Daily and Personal Baptismal Affirmation Rites

(These may be used to begin each day)

For daily baptismal affirmation:

Light baptismal candle, make the sign of the cross with the water from your baptismal bowl and say; "_________, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever" (LBW, Service for Holy Baptism,
p. 124)
Time of silence, pray and journal writing.

Baptismal Affirmation for a New Day/ for New Opportunities/for a New Year

Invocation: "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Let us welcome God and one another to a new day of life."

Scripture Reading:
"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Baptismal Affirmation Ritual: "By my Baptism, God promises to give to give me a future with hope. In the name of the Father + the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen"
Silent reflection - What am I hoping for this year? What am I hoping for this day?

Closing prayer:
"O God of new beginnings, we thank you for this new day, the brilliant light and love that renews our strength to hope and trust in you. Help us to dedicate this new beginning to you. Amen."

Baptismal Affirmation for Times of Weariness and Worry

Light a candle. Time for silence.

[Quietly read series of scripture passages:]

"I am worn out, O Lord, have pity on me! Give me strength when I am completely exhausted." Psalm 6:2
"Cast all your anxieties on God, because God cares for you." I Peter 5:7
"Come to me all you who labor and are carrying a heavy burden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Leader: Now I invite you to place hands out before you, palms open and up. Take several deep breaths. Imagine God taking all the current burdens in your life from your hands. Feel the pressure and strain being lifted, as you place your burdens into God's able hands.
[Go to each participant (arrange another worship helper if group is large) with baptismal bowl in one hand, and gently sprinkle a few drops upon their head. Invite them to place their palms together, as if they are praying.]

Leader: Please repeat after me:
"Jesus, I cast all my anxieties on you, trusting in your love and care, as promised in my baptism."

Closing Hymn - WOV #693 Baptized in Water

Benediction.

Experiential Meditation on Baptism
"Experiencing the Spirit within One's Own Baptismal Journey"
(60 to 90 minutes)

Goal: To provide an experience for participants to reflect upon what baptismal affirmation/confirmation ministry means based on their own personal experiences.

*** Consider keeping a "Baptismal Journey Journal" for reflection, questions, story writing, curriculum ideas, etc. Use Celebrating the Seasons of Baptismal Living as an example and for inspiration.

Guided reflection/Sharing and Affirming Baptismal Stories and Baptismal Affirmation experience.
Place large bowl of water in center of group.
Begin with opening prayer.
Music to relax and inspire imagination. Ask participants to close their eyes, take deep breaths and relax. Let go of the world you left behind to be here. Let go of all the pressures, anxieties; put it all in God's hands.
Begin with directive statements/questions to guide in affirming and remembering what their baptism means to them:
Picture in your mind a time when you have felt bone tired. When you have felt dry and barren within and without. When you felt such unquenchable thirst, as you felt your whole body and soul dried up. Like you were surrounded by desert, dryness and emptiness everywhere. Feel how your anxieties, problems back at home, at church, in your family or job zaps you of your energy, dries you out, so that your skin and soul begins to feel like it is going to crack. Alone, empty and dry.
Now picture water, clear, clean, sparkling water, flowing everywhere. Abundant water, filling your body and soul, quenching your thirst, soothing your fears, washing away all the pressures, cleansing you, reviving you within and without. And you are surrounded by those who love you, splashing in the water together. Feel the cool drops on your face, on your head. You taste the water, so wonderful and refreshing. And you thank God for water, for life, for being renewed, refreshed and restored.
Reflect for a moment on water, as a symbol of life and hope. As a daily source of nourishment and cleansing. What images, stories, and memories come to mind as you think of water? Where do you come in contact with water everyday?
Now think of water as a sign, a living symbol for baptism. What does the water mean in baptism? In your baptism? Hear yourself explain to someone else about the significance of the water in baptism. How does the water help renew, refresh and restore you as God's creation and precious child? How is this water life-giving and connected to the power of God's love?
Ask yourself, what does my baptism mean to me today? Remember the times when you affirmed your baptism or felt your baptism being affirmed by God? Who is with you? Picture the faces, hear the words, what is being communicated? Can you feel hands upon your shoulders? Whose hands are they? How do you feel? Do you feel refreshed and strengthened? Confirmed in your calling, your ministry and in who you are? Ask yourself, how has my baptism shaped me, who I am, what I do, my relationships that I hold most dear? How has God called you through your baptism? How have you answered? With whom have you shared other baptismal events? Picture the faces; of infants, children, family, friends, in emergency situations, in the quiet of your home, with young persons boldly declaring their faith, with children before they sleep, at the communion rail.
(Time for silent meditation)
"In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit - remember you are a child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever".
What do you feel when you hear those words?
Now come and experience these words, with water and the Spirit.
Allow the water with God's affirming Word refresh you, renew your calling as a child who belongs to God, recharge your desire to serve, and rejuvenate your spirit to love.
Emphasize that affirmation of baptism is a lifelong process of being refreshed by the life-giving water, renewed by the encouraging Word and "confirmed" by the ever-sustaining Spirit. God does the "confirming," not us.
Ask everyone to celebrate the "anniversary" of his or her baptism today. (You may use and adapt "Anniversary of a Baptism" from Occasional Services book, pp. 23-26.
Invite participants to pick a partner to re-affirm each other's baptism, by dipping finger into the water and retrace the cross of Christ with the words: "In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit - remember you are a child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever."

Later, have partners share their experience with each other:
What significant feeling, memories, stories did this experience spark for you? Share with each other "baptismal stories", moments when you experienced the power of your baptism (or baptism in general).

As possible examples of "baptismal stories", that may be read out loud if you desire to give participants an example, see Confirmation: Congregational Planner (p. 7, 17, 24) and Celebrating the Seasons of Baptismal Living. These stories may be used at the beginning of this session, or at the beginning/ending of other sessions, as a part of an opening and closing baptismal affirmation rite. Also, write down your own baptismal stories and share with group. Be sure to invite participants to write down their stories, reflections and other insights in their "Baptismal Journey Journal."
Close with music, Lord's prayer and Benediction.
If possible, follow this experience with informal time of refreshment and fellowship.