Printable copy of baptismal form and information
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Please complete the form and return to the church via mail, e-mail, fax, or drop off at the church office

BAPTISM AT COMO PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH

"(Child's name), I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

These are the words spoken by the Pastor in the Baptism Service. We at Como Park Lutheran Church are happy to assist you in carrying out the command of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28. To make the Service of Baptism most meaningful for you, we suggest the following:

1. Baptism is an important event in the life of the family and the church.
The setting is best within the public worship of the congregation when appropriate hymns may be sung. The first and third Sundays of the month are Communion Sundays when scheduling causes a problem having Baptisms within the regular worship hour.

2. However, the pastor will be happy to administer the Sacrament at any
time in case of emergency. In that case, public recognition of the Baptism should be made at a service on a Baptismal Sunday in the very near future. Parents and sponsors should participate in that service of recognition.

3. An announcement of every baptism should be made in the Sunday
bulletin. All information regarding the baptism should be in the church office at least one week prior to the Sunday of baptism. A baptismal information sheet is sent to parents for completion.

4. A place will be reserved in the front pews of the church for the
parents and sponsors. If other members of the family wish to sit in those reserved pews, please make reservations through the church office.

5. The linen baptismal towel is a memento of the Baptism given by the Women of the Church.

6. Please remember there are no fees in connection with a service of
Holy Baptism. Baptism is a gift of God. The Pastor is only too happy to administer the Sacrament as a servant of God. God's grace is free. God's gifts are free.

This is a joyous, happy day
We celebrate your gift of life,
Christ is with us, joy surrounds us.
Christ takes our sin and sets us free;
He fills our lives with endless life.

THE BAPTISMAL CANDLE

This special candle is given to you to keep and to use as a tangible reminder of your child's baptism. Remember the words spoken when this candle was lighted and given to you:
"Let your light so shine before others that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
What to do with the candle:
Light it each year on the anniversary of your child's baptism. Many people have found this to be a particularly appropriate time to celebrate one's membership in the church. A short service of thanksgiving and rededication may be desirable. The ceremony could be as formal or as informal as you like.
One example:
" Make the sign of the cross (a traditional reminder of baptism)
" Say the Creed
" Read from Scripture (e.g. Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-28; Matthew 22:35-40; John 7:37-39a; Matthew 28:18-20)
" Pray the Lord's Prayer
The Anniversary of Baptism is also a good time to remember the welcoming words of the congregation:
"We welcome you into the Lord's family. We receive you as a fellow member of the body of Christ, a child of the same heavenly Father, and a worker with us in the kingdom of God."
Note to parents:
The Baptismal Candle can serve as an educational tool. At various ages your child will understand that through baptism one is:
- a member of the Church
- a member of Christ's body
- adopted into God's family
- given the gift of faith
- given the gift of eternal life
The candle also serves as a good reminder to you that it is the parents' responsibility to "keep the flame burning". As you light it, remember the promise you made for your child to "faithfully bring him/her to the services of God's house, and teach him the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. As he/she grows in years, you should place in his/her hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for his/her instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the covenant of his/her Baptism and in communion with the Church, he/she may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ".
You will find an informational pamphlet with the candle on the day of the Baptism.

Baptismal Promise

In Christian love you have presented this child for Holy Baptism. You should therefore bring this child to the services of God's house and teach this child the Lords Prayer, The Creed and the Ten Commandments.

As the child grows in years, you should place in their hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the covenant of their Baptism and communion with the Church this child may lead godly lives until the day of Jesus Christ.

The Lords Prayer
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

The Ten Commandments

I. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other Gods.
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
III. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
IV. Honor your father and your mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal.
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant,
or his cattle, or anything that is your neighbor's.

FROM THE PASTORS

Two of the most commonly asked questions about Baptism
are addressed by this letter -- originally sent to an
adult about to be baptized.

Dear Mary,

Thank you for your letter asking questions about baptism. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to respond for a few days, but now I'd like to. If this note doesn't answer all your questions, please feel free to give me a call and I'll be glad to talk more with you about it. I've also included some information along with this letter.

Regarding Godparents: These days the church talks more about "sponsors" than "godparents", and the reason has to do with changing times as much as anything. For many centuries it was the custom that a baby being baptized would need godparents as security in case the parents died. In our day, the problem is less common and more often dealt with through wills and lawyers (who should the child live with, etc.). So now we focus more on the role which a person plays in "sponsoring" someone for baptism. The sponsor is meant to be someone who will help a newly baptized person grow in faith and live out the meaning of baptism. For babies, the main sponsors are actually the parents. For people old enough to desire baptism themselves, a sponsor might be a Christian friend or another member of the church who could be helpful. I do think sponsors are important, and I'd be happy to help you decide on one -- or find one for you.

You also asked, "Must I attend church every Sunday in order for God to watch over me?" In a sense, the answer must be "no". After all, God watches over his whole creation -- the birds, the animals, the plants, the whole earth and beyond! So you and I are included in his care, even if we, like the birds, don't go to church every Sunday.

But I think you were asking the question particularly in reference to baptism, and for that I have a little different answer. For God has a special relationship with people who are baptized.

If the emphasis in your question is on every Sunday, the answer is still "no". God doesn't measure our Sundays -- or any other "good deed" we might do -- and care for us in proportion to how good we are. In fact, baptism is most of all a sign and promise of God that he already loves us, and he isn't going to measure our "worth" to him in any way other than as one of his children. Here's where Jesus Christ comes in ; for Christians believe that (in ways we don't entirely understand) it is Jesus' death and resurrection from the dead which demonstrate God's love for us and make us "worthy" of that love. In other words, God loves us because he loves Jesus -- even if you and I sometimes disappoint God. What God wants from us is that we believe this and trust the love he gives in Jesus.

You can see, I think, that baptism is first of all a gift from God, meant to assure us of his love. A second meaning is that baptism is a "birth" of sorts into a new life -- the life of a Christian who trusts the love of Jesus. For that, your question needs an answer of "yes" -- that, because Christians are people who worship together, neglecting that worship on a regular basis would be a sign that a person really doesn't want to be a part of that special relationship with God. So baptism is considered the beginning of a Christian life -- a life of being in touch with God by reading and hearing God's word in the Bible and by receiving Holy Communion, another of God's gifts (that's something we can talk about more another time; you might call it "spiritual food".)

We can summarize it all by pointing out that baptism makes Christians, and Christians need contact with God and one another for their faith. That's why we have baptism sponsors and why we think it's so important for baptized people to go to church.

I hope this letter is helpful to you. I am sending to you also the Small Catechism (Teachings ) of Martin Luther, which explains some of the basics about the Christian faith. I would be happy to get together sometime to talk about these matters with you.

Sincerely,
The Pastors