WALLACE SC&W
At the beginning of each year one of the Scripture Readings is about Jesus' Baptism. What a special time and
great opportunity to highlight a critical time in the life of those being baptized. Here are seven things that can be
done with baptisms:
1. Create and give the candidates invitations to invite family and friends to this special celebration. It is a key time in their life so why not include those
special people in their life.
2. Recruit a Host(ess) who will help them get ready, answer questions and help clean up afterwards. This person provides a reassurance for them and also allows
the family to be either back with them or out front where they can see things better.
3. Celebrate Communion as part of the event. In one congregation, after the candidate was dressed and back in the worship service, we had the candidate and family
come forward to receive Communion (during worship while the rest of the congregation was served as usual). This was a special moment and was when we had a
special prayer just with the family and gave a Bible and other gifts to them.
4. Celebrate the event as an eternity changing moment. Take pictures and put in the newsletter and on the bulletin board, talk about it, etc. Also bring it up again at
special times in the life of the congregation (e.g. during stewardship events to say this is what we are about, during January when talking about baptism and remembering
those who received this gift in the last year, etc.).
5. Give a Certificate and gift (e.g. Bible) as a tangible sign of what they have received and a way to honor their decision.
6. Under gird the experience with prayer. Pray as they are making the decision for the Holy Spirit's presence, power and leading. Pray during the ceremony for God's
blessing on them and for the communities calling to nurture them. Pray for a designated time afterwards (tell them that you will lift them up each Monday for the next 50 days).
7. Help them move forward. Don't let the excitement and power of this experience just fade away. Instead develop a mentoring ministry (using Elders or others) who will
regularly contact them, help answer questions and help them grow (contact me for a program example).
8. Each month list Baptism Birthdays rejoicing on these specifial events. Possibly sent a card recognizing the baptism anniversary.
1/09/08
