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T h e BAPTISM o f Yo u r C h i l d
THOMAS E. FAST
AND
CARLA H. FAST
New Birth
Copyright © 2007 Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
1-800-325-3040 • www.cph.org
All rights reserved. Used with permission. Other than downloading and
reproduction for congregational use, no part of this material may be stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of
Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please contact Concordia
at 800-325-3040 or visit Concordia at www.cph.org. Order The Baptism of Your
Child (14-2133WEB).
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Hymn texts with the abbreviation LSB and the Orders of Daily Prayer
on pp. 54–55 are from Lutheran Service Book, copyright © 2006
Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Quotations from Luther’s Small Catechism are from Luther’s Small Catechism
with Explanation, copyright © 1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
The Rite of Baptism is from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book,
copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The “Prayer of the Parents” on p. 10 is from p. 190 of Lutheran Book of Prayer,
Revised Edition © 2005 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The quotation from the Lutheran Confessions in this publication is from
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, second edition; general editor Paul T.
McCain, copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The quotation from Martin Luther on p. 31 is from the American Edition of
Luther’s Works, vol. 53, p. 102, copyright © 1965 Augsburg Fortress, used by
permission of the publisher.
Cover photo © istockphoto.com/Terry Healy
Illustration page 11 by Sara Tyson
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Contents
9
Letter to the Parents
9
Prayer of the Parents
10
What Is Baptism?
11
Holy Baptism
20
Given by God
29
The Responsibility of the Parents
31
The First Year
33
The Second Year
39
The Third Year
43
The Rest of Childhood
47
The Family Altar
51
Daily Prayer for Morning
54
Daily Prayer for Early Evening
55
Mealtime Prayers
56
Bedtime Prayers
57
The Apostles’ Creed
58
The Lord’s Prayer
59
Words of Faith for Families
60
Baptismal Hymns
62
Morning Hymns
63
Evening Hymns
63
NEW BIRTH
Notes
AS YOU WELCOME YOUR CHILD
Whether or not this is your first child, parenthood brings feelings of joy and wonder with each
birth. However, along with excitement comes the
responsibility of providing for another life—seeing to your baby’s welfare
physically, emotionally, and most important, spiritually. Scripture and our
Lutheran Confessions call Baptism a second birth, the creation of a brand-new
life begun in Christ, and reaching its fullness on the day of resurrection. By
preparing to bring your child to be baptized you are taking the most important
step in raising your child in the Christian faith.
In this book you will find information and help as you prepare for your
child’s Baptism, as well as for the formative years that follow. Whether you are
a lifelong Lutheran or a new Christian, you will find useful information included in these brief pages, such as the Scripture’s teaching about Baptism, a look
at the Baptism service itself, and everyday activities you can do with your child
to nurture him or her in the baptismal life. Through your teaching, your child
will learn to live from the eternal significances and benefits of this Sacrament.
Now, let’s begin with prayer.
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Photo © istockphoto.com/Joseph Jean Rolland Dubé
T HE B APTISM
OF
Y OUR C HILD
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PRAYER OF THE PARENTS
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
AT THE BAPTISM OF A CHILD
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
Heavenly Father, You once judged the wicked world with a flood but
saved and preserved Noah and his family in the ark. You once drowned
Pharaoh and his army but delivered Your people Israel and led them through
the Red Sea. When Your Son, Jesus Christ, was baptized, You set apart the
Jordan River and all water to be a flood that washes away all sins. Please
look with favor upon (name), that, through Your Holy Spirit, he (she) may
be blessed with true faith. Use this saving flood of Baptism to wash away
the sin that he (she) has inherited from Adam, and separate him (her) from
the number of unbelievers. Preserve him (her) dry and secure in the holy ark
of Your Christian Church, and make him (her) fervent in spirit and joyful in
hope as he (she) walks through the wilderness of this life trusting in Your
flood of forgiveness. Make (name) worthy to attain eternal life and keep him
(her) watchful for Your Son’s return, when He will bring all believers to His
eternal promised land. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
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G IVEN
Notes
BY
G OD
The Third
Year
HERE WE GO!
On the move is a good way to
describe your toddler. Everything
is new, and there are many things
to see and touch. With this in
mind, provide opportunities for
your child to “see and do” things
in God’s world.
Home Life
42
•
Confession and absolution are important. Teach your toddler to confess sin at a young age; you, in turn, pronounce forgiveness for the sin.
Develop this practice early so as to avoid the typical response to a
sin—“Oh, that’s okay.” Sin is never okay; but we are okay because we
are forgiven in Christ. The use of the forgiveness of sins is a good way
to keep the Gospel at the center of family life.
•
The Word of God—for you! Relate simple Bible stories, in book form
and as storytelling. Toddlers love to hear the same stories repeatedly.
Explain them in a simple way, telling your child that all of God’s work
is for him or her. After you read/tell the story, ask your child to tell it
back to you.
Photo © istockphoto.com/Dan Eckert
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