Baptism
BAPTISM
Objectives:
- Students should know that we enter God’s church through baptism.
- Students should be able to name the objects used in a baptism.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Review with the students the story of Theophany, the baptism of Jesus, in your children’s Bibles. Where was he baptized? By whom? Who spoke and what appeared?
- Review the importance of water to all life. Bring in a fishbowl with a goldfish. What does the fish need to live? We also need water to live. Remind the children that God created water and then the earth brought forth life.
- A baptism is a very special time. Ask the children if they have seen a baptism? Who is present? What happens? Take them to see the font. Show pictures of a baptism. Ask if they were baptized? Who are their godparents? Explain that their godparents held them and held a candle and promised to help them grow to be strong and love God. Explain that they were undressed and dipped in the water three times, then dressed in white, new clothes. Their hands, feet, chest, forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, and throat were all blessed with holy oil; with small children let them touch each part. With older children, explore why these parts were chosen. They were given a cross; are they wearing a cross today?
- Role-play a baptism – Dress an immersible baby doll in a blanket. Have a baptismal outfit ready. With younger children, the teacher will have to be priest and tell the others what to say; older children can read the “script”:
Priest (making sign of cross in water in tub): May this water be sanctified with the power of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (with hand on head of baby): In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon your servant (name) who has come to be a part of your family. Since this baby cannot speak for himself, who will answer for him?
Godparents (1 holding baby and 1 a candle): We will.
Priest: Do you hate Satan, the devil, and all of his evil ways?
Godparents: We do.
Priest: Turn and spit on him. (Godparents do this.) Do you want to be baptized?
Godparents: I do.
Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
All: Recite the creed. (Godparents now remove the blanket)
Priest (anointing baby using cotton swab dipped in oil making sign of cross):
The servant of God (name) is anointed with the Oil of Gladness in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (taking naked baby and immersing 3 times in a tub of water): The servant of God (name) is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest (after godparents dress baby in baptismal robe): The servant of God (name) is dressed in the Baptismal robe in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Note: Keep your “baby” for next week’s Chrismation.
- Sing “As many as have been baptized…” 3 times while the “baby” is marched 3 times around the room.
- Make a baptismal robe: take a pillow
case for each child. Cut holes for head
and arms. With red ribbon or fabric
paint decorate front and back with a
cross.
- Need an easier craft? How about a baptismal font? Take the picture of the font. Have the children color it and cut it out. Glue to a piece of construction paper around the edges only, leaving the top open. Take a picture of a baby, or a picture of the child as a baby, and cut it out. The children can “baptize” their babies over and over in the paper font!
- Close with prayer. Ask parents to send pictures next week of the children’s own baptism.