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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS
**The Service may begin with a hymn, or the following
Psalm, which can be either said or sung.
PSALM 15
LORD, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall
rest upon Thy holy hill?
EVEN he that leadeth an uncorrupted life and doeth
the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from
the heart.
HE that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done
evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour;
HE that promiseth his neighbour and disappointeth him
not, though it were his own hindrance.
HE that hath not given his money upon usury nor taken
reward against the innocent;
WHOSO doeth these things shall never fall.
**The Minister will then say:
LET US PRAY
HEAVENLY FATHER, we come together in a spirit of joy
to link still more closely to Thy holy love one of
Thy children. Take into Thy keeping the life of this
thy servant that he/she, being dedicated to Thy service,
may in all sincerity follow the way laid down by Jesus
the Christ, and turn to those things that will release
still more the Divine within him/her. Guide him/her
and sustain him/her, and grant that this Baptism may
indeed signify a rebirth of the spirit within, so that
in the body and free from the body he/she may work
for the coming of Thy Kingdom. Amen.
**Then follows the Reading from the 1st chapter of the
Gospel according to St. John, beginning at the 29th
verse.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith:
Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of
the world. This is He of whom I said: After me cometh
a man which is preferred before me, for He was before
me, and I knew Him not! But that He should be made
manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptising with
water. And John bare record, saying: I saw the Spirit
descending from Heaven like a dove and it abode upon
Him. And I knew Him not! But he that sent me to baptise
with water, the same said unto me: Upon whom thou shalt
see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the
same is He which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost. And
I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.
**Then follows this short address:
As we think upon the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we find that three very important events took place:
firstly, that Jesus prepared Himself by self-denial
and prayer; secondly, that He received the full power
of the Holy Spirit; and thirdly, that He was welcomed
by God the Father to Sonship and partnership.
All this is symbolic of the blessings that every child
of God can receive if, with understanding, he/she comes
with a true desire to be baptised by the power of the
Holy Spirit. In the course of life there are many tests
and temptations, but if you believe in Christ, the
protection and guidance can be forthcoming; and should
you fail at times, you can take comfort from the thought
that by striving to rise above the faults of the past,
the time will come when you shall fail no more.
Having bought this experience by suffering you will
find that the missionary spirit is released within,
and the desire will grow ever stronger to safeguard
others on the steep road of life; so that they too
may resist those influences which are hurtful to the
soul and the body.
In service to mankind you will show forth in your life
that power which comes upon you today, and which can
give you peace, both on Earth and in the world to come.
**The Minister may ask the candidate to kneel before
the water.
**Then the Minister will say:
LET US PRAY
OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is
in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us. When in temptation, Thy Love sustains us,
and deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom,
the Power and the Glory. For ever and ever. Amen.
O
LOVING CHRIST, receive, we pray Thee, this Thy son/daughter
into fellowship with Thee, and grant that by the dedication
of his/her life to the cause of truth, purity and love,
he/she may be used to bring solace and understanding
into the lives of many. Blessed by Thy power, and strengthened
with Thy truth, may he/she always be ready to receive
Thy direction, and go forth to labour in Thy vineyard.
Amen.
**He will then ask the candidate:
My brother/sister, are you willing to affirm your promises
to God and to strive to fulfil His Will, as laid down
by the Master Jesus Christ?
Answer:
I am willing and I earnestly desire so to do.
**The Minister will then place his hand over the water
in the font, and say:
MAY the Holy Spirit sanctify this water to consecrate
this our brother/sister to the service of Christ; that
he/she may ever follow in His footsteps, in love, obedience
and service. Amen.
O
HOLY SPIRIT, come now with all Thy gifts to endue
this our brother/sister; so that he/she may be strong
in faith, courageous in spirit, and valiant for right;
that at the last he/she may hear the loving words:
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
THE BAPTISM
**If the candidate is not already kneeling or standing
in front of the water or font, the Minister, taking
the candidate by the right hand and placing him/her
by the font, will sprinkle his/her head with the water,
saying:
("Christian Name" - not surname)...I Baptise thee in the Name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
**The Minister will then make the Sign of the Cross with
water upon the forehead of the candidate, saying:
In the Name of the Holy Spirit I place this Sign upon
you - the sign of the Cross. Honour it and uphold it;
go forward under its strength and under its glory,
so that at the last it may bring you into that haven
where the shadows of earth-life are no more, and the
brightness of God dwells forever. Amen.
**The Minister may ask the candidate to return to his/her
seat.
HYMN
(Possible: "O Jesus, I have promised")
**Then follows the Benediction and Prayer and Blessing,
the Minister saying:
Go forth in power, in peace and in love. Be very sure
that this Baptism will carry with it strength for the
coming years. Now let us join together in humbly thanking
God for this day:
O
ETERNAL FATHER, Who hast brought us together into
this place that we may be witnesses of a Dedication
Service of one of Thy children, we thank Thee with
full hearts and happy minds. Pour down upon Thy servant
the radiance of Thy Love and the upliftment of Thy
Spirit. Be very near to him/her, and so inspire him/her
with the presence of Thy Angelic Ministers that he/she
may vanquish all fear and steadfastly carry the torch
of Thy Truth wherever he/she may go. Amen.
Peace be unto you. My peace I give unto you. Not as
the world giveth give I unto you. The blessing of God
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you
always. Amen.
**Where possible, the candidate should bring two friends
with him/her, to stand as witnesses, one on each side;
that, companioned by their own Unseen Helpers, they,
too, may realise the sacredness of the occasion and
the promises made.
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