Baptismal Service (for a child): Jesus Loves the Little Children

 The bulletin should be “child-friendly” with pictures of the baptismal candidate(s) and/or the words “joy,” “love,” “share,” “pray,” and “Jesus.”

Prelude

Include several child-friendly selections like “Jesus Loves Me,” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” HS 223.

Song Service

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” 
“Jesus Gives Me Joy” 
“Awesome God” 

HS 18
NS 23
NS 4

Welcome

Call to Commitment

Incorporate a few of the commandments found in the book The Eleventh Commandment (Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1996). ISBN 1-879-04546-X

*Hymn of Joy: “Earth and All Stars” 
OR “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

HS 49
HS 223

*Opening Prayer

*Response

Focus Moment: “Baptismal Joy” (see below)

Charge to the Candidate(s)

Baptismal Hymn: “Take the Path of the Disciple,” Randall Pratt, arr. Jan Kraybill, © 2001 Community of Christ (World Conference 2002 Hymnal or Called by a New Name, p. 39).

OR “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,”

  Chalice Hymnal 344

Baptism of Candidate(s)

Have children of the congregation sit near the baptismal font for a better view.

Song of Joy: “I’ve Got the Joy,” Amy Grant, Songs from the Loft (Word Entertainment, 1993). ISBN 3-0102-5649-3
OR Campfire Song: “I’ve Got the Joy”

 *Closing Prayer

*Response

*Postlude

Baptismal Joy

Provide a paper copy of the game board (Worship Resources, Year C, page 278) for the candidate(s). Project a copy of the game board for the congregation members on a screen so they can participate.

Put slips of paper with the numbers one through twelve on them in a bowl. Have the candidate(s) draw out a number and move their marker the spaces indicated, returning the paper to the bowl. Ask the candidate(s) and the congregation to guess what the symbol means. You may have to provide hints. When you reach the end, you may want to go back and recite the concept associated with each square aloud. The numbered items below relate to the game board spaces.

1. Pray

What should we pray for?
Nephi 14:11–12 says pray always.

2. Study

When you play follow the leader, can you see the leader?
How do we see what Jesus did?
How do we learn the stories of Jesus?

3. Forgiveness

Do you ever get angry with others?
Do others get angry with you?
What do you need to do then?
Let go of anger, forgive, and love again, ask Jesus to forgive us.

5. Love One Another

Love our neighbors.
Who is your neighbor?
Everyone is important.
Sharing
Joy, hope, love, and peace

6. Share Jesus with Others

How?
Tell other people about Jesus’ love.
Bring friends to church, camp, and reunions.
Encourage others to pray.
Encourage others to do good.

7. Faith

Leave worries with God.
“If you have faith in me, you can do great things.”
Must remember, no matter what happens—good or bad—God is with us and cares for us

8. Use Our Gifts

Bring joy, hope, love, peace to others.
How?
Friendliness, gentleness, hugs, love, doing nice things

10. Our Actions Glorify God

Show God’s goodness.
What kind of actions show God’s goodness?
Helping others
Be kind
Cheer up sad, lonely people.
Be a friend.

12. Peace

As disciples we work for the peaceable kingdom.
Shalom is the holistic expression of God’s peace in all parts of our lives.

14. Helping

Followers of Jesus are helpers. What can you do to help spread God’s love?

16. Baptism Symbolizes Forgiveness for the Past

New start
Talk about Levi the tax collector and how Jesus gave him a new start.

18. Joy

Joy is the result when we follow Jesus’ teachings.

19. Cleansing Water

What do we use water for at home? (cleaning)
In baptism it symbolizes washing away our sins.

20. Followers of the Christ

Disciples respond when Jesus says, “Follow me.”

22. Holy Spirit

What does the Sun do for us? (light, warmth)
Holy Spirit lights our way, guides us, is always with us.
Comforter

23. Hope

Being a follower of Jesus means we have hope even in rough times.

24. Hosanna! God with us!

Confirmation asks God’s Spirit to be with you.
You covenant with God.
God promises to be with you.