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SEEKERSCHURCH

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

 

 

Søren William Wysockey-Johnson

 

Celebration of Baptism

 

 

 

Doug and Kathryn Wysockey-Johnson, Parents

Isabel Marie Wysockey-Johnson, Big Sister

 

Regina Brizzolara and David Alfeld-Johnson, Godparents

Peter Bankson, Celebrant

 

 

Sunday, February 6, 2005

During Worship

---

 

SETUP

      Pitcher with water

      Glass bowl

      4 floating candles (1 spare), taper for lighting

WELCOME

 

[Deborah announces baptism, invites Peter forward]

 

[Kris Herbst starts drumming from the back of the room]

 

Peter:  Welcome to this joyful celebration -- the baptism of Soren Wysockey-Johnson.  Soren, would you bring your parents here to the front of the sanctuary?  And would the Godparents, Regina and David please join the family.

 

[Family and Godparents come forward]

 

One time the disciples asked Jesus: "Who is the greatest in the Realm of God?"  His response was appropriate for this day.  He asked a child to come to him from the crowd, looked at the disciples, and said: "Truly I say to you, unless you are transformed and become like children, you shall not enter into the Realm of God."  We can learn a lot from our children.

 

The sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God.  The promise of the gospel is not only to us but also to our children.  Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit is the mark of their acceptance into the care of Christ's church, the sign and seal of their participation in God's forgiveness, and the beginning of their growth into full Christian faith and discipleship.

 

[Hold up the water pitcher.]

 

This water comes from the Seekers Church kitchen, the home of the community where Soren was born.  It represents his birth, and the families and communities that waited with great expectation for his coming.   The water of baptism carries the life and the hope of a peaceful world to come.  As this water flows in our midst, let us recognize that we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

 

[Pour water into glass bowl.]

 

Now we will light three candles and float them in the water.  These candles represent family, community and church.  They also show us the bright and sometimes painful but transforming power of fire.  They remind us of the light of the Christ Spirit that burns in families and communities of faith.

 

As representatives of church, family and community I invite forward to light these candles -

·         Liz Vail, who is as member of our Artist's mission group with Kathryn,

·         Soren's grandfather Tom Wysockey,

·         and Terry Garman, who is Soren's next-door neighbor and close friend.   

 

 [Liz Vail, Tom Wysockey, and Terry Garman

light the floating candles.]

 

Leader:     Let us now affirm our commitment to welcoming and caring for Soren.  We'll begin with Soren's family.  I invite all of you who are related to Soren join in the family commitment.

 

FAMILY COMMITMENT

Leader:     Doug and Kathryn, do you desire to have your child baptized into the faith and family of Jesus, who is the Christ?

 

Family:           We do.

 

Leader:     Will you encourage and help this child to nurture his relationship with God - Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit?  Will you help him celebrate the Good News in Christ, and respond joyfully with his life as the grace of God gives him freedom?

 

Family:           We will, with the help of God.

 

Leader:     As he grows, will you teach your child to care for the whole of creation, to foster justice and be in solidarity with the poor,, and to work for the ending of all violence, both public and private?

 

Family:           We will, with the help of God.

 

And now, Soren's Godparents…

 

GODPARENTS

Leader:     David and Regina, you have been steadfast family and friends, and now serve as models of conscious, faithful living. Will you as godparents pray for and support Kathryn and Doug in the vows they have made, and encourage Soren to find his own path to God?

 

Godparents: We will, with the help of God.

 

Leader:     Kathryn, will you let Regina hold Soren?

 

[Kathryn passes Soren to Regina]

 

Leader:     Regina, what is your hope for Soren? 

 

[Regina replies.]

 

Leader:     Regina, please let David hold Soren and share his

                  hope for this child. 

 

[David holds Soren and replies.]

 

[David hands Soren to Kathryn or Doug]

                 

And now, I invite the rest of this community to join in our commitment…

 

 

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT                 

Leader:     Kathryn, Doug, Isabel and now Soren are important members of this community.  Doug and Kathryn understand that Soren's spiritual development will be enriched by the gifts we bring.  They entrust Soren to our care, and ask that we accompany him as he begins his journey of faith.  What shall we say?

 

All:                  We are delighted to receive Soren into our community.  We promise that, to the best of our ability, we will offer him our love, support and care.  By listening to him, praying for him and playing with him, we hope to nurture his unique spirit and share something of ourselves and our faith with him. 

 

DEDICATION          

Leader:     Jesse Palidofsky, one of our singer/songwriters, will offer a song of dedication.

 

Jesse Palidofsky                              "Send Down Your Healing Water"

 

[Jesse will sing and play from the back of the sanctuary]

 

THE BAPTISM

[Take Soren from Kathryn and Doug]

Leader:     Isabel, what is the name of this child?

 

Isabel:            Soren William Wysockey-Johnson

 

[Wet Soren's head three times.]

 

Leader:     Soren William Wysockey-Johnson, you are baptized in the name of God who is the Creator, Christ the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, Sustainer of all. 

All:                  Amen.

 

[Hand Soren to Doug or Kathryn]

 

PRAYER OF BLESSING                          

Peter:  Let us pray for Soren, who is baptized today.  Gracious God, you have filled the world with joy by giving us the gift of Jesus, who is the Christ, the Good News for this day and all the days to come.  Bless Soren as one of your newly baptized people, and bless all those who love and care for him.  May his life be filled with joy, and may he grow into a deep understanding of what it means to be part of your family.  AMEN.

 

INTRODUCTION OF SOREN TO THE COMMUNITY

Leader:     Tiffany, since you were there when Soren was born and helped introduce him to this reality, would you now help introduce him to this community?

 

[Tiffany carries Soren throughout the congregation.]

 

BLESSING

Leader:     We are privileged to have with us today the Bokamoso Youth Troupe from Winterveldt, South Africa, who are finishing their visit to the United States as our guests.  They are people of Hope, and have a blessing for Soren.

 

Bokamoso Youth Troupe                           ________

 

[Bokamoso will present a blanket to Soren.)

 

[All return to their seats]

 

HOME ON THE MOON

I wish we all lived
on the big yellow moon,
then we could fly there
in a blue balloon and catch

golden starfish in a deep night sea.
We could watch comets like fireflies
in the deep dark sky. It would be
so much fun for you and me.

I sometimes see them
all in my dreams.
We could play games
and eat ice cream, if we lived
on big yellow moon
and flew in a blue balloon.

If we lived on a big yellow moon,
at night, we could chase moonbeams
around all over the place and paint
a smile on the old moon's face.

Maybe, just maybe, some night, if I wish
and wish and wish, the starfish
might come down to my yard.
but, I will have to wish
real hard.

If we lived on the moon,
way up in the sky
we could fly over the ground
and not make a sound
and watch people
and dogs and cats go by.

 

Alan Dragoo