Betania at the Jordan River, considered to be the site of the Baptism of Jesus

BAPTISM

MUSIC & WORSHIP RESOURCES

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Nolan Williams, Jr., Lectionary Team Liturgist; Kenneth Mosley, Assistant Liturgist; and J. Anthony Plenty, Assistant Liturgist

Worship Planning Notes

On this moment in the calendar year, the Church is again afforded an opportunity to teach why it engages in baptism. Faith communities engage in baptism using different methods. What is significant, as Jesus points out in John 3:1-10, is the baptism of the Spirit and truly being born again.

Make Your Baptism Service Meaningful

Baptism has so long been a rite of the church that now little attention is given to baptism ceremonies. We sprinkle or submerge those who partake of the rite and move on with worship. However, baptism is one of the main ordinances celebrated in Protestant Churches and should receive appropriate attention. So, make each baptism service significant.

• Always print the names of those to be baptized in the bulletin/order of worship on the day of your baptismal service.
• Always extend special invitations to attend the service to the family and friends of each baptismal candidate.
• Do a two minute explanation explaining why your church baptizes. Thereafter, each time that you baptize, for two minutes or more, lift a different point to explain the significance of baptism in the Christian Church.
• Always have appropriate study literature ready to give to those who are newly baptized. The Pastor or Director of Christian Education can determine what newly baptized persons need to properly begin this phase of their walk with Christ.
• Ensure that appropriate music is played during each baptism service.
• Before or after all persons are baptized, give a corporate prayer of thanks to God for their joining the Church of Jesus Christ and pray that those who are mature saints of your church will serve as good examples for the newly baptized.
• Be sure to present persons with Baptismal Certificates. These can be purchased at any Christian Book Store or even printed from the web. Make sure that each certificate is properly signed and dated.
• If time permits, allow newly baptized persons to give a testimony concerning why this moment is meaningful to them. If time is limited, select one or two persons for testimonies. Make sure that they are asked in advanced and not shortly before they are to be baptized. Give them guidelines for remarks in your church and indicate to them how much time has been allotted for their remarks.

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and Litany
Call to Worship
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. Behold, Light has come into the world, and whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light, so that all can see God at work in our lives! (adapted from John 3:16, 21)

Centering Prayer
O God, you have revealed to humankind the depth of your unconditional love by extending to us the gift of your Son. Thank you for making provision for us to be reconciled with you. As we consider your love, your grace, and your perfect plan, we celebrate afresh the gift of salvation. Today, we especially lift the holy rite of baptism as our spiritual landmark of culmination and commencement. Baptism marks the end of self-centered, carnal living, and the beginning of our God-centered, Spirit-led lives. In this sacred moment, we observe and remember the change you have made in our hearts because of Christ. And, with each passing day, we strive all the more to walk worthy of the sacrifice he has made and the abundant life we have gained. In your name, we pray. Amen.

2. Hymns and Congregational Songs
(a) Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine. By Adoniram Judson. Tune, (ERNAN, LM), by  
Lowell Mason

(b) Hallelujah, ‘Tis Done. Text and Tune by Philip P. Bliss

(c) Hallelujah, ‘Tis Done. African American traditional. Arr. by Evelyn Simpson-
Currenton

3. Spirituals or Traditional Songs
(a) Lord, I Know I’ve Been Changed. Traditional

(b) Certainly Lord. Traditional

(c) Oh Happy Day. By Edwin Hawkins

4. Gospel Songs for Choirs, Ensembles, or Praise Teams
(a) Changed. By Walter Hawkins

(b) Just Because He’s God. By Edwin Hawkins

(c) Amazing. By Justin Savage

5. Liturgical Dance Music
(a) Wade in the Water. Traditional

(b) Take Me to the Water. Traditional

(c) New Life. By David Caton

6. Anthems
(a) One Faith, One Hope, One Lord. By Craig Courtney

(b) The Power of the Cross. By Mark Hayes, Keith Getty, and Stuart Townsend

(c) Amazing Grace. Arr. by John Ness Beck

7. Baptism Songs
(a) Oh, How Wondrous. By John P. Kee

(b) Wash Me. By John P. Kee

(c) Take Me to the Water. By Rollo Dilworth

8. Offertory Song or Instrumental
(a) Never Shall Forget. By John P. Kee

(b) Awesome God. By Norman Hutchins

9. Song or Instrumental for the Period of Prayer
(a) Forgiven. By John P. Kee

(b) Let the Rivers Flow. By Susan Sacca

10. Sermonic Selection
(a) Redeemed. By Don Herron

(b) If It Wasn’t for Your Grace. By Kurt Carr

(c) Amazing Grace. By Kathy Taylor-Brown

11. Invitational Song or Instrumental
(a) New Life. By John P. Kee

(b) Jesus Paid It All. By Eddie James

(c) New Life. By Chris Anderson

12. Benediction Song or Instrumental
(a) Oh Happy Day. Traditional

(b) Live for You. By John P. Kee

(c) New Name in Glory. Traditional. Arr. by Robert J. Fryson

Cites and Additional Information for Music and Material Listed

1. Call to Worship, Centering Prayer, and Litany. By Nolan Williams, Jr. and
Kenneth Mosley