCP 300
· Like
Eucharist, this is not separate from
the service as a whole
· No specific
readings, meant to be in context of Sunday service
2. Questioning-
BCP 302
· 3-fold
renunciation and 3-fold committal to Jesus
· Note that
this is summed (BCP 303) for those Received/Reaffirmed
3. Baptismal
Covenant- BCP 304
· Affirming
our faith
· Basically
the Apostles’ Creed in Q&A form
· Other
questions to do with living in the Christian Life
o
Gets at Promise to Follow God- BCP 303
o
Expands Question added after affirmation of faith in
1662 BCP
4. Prayers-
BCP 305
· Like
Prayers of the People, part of every major service
· Prayers
specifically for the candidates
5. Thanksgiving
Over Water- BCP 306-307
· Note on BCP
307 We ask God to sanctify water for us. We don’t do it
· Takes us
through all of salvation history with water
6. Chrism- BCP
307
· Optional-
Depends on Liturgical Tradition
· Represents
that we are all part of the Royal Priesthood of Christ
o
In ancient times, this was how you marked kingship
· Has to be
blessed by a Bishop
o
Connects Baptism to the Bishop, and thus the whole
church
7. Baptism-
BCP 307
8. Prayer over
Candidates- BCP 308
9. Sealing
with Cross- BCP 308
· Recognizes
the Gifts of the Spirit
· Baptism and
Holy Spirit not always connected in Bible: Acts 8:14-17
10. Confirmation,
Reception, Reaffirmation- BCP 309-310
· Each is
marked with the laying on of hands by the Bishop
· Each also
has a unique prayer the Bishop says
11. Eucharist
· Not
necessary
· However,
Eucharist marks our regular pattern of life as Christians
· Marks more
fully that the Baptized is part of community now
· For others,
Eucharist is a mark of Christian celebration as well
· Also, meant
to be a public service, best done at Sunday Service
· Main Days
to celebrate: BCP 312
Note: In an emergency, anyone can
Baptize. See BCP 313-314.