Samuel Richard Edwin

January 30th, 2011

St James’ Church, Finchampstead

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Preparation

The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
All
and also with you.

Hymn
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temple leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy host above;
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation:

pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

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 Introduction
The minister says
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us
that to enter the kingdom of heaven
we must be born again of water and the Spirit,
and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth.
Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean.
Here we are clothed with Christ,
dying to sin that we may live his risen life.
As children of God, we have a new dignity
and God calls us to fullness of life.

Collect
Heavenly Father,
by the power of your Holy Spirit
you give to your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,
that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
now and for ever.
All
Amen.

The Presentation of the Candidate

The president addresses the whole congregation

Faith is the gift of God to his people.

In baptism the Lord is adding to our number

those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome Sam

and uphold him in his new life in Christ?
All
With the help of God, we will.

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 The president then says to the parents and godparents

Parents and godparents, the Church receives Sam with joy.

Today we are trusting God for his growth in faith.
Will you pray for him,
draw him by your example into the community of faith
and walk with him in the way of Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism Sam begins his journey in faith.
You speak for him today.
Will you care for him,
and help him to take his place
within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?
With the help of God, we will.

¶
The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Galatians 3.27-4.7
All of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no
different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is
subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So
also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic
principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under
law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are
sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and
since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
At the end the reader may say
This is the word of the Lord.
All
Thanks be to God.

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 Hymn
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Refrain
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Refrain

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 Gospel Reading
Before the Gospel reading this response will be used
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
All Sing
Glory to you, O Lord.
John 3.1-17
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of
the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,
we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one
could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not
with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely
he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of
God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.You should not be surprised
at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it
pleases.You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from
or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand
these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we
testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our
testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not
believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No-
one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from
heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the
desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
to save the world through him.
At the end
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Sing
Praise to you, O Christ.

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 Sermon

¶
The Liturgy of Baptism

The Decision
A large candle may be lit.
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Therefore I ask these questions:

Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.

Prayer over the Water

The minister of baptism stands before the water of baptism and says
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
All
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise
for your gift of water in creation;
for your Spirit, sweeping over the waters,
bringing light and life;
for your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
baptised in the river Jordan.
We bless you for your new creation,
brought to birth by water and the Spirit,
and for your grace bestowed upon us your children,
washing away our sins.

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 May your holy and life-giving Spirit
move upon these waters.
Restore through them the beauty of your creation,
and bring those who are baptised
to new birth in the family of your Church.
Drown sin in the waters of judgement,
anoint your children with power from on high,
and make them one with Christ
in the freedom of your kingdom.
For all might, majesty, dominion and power are yours,
now and for ever.
All
Alleluia. Amen.

Profession of Faith
Let us affirm,
together with Sam who is being baptised,
our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
All
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
All
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
All
I believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
All
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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 Baptism
Samuel Richard Edwin, I baptise you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
All
Amen.

Signing with the Cross

Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
All
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
All
Amen.

Commission
We have brought Sam to baptism knowing that Jesus died and rose
again for him and trusting in the promise that God hears and answers
prayer. We have prayed that in Jesus Christ he will know the
forgiveness of his sins and the new life of the Spirit.
As he grows up, he will need the help and encouragement of the
Christian community, so that he may learn to know God in public
worship and private prayer, follow Jesus Christ in the life of faith,
serve his neighbour after the example of Christ, and in due course
come to confirmation.
As part of the Church of Christ, we all have a duty to support him by
prayer, example and teaching. As his parents and godparents, you have
the prime responsibility for guiding and helping him in his early years.
This is a demanding task for which you will need the help and grace
of God. Therefore let us now pray for grace in guiding Sam in the way
of faith.

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 Faithful and loving God,
bless those who care for Sam
and grant them your gifts of love, wisdom and faith.
Pour upon them your healing and reconciling love,
and protect their home from all evil.
Fill them with the light of your presence
and establish them in the joy of your kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
Amen.
God of grace and life,
in your love you have given us
a place among your people;
keep us faithful to our baptism,
and prepare us for that glorious day
when the whole creation will be made perfect
in your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
All
Amen.

Sam, today God has touched you with his love

and given you a place among his people.
God promises to be with you
in joy and in sorrow,
to be your guide in life,
and to bring you safely to heaven.
In baptism God invites you on a life-long journey.
Together with all God’s people
you must explore the way of Jesus
and grow in friendship with God,
in love for his people,
and in serving others.
With us you will listen to the word of God
and receive the gifts of God.

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 Prayers
God of glory,
whose radiance shines from the face of Christ,
give your children such assurance of your mercy
and such knowledge of your grace,
that, believing all you promise,
and receiving all you give,
they may be transformed ever more closely
by your Spirit into the image of Jesus, your Son.
Father of life,
All
make known your glory.
God of light,
whose life shines beyond all things,
give us and all your Church
the will to follow Christ
and to bear his peace,
that the light of Christ
may bring confidence to the world,
and faithfulness to all who look to you in hope.
Father of life,
All
make known your glory.
God of power,
whose word gives life to heaven and earth,
pour your abundant gifts on all your creation,
that the blind may see, the fallen may be raised,
and your people find tongues to confess
your promises of a broken world made new.
Father of life,
All
make known your glory.
God our creator, who in the beginning
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory

in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All
Amen.

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 The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Saviour taught us.
All
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Welcome and Peace

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
Sam, by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.
All
We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.
The congregation may greet the newly baptised.
The minister introduces the Peace
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
We belong to him through faith,
heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All
and also with you.
A minister may say
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may exchange a sign of peace.

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¶
The Sending Out

The Signing of the Register

Anthem
The choir will sing O Thou the Central Orb, by Charles Wood.

Giving of a Lighted Candle

The president or another person may give Sam a lighted candle.
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life.
All
Shine as a light in the world
to the glory of God the Father.

Recessional Hymn
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain

whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,

bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side:
songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.

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 The Blessing
God, who in his Christ gives us a spring of water
welling up to eternal life,
perfect in you the image of his glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you, and remain with you always.
All
Amen.

The Dismissal
Go in the light and peace of Christ.
All Sing
Thanks be to God, to God.

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible
Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton
Blessing (Epiphany) © Rt Revd David S. Stancliffe
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Introduction to the Peace 7 (Ministry & Embertide) © The Archbishops' Council

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