Emergency Baptism and Its Ratification

When the weak condition of the Child does not permit the delay involved in summoning a Minister, some other confirmed and Godfearing person, man or woman, may baptize the Child. When pure water has been procured, the Baptism is performed in the following manner:

Jesus said:

"All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Mt. 28. 18-20.)

He who performs the Baptism shall pour water on the Child's head three times and say:

I baptize thee, N. N., into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then shall he 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; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Should the Child who received emergency baptism live, the Minister shall take care to ascertain exactly from those who were present, whether the Child was baptized according to the above-mentioned form. If he then finds that the baptism was not so performed, the Child is to be deemed unbaptized and shall be baptized according to the form prescribed for Infant Baptism. Otherwise the Baptism is to be ratified by the Minister in the following manner;

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Beloved in the Lord: Our Lord Jesus Christ expressly commanded His disciples: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you. Since now this child, N. N., according to the commandment of Jesus Christ, is baptized with water into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and we thus may be assured that he (she) has been received as a child of God and an heir of eternal life; therefore do I, a servant of Jesus Christ, approve and confirm this baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hear the holy and comforting Gospel, according to St. Mark:

"They were bringing unto Him little children, that He should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein. And He took them in His arms, and blessed them, laying His hands upon them." (Mk. 10. 13-16.)

Then the Minister shall place his hand upon the head of the Child and 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; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Let us hear the Christian faith, which we confess, and into which this child is baptized.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting.

The Minister shall continue:

Let us pray!

Almighty, Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, we give Thee hearty thanks that Thou dost continually preserve and increase Thy holy Christian Church, and that Thou hast permitted this child to receive the washing of regeneration unto eternal life. We pray Thee to preserve him (her) in the grace of baptism, so that he (she) may grow up in Thy fear, and in the power of Christ's resurrection walk in newness of life, ever pleasing to Thee, and finally receive the inheritance of the saints in heaven; through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Minister shall then pronounce the Benediction upon the Child:

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

Finally the Minister shall say:

Depart in peace.

Baptism of an Adult Born of Christian Parents

The baptismal ceremony presupposes that the person who is to be baptized (the catechumen) has previously obtained requisite instruction. Witnesses should be present whether the baptism be performed in the presence of the congregation or not.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved in the Lord! Our Lord Jesus Christ has testified and said: "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3. 5.) This youth (girl, man, woman), who has not previously received Holy Baptism, has declared that he (she) desires to be baptized. Let us therefore in Christian love pray for him (her):

Almighty God, dear heavenly Father: Our Saviour has said: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Open then to him (her) the door, that he (she) may be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house.

Lift up your hearts unto God!

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself instituted Holy Baptism when He said to His disciples:

"All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Mt. 28. 18-20.)

The Catechumen shall then kneel, and the Minister shall place his hand upon his head and 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; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Minister shall continue:

The Merciful and Eternal God, Who alone saves from all evil, and Who has graciously called thee to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, through our Saviour Jesus Christ, deliver thee from the power of darkness and preserve thee in His truth and fear, now and forevermore. Amen.

The Catechumen rising, the Minister shall continue: (Or, the Catechumen shall himself make the Confession of Faith, saying: I believe, etc.)

Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

Answer:

I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; Descended into hell; The third day rose again from the dead; Ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; Whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead?

Answer:

I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting?

says:

Answer:

I do.

Then the Catechumen bows his head, and the Minister pours water three times thereon and

I baptize thee, N. N., into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Minister shall then pray:

Almighty, Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, we give Thee hearty thanks that Thou dost continually preserve and increase Thy holy Christian Church, and that Thou hast now permitted this youth (girl, man, woman) to receive the washing of regeneration unto eternal life. We pray thee to preserve him (her) in the grace of baptism, so that he (she) may grow in Thy fear, and in the power of Christ's resurrection walk in newness of life, ever pleasing to Thee, and finally receive the inheritance of the saints in heaven; through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister address the baptized person in the following words:

Thou hast been baptized into Christ Jesus that like as He was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so thou also mayest walk in newness of life. The God of all grace would perfect, establish, and strengthen thee by His Word and the Holy Supper. Keep thyself, therefore, in fellowship with His Church in watchfulness and prayer. Fight the good fight of faith. The God of peace be with thee and help thee through all temptations and dangers, and save thee into His heavenly kingdom.

him:

Then shall the baptized person kneel while the Minister pronounces the Benediction upon

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen.

The Minister shall then admonish the Sponsors as follows:

Dearly Beloved: You who have witnessed the baptism of this youth (girl, man, woman) should be mindful of your duty to assist him (her) henceforth with Christian love and faithful prayers, that he (she) may faithfully keep the gifts of grace received in baptism. To this end may the Lord grant you His grace.

The Minister shall conclude with the following:

Let us now hear the exhortation of God's Word to us who have received the grace of baptism:

"As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and builded up in Him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Col. 2. 6, 7.)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Finally the Minister shall say:

Depart in peace.