Worship Weblog
Friday, March 30, 2007
Worship Planning Idea: Baptism and Easter - A Festival Service for Eastertide
From John Witvliet in Reformed Worship:
Baptism is a sacrament of Easter. As Paul teaches us, in our baptism we are buried with Christ and are raised with him to newness of life. This insight led many early Christians to designate Easter as the most fitting occasion for baptism. Adult candidates prepared for their baptism during a season of study, prayer, and renewal that later became known as Lent. They were baptized as a part of the Easter Vigil service on the eve of Easter or early on Easter morning, a practice that continues in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and is being restored by many churches today. These services sparked the genesis of what we now call the Apostles’ Creed, which was originally spoken by those baptized in response to questions asked by the worship leader. We will emulate that pattern in this service.
The seasons of Lent and Easter focus our attention on the monumental events of Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. In this service we remember and celebrate these events, probing their meaning for those united with him in baptism. May we claim again God’s promises made to us in our baptism and restore our vision for the kingdom of God.
For more worship planning ideas, see WorshipHelps, Reformed Worship, CEP ‘This Week’, and other sites
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