SEEKERS CHURCH

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

BAPTISM OF

CASSANDRA RACHEL NGUYEN WILLKENS

November 15, 1998

 

OPENING WORDS:

Marjory:  Baptism recognizes the grace of God living in all creation.  God offers us the possibility of transformation, a continuing process of renewal of body, mind and spirit, which takes place within faith communities.  We are here today to declare that God loves Casey and to offer ourselves as the instruments of that love in her life.  So it is that Diane, Rachel and Covey  bring Casey to Seekers to be baptized.

 

Peter:  (Description of the water bottle)

 

PLEDGES:

Marjory:  A covenant is integral to a relationship with God, so today we state the responsibilities of parents and community to God and to this child.  Diane and Rachel, I ask you now to affirm your covenant with God and with Casey.

 

Diane and Rachel:  We bring Casey before you today to acknowledge publicly our commitment to raise her in a Christian community.  We view her baptism not only as a symbol of our commitment but as a covenant among all of us to teach her to seek God in her life.  We pledge to raise Casey with an informed heart as well as an informed mind; to understand that only through empathy and compassion for others can we evoke the presence of God within us.

 

We call upon all the Seekers community to help us instill in Casey the significance of looking to God for spiritual nourishment.  We ask that each of you hold us accountable for our commitments to her.  We seek your individual and collective help in nurturing her soul.  As she grows to question and learns the power of choice, we hope that she will be able to answer her questions and make her choices based on a sense of faith, belonging and community.

 

Peter: Covey, what will you do to help Casey grow up understanding God?

 

Covey:  As Casey's brother, I will help her understand God.  I hope that all the Seekers children will be her friends and will support her as she grows.

 

Marjory: As a community, let us affirm our covenant with God ro love and care for Casey.

 

Community:  We witness and affirm Diane and Rachel's commitment to raise Casey in a Christian community.  We hear and support Covey's request for Casey's embrace by the children of this community.  We pledge our individual and collective support as they nurture Casey's growth journey.

 

BAPTISM:

Peter:  Baptism is the symbolic act of claiming our Christian heritage and place within the family of God.  Casey, in the language of the land of your birth: Chung toi ban on con ten thanh Cassandra Rachel Nguyen Willkens va xin chua ban phuc cho con.

 

Marjory:  Cassandra Rachel Nguyen Willkens, we baptize you in the name of the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer.  As God's love has given you life, may you give life and love to others and they to you.

 

Peter:  Diane, Rachel and Covey, in affirmation of your covenant with God and with Casey made publicly today, the waters of Casey's baptism are shared with you.  May you give life and love to others and they to you.

 

Marjory: (Prayer of blessing.)

 

ALL:  Amen.

Peter: (Story of the water bottle)

 

This morning the water for baptism is in an insulated bottle that Diane and Rachel brought back from Vietnam with Casey.  These bottles are found everywhere in Vietnam, where safe drinking water is scarce and the fuel to make it hot enough for tea is expensive.  Every morning, visitors to Vietnam find a bottle like this, full of safe, hot water, placed carefully outside the door of their hotel room.  It is a sign that your hosts have taken care for your early morning nourishment and your health. 

 

Just as this insulated bottle protects drinking water and keeps it hot enough to give life to the tea, let it be for us a symbol of God's care for our health and nourishment, and of our commitment to provide that health and nourishment to Casey.

 

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