I'm A Lucky Lutheran
I will be celebrating an anniversary tomorrow and it has nothing to do with marriage or a current employer. It was five years ago that I was baptised at the river by an ordained clergy. I took the liberty of preparing a script that we would each follow; and she brought oils; incense and music.
I had no intention of getting emotional during the event...but sometimes you simply cannot control your emotions. What follows below are the written words that were spoken aloud at the river off of Blankenship Road in Columbia Falls, Montana. I was gifted with this outdoor celebration and presented with a Certificate and a river stone with these words: I Baptise Sandra 10-17-09.
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Water is a symbol of humility and
service. Water nurtures and sustains all
living things, and yet it seeks nothing for itself – it always flows to the
lowest spot. So, be like water, be
humble, and nurture yourself and others.
Look at the people; look at the
job, your circumstances, the family, the tribe, your home, and say, “Thank you,
God, thank you for sending me these teachers.”
The concept of I Am
God says, “I am eternal. I am beyond the definitions of the ego. I am beyond death.” Say to yourself several
times a day: “I’m universal. I’m
infinite. I am what I am. I’m immortal, here comes the sun. I’m ready.”
Try to
see goodness everywhere. Notice the
abundance. Notice the beauty. Move constantly to where there is serenity,
where the God Force dwells, and away from discord and ugliness.
Water Baptism
was instituted by God to be an essential part of our Spiritual Foundation. When we are baptised into the name of the
Father we are baptised into the protection and care and fellowship of the
universe as our Father. When we are baptised into the name of the Holy Spirit,
we are baptised into the name, wealth, power, wisdom, and glory of God’s
representation on earth. Being baptised in the name of our Lord is an
essential part of our baptism in water.
Remember
that faith is simply agreeing with God’s Word.
When we come into agreement with God’s Word, He is able to work in our
lives in a mighty way.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every
one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:36: Now as they went down the road, they came to some
water. And the eunuch said, “See, here
is water. What hinders me from being baptised?”
Acts 8:37: Then Philip said, “If
you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
There is one Body and one Spirit;
there is one hope in God’s call to us;
One Lord, one faith, one Baptism;
One God and Father of all
The Lord be with you. Let us
pray:
Deliver Sandra, O Lord, from the
way of sin and death
Open her heart to your grace and
truth
Fill Sandra with your holy and
life-giving Spirit
Keep her in the faith and
communion of your holy Church
Teach Sandra to love others in
the power of the Spirit
Send her into the world in
witness to your love
Bring Sandra to the fullness of
your peace and glory
AMEN
***
Acts 22:16: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Romans 6:5-6: “For if we have been united together in the
likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His
resurrection.”
***
Sandra, I baptise you in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You are sealed by the Holy
Spirit in Baptizm and marked as Christ’s own forever. The peace of the Lord be
always with you.
AMEN
***
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 and ever.
AMEN
“GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN” by
Sarah Evans