A Practical Guide to Preparing for Baptism

Salem Lutheran Church 631 N 7 St – Montevideo, Minnesota, 56265 Pastor Matt Philaya Office: 320-269-7340 [email protected] slcmonte.org th

Materials selected and adapted from Washed and Welcome: A Baptism Sourcebook Copyright 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All Rights reserved. Used by permission.

Greetings! The following information is provided for you from a special resource I use to help families prepare for baptism. The information it contains is general practice for congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Please note the following: -A person baptized at Salem Lutheran Church becomes a member of our congregation through baptism. -Baptisms are intended to be in the context of a worship service. I do not schedule private baptisms unless there is a serious health or mobility concern. -You may schedule your baptism directly with me, and I will help you find a Sunday that works best for your schedule and the schedule of Salem. -As the pastor, I would like to schedule a meeting with the one being baptized, as well as parents and sponsors, the evening before the baptism. -There is NO fee or honorarium to the church or pastor for a baptism. Blessings, Pr. Matt Philaya

ABOUT HOLY BAPTISM The Baptismal Vows: As you bring (name) to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with responsibilities: to live with her among God's faithful people, bring her to the word of God and the holy supper, teach her the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in her hands the holy scriptures, and nurture her in faith and prayer, so that your child may learn to 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 this child grow in the Christian faith and life? Baptism is about developing relationships. A worshiping assembly speaks these words each time newly baptized people enter their midst: “We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God’s creative and redeeming word to all the world” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 231). God promises new life and salvation to those who are baptized. The church expects that parents or other adults responsible for a child’s nurture in faith are already involved in a specific congregation. In the baptismal service, parents promise that they will bring their child to worship regularly and that

they will teach key aspects of the faith to their child, especially by example. The Christian community voices its support of the newly baptized as they join the church’s mission in service to the world. When older children or adults are baptized, a pastor asks the candidates themselves if they desire to be baptized. To answer such a question with awareness of its implications, the older candidate for baptism ordinarily engages in an extended period of instruction and formation in the faith prior to baptism. For baptismal candidates of any age, growing into Christian identity and mission is a journey that unfolds over time rather than just a single event. These pages describe what happens on the day of baptism for families and sponsors, as well as the process leading up to and following the day of baptism. Preparation for baptism Parents or guardians contact the church office or a pastor regarding the congregation’s process for scheduling baptisms. Parents will be asked to provide basic information about the child to the church office, including the child’s complete name, his or her date of birth, as well as the names of parents and sponsors or godparents. Baptism preparation sessions for parents or guardians and sponsors or godparents precede the baptism. An adult or older child who is able to express a desire for baptism on her or his own may speak to a pastor or another leader in the congregation about opportunities to prepare for baptism. Congregations have a variety of ways to support adults and older children as they prepare for baptism that usually involve an extended period of reflection on the scriptures, as well as formation in prayer and forms of Christian service to others. Getting ready for the worship service that includes baptism  Plan to arrive at the church with enough time to seat your friends, family and others who are attending the baptism.  Though no particular dress code is specified for those attending a baptism, it is common for parents, guardians, sponsors, and godparents to wear some of their nicest clothes on this occasion.  No particular type of dress is essential for those who will be baptized, although certain kinds of clothing have become traditional. White baptismal gowns are often used for infants, perhaps even passed down from one family member to the next. Toddlers and older children may wear white clothes as well, or they may simply wear some of their nicest clothes.  The family and sponsors of the baptized will usually want to be seated close to the baptismal font. Ushers may reserve seating in that area ahead of time. Ask an usher when you arrive where people participating in the baptism will be seated.  Depending on the congregation’s size and the design of its worship space, friends and family members who have no specific role in the baptismal service may be seated with the

baptismal party or they may be asked to sit among other worshipers also attending the service. During the baptism  The baptism often takes place shortly following the sermon, or at the beginning of the service. When a pastor and other worship leaders approach the baptismal font, that’s your cue to join them there. If there are other children in your family, they may come with you so they can see what is going on.  Since there are a few spoken responses for parents, sponsors, and the entire worshiping assembly, it’s usually helpful to take a worship folder or book containing the order of the baptismal service with you as you approach the baptismal font.  As the baptismal portion of the service begins, the sponsor or godparent should be prepared to say: “I present name for baptism.” If more than one sponsor or godparent is present, they may say together: “We present name for baptism.”  The pastor will ask a few questions regarding your desire for baptism and your intent to support the newly baptized afterward. The answer to these questions is “I do.”  The pastor also will ask one to three questions about your resolve to renounce the evils of the world. The answer in each instance is “I renounce them.”  The pastor will ask all worshipers to profess their faith, usually by asking three separate questions: “Do you believe in God the Father?” “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?” and “Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?” Worshipers respond in each instance with respective portions from the Apostles’ Creed.  The pastor leads a prayer of thanksgiving in praise of God’s creation, the gift of baptism in Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.  If circumstances allow, the pastor may invite small children forward to watch the baptism up close.  During the actual baptism with water, one of the parents or sponsors may be asked to hold an infant or a young child up to the baptismal font, though some pastors may hold a small infant in one arm at this time. If your help is needed in holding a child above the font, carefully pull back any clothing that may be covering the child’s head and neck. If baptism is by immersion, worship leaders will make additional preparations for this, and a baptismal garment will usually be placed around the newly baptized immediately after coming out of the water and being dried off with a towel.  The pastor continues with a prayer of thanksgiving for each of the newly baptized while placing hands on the heads of each of them. All worshipers may respond “Amen” at the conclusion of the prayer.  The pastor marks the sign of the cross on the forehead of the newly baptized, often with oil.  The pastor presents the newly baptized (or a parent or sponsor) with a small candle that has been lit from the Easter (paschal) candle. The smaller candle is a gift to the newly baptized and may be used annually to remember the baptismal anniversary. Usually there is a small box accompanying the candle that can be used for storing the candle at home.  The pastor leads the congregation in verse of welcome from Matthew 5:16

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The pastor presents the baptized one with a special quilt or blanket made by members of Salem especially for baptisms. The baptismal party may return to their seats at this time for the remainder of the service. At the end of the baptism, the pastor may carry (small child) or lead the one who has been baptized up and down the aisle while the congregation sings a short hymn. If holy communion is a part of the service as well, all baptized Christians are invited to commune.

Following the baptism  Many congregations have informal gatherings for fellowship and refreshments following a service. This can be an opportunity for others to greet the newly baptized as well as members of the baptismal party.  Picture taking during the service itself can be a distraction, particularly if it involves flashing lights or if people taking pictures get in the way of other worshipers. There is usually plenty of time to take pictures of the newly baptized along with parents, sponsors, and others who are present following the service.  No gift or honorarium needs to be given to the pastor or other worship leaders; however, gifts in support of the church’s ongoing ministries are always appropriate and may be added to the offering plate as it is passed during the service.  Be sure to take baptismal certificates, candles, and clothing belonging to the newly baptized home with you following the service. Some churches give small baptismal napkins used to dry the heads of infants following baptism as a reminder of the day, while larger towels used for older children or adults are usually kept at the church. Choosing Godparents/Sponsors Start with the “job description.” A godparent (also called baptismal sponsor) is to develop a special, lifelong relationship with the godchild, communicating faith and values to her or him in word, deed, and play, reminding him of his baptism, rooting for her as she grows and questions and struggles. What qualities suit a person for this role? Someone who:  Will take a child seriously and invest time in developing a friendship with him or her  Listens well, is caring and trustworthy.  Is a baptized Christian who could share her or his faith with a child (and later an adult) in conversation or action. You don’t need to have a “matched set” of one man and one woman. You can name just one godparent, or two godmothers or godfathers. It doesn’t matter if they are parents. If they are, you can tell how they are with children. But a person without children may value being a godparent all the more because of that.

The advantage of choosing relatives is that they are more certain to remain connected with your child throughout their lives. It can sometimes be a challenge for an uncle or aunt if they’re worried about “playing favorites”—being a godparent means they should pay special attention to one niece or nephew, doing more with and for the godchild than for the others. This need not be a problem if they don’t get lavish gifts for the godchild and if your other children have godparents who spend special time with them. The advantage of choosing a nonrelative is that you get an extra person involved deeply in your child’s welfare, someone who wouldn’t otherwise be a consistent part of his or her life. You can, in effect, draft that person into your child’s “chosen” family. You want the person to commit to keeping in contact with your child even if distance separates them— even if you and the godparent don’t remain as closely connected as you are now. Sometimes parents feel they have to name certain people as godparents because it’s expected—much the same way people may feel obligated to include someone in their wedding party. The important thing is to put your child’s interests first. Who would be most likely to be a great godparent? You can always choose more than two godparents—some Lutherans traditionally have had three. Make sure at least one is “godparent material.” What if the most spiritual and child-friendly person you know isn’t a Christian? Non-Christian friends or family are welcome to be present at the baptism and worship service. When considering them as sponsors, keep in mind that in the baptismal service the sponsors promise to help to raise the child in the Christian faith. A person who does not desire or intend to help carry out these promises, Christian or not, is not the right person to choose for a baptismal sponsor. Instead, they are included with the rest of the friends and family in their show of love and support. Some people believe godparents are expected to raise the child if the parents die. That’s been true at some times and places, but in the United States today, “godparenthood” has no legal status with regard to issues of guardianship. If you want to designate someone to take care of your children in the event of your death, you need to name that person as the legal guardian in your will. Choosing Godparents Reprinted from The Lutheran, January 2005. Used by permission. All material copyright 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.