An Order for the Renewing of the Baptismal Covenant within a Service of the Word [and Sacrament]

For use outside of Lent and Easter. The proper liturgy for persons reaffirming baptismal vows may be found on page 413 of the US Book of Common Prayer 1979, or page 139 of the US Book of Occasional Services 2003. You may purchase the US Book of Occasional Services at this page.

Instead of devising a completely new rite, I have used collects and prayers from the US Book of Common Prayer 1979. The Prayerbook is a rich resource that can be creatively used or adapted for many occasions.

The collect is from the Easter Vigil. The first introduction to the Baptismal Covenant is based on the Prayerbook catechism, and the second introduction is from the Easter Vigil. The communal prayers after the renewal of the baptismal vows are respectively found in the Prayers and Thanksgivings and in the Confirmation rite. The ending collect is a reworking of the collect at Confirmation. The post-communion thanksgiving is based on forms found on pages 402-405 of the US Book of Common Prayer 1979.

This rite is especially appropriate when a congregation or worshipping community desires to renew their Baptismal Covenant and rededicate themselves to the mission of the Church, outside of the rites of Holy Baptism, Confirmation, and Reaffirmation.

THE ORDER OF SERVICE

All stand. A hymn may be sung.

The Celebrant says

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

There is one Body and one Spirit;
There is one hope in God's call to us;

One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
One God and Father of all.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

THE COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who are reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LESSONS

The people sit. Any of the readings appointed for Baptism, Confirmation, or the Easter Vigil may be used.

THE SERMON

THE RENEWAL OF THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT

The people stand. The Celebrant introduces the renewal of the Baptismal Covenant with these or similar words.

Beloved in the Lord: Our Saviour Christ said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Christ also gave us the New Commandment that we love one another as he loved us.

In our Baptismal Covenant, Christ commands us to believe in him and to keep his commandments. Our love for the Triune God is our creed, and our love of neighbour is what we promise. This New Covenant, sealed with blood on the Cross, is the new relationship with God given by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to the apostles; and, through them, to all who believe in him.

Christ promised to bring us into the kingdom of God and give life in all its fullness. Let us respond to God in faith, and renew our Baptismal Covenant.

or this

Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.

or this

Dear friends in Christ, let us renew our Baptismal Covenant.

Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God's help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God's help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will, with God's help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God's help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.

Canadian Anglicans may add Resolution C001 to the Baptismal Covenant, found here.

THE SPRINKLING WITH HOLY WATER

The Celebrant sprinkles the people with an aspergil or a sprig. A psalm or canticle is said with the antiphon and the Gloria Patri.

Antiphon: Vidi aquam
(This is a placeholder; the authorized text for the Vidi aquam is found on page 47 of the US Book of Occasional Services.)

I saw water flowing from the temple, on the right side, alleluia:
And all to whom that water came have been saved, and they will say, alleluia.

Psalm: 51, 114, or 118.

Canticle: The Song of Moses, the First Song of Isaiah, the Second Song of Isaiah, the Third Song of Isaiah, the Song of Mary, the Song of Zachariah, a Song to the Lamb, or the Song of the Redeemed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Celebrant says


Let us pray together.

Almighty and eternal God,
so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds,
so fill our imaginations, so control our wills,
that we may be wholly yours,
utterly dedicated to you;
and then use us, we pray, as you will,
and always to your glory and the welfare of your people;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Or this

Sustain us, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit.
Give us inquiring and discerning hearts,
the courage to will and to persevere,
a spirit to know and to love you,
and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

The Celebrant concludes

May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

THE LITANY FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH,

OR THE LITANY FOR THE FOUNDATION OF A CHURCH

(Found in the US Book of Occasional Services on pages 246-248 or 214-216. Once again, you must purchase the book at this site.)

If no Eucharist follows, the Lord’s Prayer is said here.

THE ENDING COLLECT AT THE PRAYERS

(Any of the collects and prayers found on pages 249-250 of the US Book of Occasional Services may be used instead.)

Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus you have overcome sin and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us in your service. Renew in us the covenant you made with us at our Baptism. Send us in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

If there is a Eucharist, the Peace is exchanged here.  If no Eucharist follows, end with the blessing or the Grace.

AT THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE

The Celebrant takes the offerings of the People, saying

All things come from you, O Lord;

And of your own we give you.

Almighty God, you have placed in the skies the sign of your covenant with all living things: Grant that we, who are saved through water and the Spirit, may worthily offer to you our sacrifice of thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Liturgy continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

PREFACE OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH, OR BAPTISM

THE POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING

All stand. 

Let us pray.

Gracious God, we thank you for feeding us

with the Sacrament of the Body and Blood

of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and for ratifying the Covenant we renew today.

Gather us by this Holy Communion

into one body, a sacrifice of praise in Christ;

and grant that we who have eaten this bread

and drunk of this cup

may be filled with your life and goodness,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant: Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

The Deacon, or the Celebrant, dismisses them with these words

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

or this

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

or this

Let us go forth into the world,

rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

A hymn may be sung.

Joshua Ligan 2013.

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