THE DAILY OFFICE OF THE ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

THE PRELUDF

The Community gathers in silence rising at the second gong, as the Liturgists process, kneeling at the third gong, then rising and facing the East with the Liturgists.

L. In the name of the Father. And of the Son. And of the Holy

Ghost. Amen.

C. Amen.

TF1E ACT OF CON FE~I~

At the peal, the Community faces the tabler

L. Beloved in Christ. Let us confess our sins unto Almighty God. We

have sinned and done wrong. And acted wickedly and rebelled.

Turning aside from Thy commandments and ordinances.

C. Lord have mercy upon us. L. Christ have mercy upon us.

C. Lord have mercy upon us.

A t the peal, the Community kneels

L. Let us pray.

C. Most merciful Father. We have done little to forward Thy kingdom in this world. We have allowed self to blind us. And pains to embitter us. We have forgotten that whatsoever is done to the least of Thy children. Is done unto Thee. Pardon our shortcomings. Forgive our neglect. And give us a pure heart. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

L. Amen.

C. Amen.

The Community remains kneeling, as the Liturgists rise.

L. Beloved in Christ. God hath had mercy upon us. We are free to

live. For we are a forgiven people. "If we walk in the liqht. As He

is in the light. We have fellowship with one another. And the blood

of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin"

The Liturgists kneel.

L. Let us pray.

C. 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.

L. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever

and ever. Amen.

C. Amen.

At the peal, the Community rises facing the East

L. O Lord open Thou our lips.

C. And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise. L. Praise ye the Lord.

C. The Lord's name be praised.

THE VERSICLE

the asoriptlon

the call

the conlosslen

the absolution

the Lord's prayer

THE BAPTISM OF

JEAN­PAUL MERSAULT JENKINS

Monday, April 16. 1973

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH

Liturgist: Peace be with you.

Sponsors: And with you.

Liturgist: What is your name?

Sponsors: Jean­Paul Mersault

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, What do you ask­of the Church of God?

Sponsors: Faith.

Liturgist: What does faith offer you?

Sponsors: Eternal life.

Liturgist: If, then, you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments: you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and your neighbor as Yourself.

THE LITURGIST BLOWS THREE TIMES ON THE FACE OF THE INFANT.

Liturgist: Depart from him, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.

THE LITURGIST MAKES THE SIGN OF THE CROSS ON THE FOREHEAD AND ON THE BREAST OF THE INFANT.

Liturgist: Receive the mark of the cross on your forehead and within your heart. Embrace the faith with its divine teachings. So live that you will indeed be a temple of God.

THE LITURGIST PLACES HIS HAND ON THE INFANT'S HEAD.

. .

Liturgist: Let us prav.

Almighty and eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

­look with favor upon this your sevant, Jean­Paul, who you have called to take his first steps in the faith. Take from him all blindness of heart. Free him from the snares of Satan which until now have held him. Open to him, Lord, the gate of your mercy. Then, seasoned by the salt which is symbolic of your wisdom, may he be relieved of the corruption of evil desires, and, finding pleasure in the keeping of your commandments, may he serve you in your Church and move from day to day in the way of perfection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liturgist: Amen.

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cross which we are tracing upon his forehead. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Community: Amen.

HERE THE LITURGIST LEADS THE INFANT INTO THE CHURCH.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, enter the temple of God, so that you may have part with Christ in everlasting life. Amen.

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BAPTISTRY

THE LITURGIST TAKES SALIVA FROM HIS MOUTH WITH HIS THUMB AND HE TOUCHES THE EARS AND THE NOSE OF THE INFANT.

Liturgist: Ephpheta, which means "Be opened", so that you may perceive the fragrance of God's sweetness. But you, O devil, depart; for the judgement ef God has come.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, do you renowlce Satan?

Sponsors: I do renounce him.

Liturgist: And all his works?

Sponsors: I do renounce them.

Liturgist: And ail his allurements?

Sponsors: I do renounce them.

. .

THE LITURGIST ANOINTS THE INFANT ON THE BREAST AND BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS.

Liturgist: I anoint you with the oil of salvation in Christ­Jesus our Lord. so that you may have everlasting life. Amen.

THE PARTY THEN ENTERS THE BAPTISTRY.

_ THE BAPTISTRY

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, do you believe in God, the Father hlmighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Sponsors: I do believe.

Liturgist: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born into this world and who suffered?

Sponsors: I do believe.

Litwrgist: Do you believe also in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church,

To Jennifer Susan, on the occasion of your baptism:

Your name, given to you by your parents, has already signified the unique destiny which you represent in history. As you embody tine promise which it claims , your life will be "marked by the favor of God" and you will be to all you encounter "the Lord's ~race".

Tl~e gift of your life will bridge two of the greatest centuries of human history, and, as a woman, the possibility for your significant participation will be greater than that of any of the women in your family who preceded you.

You will live through, and, if you choose, contribute to shaping the transitions of human knowing, doing and being that will characterize many future generations.

Because your consciousness, your action and your presence will make a difference to the world, we take this opportunity as godparents, appointed to represent the Church's guardianship of your journey, to mark this day and its significance in your life with the giving of three gifts.

~le first gift is a Bible, representative of the llord of life which the Church has preserved through history, and whicll is the foundation of effulgent life acted out in freedom and obediencc.

lle charge your parents with the responsibility of USillg this gift to raise you in the faith that calls for loving God and serving your neighbor, and to teach you about the life of Jesus.

The second gift is a montage, representative of this world of human joy and suffering which, for those who have dared to behold and embrace, has become the context for profound care.

lle charge your parents with the responsibility of using this gift to remind you of the moral issue of our time, and the varied gifts of humanness that comprise the oneness of the globe.

rlle third gift is a 12 your journal, wllich gives structure to the process of marking, reflecting upon and interpreting the unique steps of your spirit iourncy as a particular feminine human life

lle charge your parents x~ith the responsibility of using this gift once each year on each of your first twelve birthdays to record, on your behalf, the uniqueness of Jennifer Susan Bennison as a gift to history.

As these gifts are given to you to symbolize your life itself is a gift, not only to your family and the Church, but to all history, we would remind you that the greatest power of the gift of any life is in its bein~ ~iven.

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the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Sponsors: I do believe.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, do you wish to be baptized?

Sponsors: I do.

WHILE THE GODPARENTS HOLD THE INFANT, THE LITURGIST POURS THE WATER THREE TIMES OVER THE INFANT'S HEAD IN THE FORM OF A cROSs

Liturgist: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

THE LITURGIST ANOINTS THE INFANT'S HEAD WITH THE CROSS.

. . .

Liturgist. May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you a new birth by means of water and the Holy Spirit and forgiven all your sins, anoint you with the Chrism of salvation in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, so that you may have everlasting life. Amen.

Community: Amen.

Liturgist: Receive this white garment. Never let it become stained, so that when you stand before the judgement seat of bur Lord Jesus Christ, you may have life everlastina. Amen.

Community: Amen.

EIYALLY­THE LITURGIST GIVES A LIGHTED CANDLE TO THE SPONSORS, SAYING:

Receive this burning light, and keep the grace of your baptism ­throughout a blameless life. Observe the commandments of God. Then, when the Lord comes to the heavenly wedding feast, you will be able to meet him with all the saints in the halls of heaven, and live forever and ever. Amen.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, go in peace, and the Lord be with you. Amen.

Community: Amen.

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cross which we are tracing upon his forehead. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Community: Amen.

HERE THE LITURGIST LEADS THE INFANT INTO THE CHURCH.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, enter the temple of God, so that you may have part with Christ in everlasting life. Amen.

AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BAPTISTRY

THE LITURGIST TAKES SALIVA FROM HIS MOUTH WITH HIS THUMB AND HE TOUCHES THE EARS AND THE NOSE OF THE INFANT

Liturgist:

Ephpheta, which means "Be opened", 80 that you may perceive the fragrance of God's sweetness. But you, O devil, depart; for the judgement ef God has come.

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, do you renounce Satan?

Sponsors: I do renounce him.

Liturgist: And all his works?

.

Sponsors: I do renounce them.

Liturgist: And all his allurements? ­

Sponsors: I do renounce them.

;

THE LITURGIST ANOINTS THE INFANT ON THE BREAST AND BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS.

Liturgist: I anoint you with the oil of salvation in Christ­Jesus our

Lord, so that you may have everlastina life. Amen

THE PARTY THEN ENTERS THE BAPTISTRY.

tN THE BAPTISTRY

­

Liturgist: Jean­Paul, do you believe in God, the Father ~lmighty, creator of heaven and earth'

Sponsors: I do believe.

Liturgist: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born into this world and who suffered'

Sponsors: I do believe.

Liturgist: Do you believe also in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church,

Question: Do you promise to instruct this child in a clear and contemporary

understanding of the Christian faith and in an adequate appropriation

of the Holy Scriptures and the traditions of the People of God in

history?

Answer: I­­do.

Questi ­ : Do vou promise to assure that this child is nurtured in a disciplined

corporate life based upon the corporate and solitary worship of God

and the intent to be His People?

AnNver: I do.

Question: Do you promise to confront this child when he shall become

self­conscious with the choice to be the church and hold that

choice before him for life?

Answer: I do.

M. Grant, O Lord, to these thy servants, grace to perform the things

they have promised before thee, and sanctify with thy spirit this

child now to be baptised according to thy word through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

C Amen.

At the peal, the Commanity rises facing the table

M. What name is given this child 7

THEN THE MINISTER SHALL PRONOUNCE THE NAME OF THE CHILD AND SHALL POUR OR SPRINKLE WATER UPON HIM SAYING:

, I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

C. Amen.

M. We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock; and do

sign him with the sign of the cross, in token that hereafter he shall

not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manful!'

to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and

to continue Christ's faithful solider until his life's end.

C. Amen.

M. Brethren of the household of faith, I commend to your love and

care this child whom we this day recognize as a member of the

family of God.

C. In the power of God's grace we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, my be established in the faith and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal M. Letuspray.

C. O God, our heavenly Father, grant that this child as he grows in years may also grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that by the retraining and renewing influence of thy Holy Spirit, he may ever be a true child of shine, serving thee faithfully all his days.

M. Amen.

C. Amen.

At the Deal the Communitv kneels.

L. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the love of God. And the

fellowship of the Holy Ghost. Be with us all evermore. Amen.

C. Amen.

Community kneels in prayer while the liturgists recess, rising at the third peol and going forth into the world to actualize the service.

the baDtism

the Dronouncemcnt

tha rnvan:~nt

the Prayers

the bcnadiction