Ian’s Baptism

• By Mike Costanzo
• 2 April, 2012
• No Comments

On March 11th of this year, our 6-month old son Ian was baptized at our home church. While some of our readers may not necessarily agree with or understand our Presbyterian practice of infant baptism, for us it is a precious gift of grace that reminds us of the hope we have that our children will one day believe in Jesus for themselves. Infant baptism welcomes them into the visible church, but it must be their own faith that gains them entrance into the invisible church. And to that end we pray almost every night.

Part of the infant baptism “ceremony” involves us as parents taking vows, after which the pastor gives his blessing to us as we endeavor, by God’s grace, to stay faithful to the calling God has given to us. But we have to admit that, although we were paying full attention and knew what was coming on the morning of, it was hard to remember exactly what we had vowed to do! So we asked our pastor to send us a copy of the vows and the blessing so we can reflect on it, and in doing so hopefully be more faithful in following through on what we have promised.

Below is a copy of the vows we took, as well as the blessing our pastor pronounced:

Our Vows as Parents:

1. Do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit? -We do.
2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises in his behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own? -We do.
3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before him a godly example, that you will pray with and for him, that you will teach him the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? -We do.

Pastor’s Blessing:

May the wisdom and grace that shaped Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon and Daniel rest upon you in the path that God will call you. Especially to keep you in the habit of dependence upon God, and communion with Christ in the midst of all the changes and noise around you. Amen.

 Amen! Help us, God–we’re going to need it!

-Mike & Jen