During
Lent, many people prepare for baptism, confirmation or renewal of
baptismal vows. Then each year during the Easter Vigil, we all renew the
promises made at baptism. This Easter season we will explore these
promises and how we can live them out in our
everyday lives. We will
also think about the promise that God makes to us in baptism and how to
recognize this in our lives as well. What exactly are we saying we will
do and how do we go about it?
When young children are baptized in the Anglican Church, the parents and sponsors (or Godparents) make special promises. They are asked two questions: "Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?" and "Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?" The answer to both of these questions and many others in baptism is "I will, with God's help." In this response, is faith in God's promise of abundant support and love. Parents and sponsors look to God as the source of inspiration, communion and wisdom that in turn allows them to bear witness, nurture and teach their children about faith.
In this promise, we recognize that God's promise of love and support can be experienced through prayer, action, and the faith and life of the Christian community. We commit to "pay it forward" to those children who are being baptized in order that these things might one day be for them a sign of God's love and support and a source of inspiration, communion and wisdom.
The second question asks us to help children become Christlike. In other words, we are called to follow Jesus' example of love, justice, service and self-sacrifice. We come together as a community to figure out what this looks like in our own lives and to share our joys, concerns, struggles and revelations just as Jesus did with those around him. Parents and Godparents, pass this on to their children by speaking to them about these values, traditions and life experiences and giving them a community of other seekers in which they too can ponder what it means to follow Christ.
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| Sprinkling with Holy Water at the Easter Vigil reminds us of baptism. |
When young children are baptized in the Anglican Church, the parents and sponsors (or Godparents) make special promises. They are asked two questions: "Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?" and "Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?" The answer to both of these questions and many others in baptism is "I will, with God's help." In this response, is faith in God's promise of abundant support and love. Parents and sponsors look to God as the source of inspiration, communion and wisdom that in turn allows them to bear witness, nurture and teach their children about faith.
In this promise, we recognize that God's promise of love and support can be experienced through prayer, action, and the faith and life of the Christian community. We commit to "pay it forward" to those children who are being baptized in order that these things might one day be for them a sign of God's love and support and a source of inspiration, communion and wisdom.
The second question asks us to help children become Christlike. In other words, we are called to follow Jesus' example of love, justice, service and self-sacrifice. We come together as a community to figure out what this looks like in our own lives and to share our joys, concerns, struggles and revelations just as Jesus did with those around him. Parents and Godparents, pass this on to their children by speaking to them about these values, traditions and life experiences and giving them a community of other seekers in which they too can ponder what it means to follow Christ.
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