DECLARATION

MINISTER:
In Holy Baptism, the Church proclaims the Good News of our incorporation into the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom which Jesus Christ, our Incarnate Lord, inaugurated by His life of perfect trust and obedience to the Father.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, He brought into being a people for His own possession, which people we are.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are united with Christ in Holy Baptism, sharing not only in His death but also in His resurrection, becoming God's children by adoption and grace, thus changing our created nature so deeply that the Holy Scripture says that in Baptism we are born again.

Let us therefore pray that those who have come for Baptism may receive, in this Holy Sacrament, that blessing which by nature they cannot have, that they may be made living members of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, and so be set free from the bondage of sin.

MINISTER: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.

MINISTER: Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit you give to Your children new life through the water of Baptism. Grant that this child (these children) raised to new life in Christ, may serve you in faith and love and may grow into the full stature of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
ALL: Amen.

Then shall follow the Collect of the day.

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

The readings are those of the Sunday or Feast Day if the baptism takes place at the principal service. At the discretion of the Bishop two or three of the following readings may be used instead.


THE SERMON


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