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Affirm! Alive in our Baptism

Have you ever had to activate a credit card? You get the card in the mail. On it is a peel-off label that gives you an 800 number to call. When you call the number you hear a menu of items and you press the appropriate buttons to give such information as your card number, PIN (personal identification number), and so on. Only when you complete this process can you use your card.

Being alive in our baptism involves a similar process. We need to live our baptism every day. That's the way Luther felt, and the way our Lutheran tradition looks at baptism. But what does it mean to "live our baptism"? Let's look at what it says in the service of Holy Baptism in the Lutheran Book of Worship.

When our parents brought us to be baptized they made certain promises about how the we would be raised in the faith. They promised to:

• faithfully bring us to the services of God's house
• teach us the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments
• place in our hands the Holy Scriptures
• provide for our instruction in the Christian faith

They promised to do all this so that we "may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ." These promises are for a lifetime.

As children grow, parents take responsibility for faith formation until the time when the children are ready to take on that responsibility for themselves. In the service of Affirmation of Baptism, the minister lays both hands on the head of the person making the affirmation and says:

Father in heaven, for Jesus' sake, stir up in _________ the gift of your Holy Spirit; confirm his/her faith, guide his/her life, empower him/her in his/her serving, give him/her patience in suffering, and bring him/her to everlasting life.

These words are a bird's eye view of the Christian life. Isn't this what it's all about? We live by faith, ask for God's guidance in our lives, use our God-given talents and resources to serve others in God's name endure, with God's help, whatever comes our way, all to reach the goal of living with God in God's kingdom. The tools we need are given to us in our baptism and we are instructed in their use by parents, sponsors, and others who share their lives and their faith with us.

With all this help, we're sure to be able to help people AFFIRM!--or ACTIVATE--their faith so that everyone in the congregation and all who hear God's good news will be ALIVE IN OUR BAPTISM.

So go ahead, activate that faith that you were given when the water was poured on your head. Be proactive. Call God's 800 number and promise to:

• live among God's faithful people,
• hear God's Word and share in the Lord's supper,
• proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
• serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus,
• and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

As you are alive in your baptism, ask for God's help, and pray:

Gracious Lord, through water and the Spirit you have made us your own. You forgave us all our sins and brought us to newness of life. Continue to strengthen us with your Holy Spirit, and daily increase in us your gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence; through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen

Quotations in bold italics are taken from the services of Holy Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism in the Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978, Augsburg Publishing House, and used by permission of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. 

Rally Day Ideas

This year's theme, Affirm! Alive in our Baptism calls us to think of rally day as a joyful celebration. Here's an opportunity to plan activities that don't just begin a new year in Christian education but remind us of the countless ways we are called daily to live out our baptism. Consider the following possibilities:

• Use this rally day to celebrate the community of faith by planning an intergenerational event. The theme of Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism lends itself to learning and sharing through all ages. Continue the celebration with an all-congregation picnic or luncheon.
• Broaden the idea of an installation service by thinking in terms of a covenant partnership involving children, parents, teachers, other volunteers, and the congregation.
• Schedule a baptism. If there is a possibility of a baptism on this Sunday, meet with the family or candidate and explain that you'd like to focus on this person's baptism to remind the whole congregation of the promises made at baptism.
• Teach the sign of the cross during Sunday school or worship. (See page 56 and 124 of the Lutheran Book of Worship) When we cross ourselves in this way , we are reminded that the cross of Christ is ours from the day we were baptized. Invite all to dip their fingers into the water of the baptismal font and then to make the sign of the cross.
• Ask the confirmands to create a brief liturgy or prayer litany on the theme of Baptism to be used in the worship service.
• Recruit an official photographer who will take photographs or videos of education activities throughout the year. Display them on Rally Day next year. Have a group photo made and enlarged for a bulletin board display.
• Extend a special invitation to any unchurched families that were involved in your Vacation Bible School, day camps or other summer activities to take part in the Rally day celebrations.
• Do you have a welcoming plan in place for visitors to your Sunday School? They are sure to return if you have recruited volunteers specifically for the task of caring for the needs of those new to your congregation.
• Teach the words to a song in sign language. The signs are gifts to and from people with hearing impairments.
• Invite participation in a poster contest, poetry contest or essay competition on the theme of "I Am Baptized!"
• Offer a festive sticker, button or name tag to each person entering worship this day.
• Hand persons from each household a blank thank you note as they leave worship. Ask them to write and deliver a thank you note to one person teaching in your Christian education program. Include a list of teachers and their addresses.
• Ask members of the congregation to bring back shells if they vacation at a beach. On rally day, give each person a shell--a perfect daily reminder that God brings us to new life through our baptism.
• Make special nametags for the Sunday school teachers and other volunteers. Abandon the traditional "Hello-my name is..." badges and use a simple shell shape to spotlight these VIP's.
• Lift up lifelong learning and the idea that Christian education is not just confined to the classroom. Provide large print devotional books or Bible studies to vision impaired shut-ins. Invite them to be honorary members of a Sunday school class. They might participate by praying for the class and the teacher, making phone calls, providing snacks or sending out birthday cards and get well memos.
• Go without altar flowers today. Instead, donate the money to the educational ministry of a mission congregation.
• Create a prayer calendar to be inserted in the congregational newsletter. Include the name of a volunteer in the education program on each day of the month.

Other Sundays in Parish Education Month

Use the remaining Sundays in September to bring attention to the many opportunities for intentional study aimed toward Christian growth.

Focus on adults

Make an attractive publication listing the adult education offerings of the church. Try to offer a well-balanced menu of choices designed for all generations and scheduled to accommodate varied working hours. Include group Bible study along with courses on issues such as parenting, grief, aging, Christian marriage, and current social concerns.

Focus on youth

Replace the sermon on this Sunday with an opportunity to hear from the young people of the congregation. They are called upon each day in their dealings at school, at home and in other activities to live out their baptism. Has anyone ever asked them what is important in their lives or what issues they are really facing? Consider asking one, two, or even a panel of youth to speak.

Focus on young children

Arrange for Bibles to be presented during worship services to third graders (or the appropriate age group in your congregation.) Have parents and children come forward, read the baptismal promise to place the Scripture into the child's hands (LBW page 121) and give the Bibles to the parents to present. Plan a day long retreat for this age group and their parents on the Saturday before. Make it a day long celebration of Bible stories and personal stories of faith.

Focus on preschool age children

Establish a bulletin board or a page in the church newsletter where families can share their experiences in home devotions, Bible study and making the church-home connection. Encourage members to bring in pictures or sample ideas.

Ongoing, thoughtful consideration of your educational staff can make a difference in the climate of the community where Christian education takes place.

A Year-long Guide for Baptismal Living

Do you want to make your Christian education program "hang together" by having an annual theme? Here are some suggestions to help you promote baptismal living--a daily rising to new life and new areas of ministry--among your members.

For each month, beginning with September, there is a sub-theme that emphasizes one aspect of the theme "Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism." A brief explanation of the sub-theme is included, along with several suggestions for carrying out that sub-theme through the year. There is also a suggested theme item for the month something simple and inexpensive that you can hand out to everyone on the first Sunday of the month to remind them of the theme. A monthly prayer follows each set of suggestions. Use the monthly prayer by having the pastor use it in worship at the beginning of each month (or ALL month!), handing it out to all participants in your educational program, praying it in teachers' meetings, make posters and hang the prayer in each classroom be creative!

September - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: New Beginnings

Theme item: a seed (such as a sunflower seed)

September is the month when school starts for most children and youth. Traditionally this is when our educational programs return from summer "vacation" and go into full swing. It is a time for new beginnings--our books and supplies are all new. We begin new classes with new teachers. In Baptism, we have the opportunity to start each day fresh, with a clean slate.

Emphasize newness this month by:

--handing out fall flower seeds on the first Sunday of Sunday school and encourage students to plant and care for these new flowers;

--giving participants in your Sunday school a blank sheet of paper and have them begin an affirmation of baptism poster on which they write or draw things they do that affirm their baptism (you'll need to help teachers of young children interpret this to their classes--simplify by asking them to draw pictures of things they do to help, praise, or pray.). Keep the posters up in the classroom all year.

Prayer: God of New Life, as we begin a new cycle of education in our congregation, help us to come alive in our baptism this year as we hear your Word and grow in faith. Amen

October - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Alive in Our Heritage

Theme item: a Luther's seal emblem (you can get inexpensive stickers with Luther's seal)

"God's Word is Our Great Heritage." October ends with Reformation Day. Emphasize the importance of God's Word in our Lutheran tradition by having a special emphasis on the Bible all month. If you traditionally present Bibles to third graders, or another age level, consider giving them at the beginning of the month.

Celebrate the Bible by:

• learning about how the Bible came to be;
• making Bible bookmarks and handing them out in worship;

having a display of Bibles--various translations, antique Bibles, Bible study tools for children, youth, and adults--that stays up all month;

--encouraging classes to play Bible games and have Bible relays;

--ending the month with a Celebrate the Bible festival

Prayer: God of all time and history, We celebrate the great heritage we have in your Word. Help us to treasure that Word in our hearts and proclaim it with power to those who have yet to hear. Amen

November - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Prepare and Pray

Theme item: A card containing a table prayer, and a morning and evening prayer for use in the home. Although Advent doesn't begin until the last Sunday of the month, why not begin now to prepare for the observance of Advent in your Sunday school and other educational programs? Since Advent is a time for reflection, get everyone into the habit of praying.

Make November prayer month by:

--Having classes prepare the prayers of the church to be used on Christ the King Sunday and each of the Sundays in Advent

--Exploring different ways of praying. Discover ways to pray actively, using all the senses.
 
--Having Sunday school classes "adopt" newly baptized persons by praying for them weekly.

Prayer: God of love, that the season of Advent is upon us. As we prepare to celebrate your coming, help us to pause and reflect on the many blessings we have received from you. Give us peace as we enter a season of "busy-ness." As this church year ends and a new one begins, help us to be mindful that our baptism calls us to a new life of service in your name. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

December - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Welcome Jesus, Welcome Joy!

Theme item: A pineapple sticker or pin (the pineapple is the traditional sign of welcome.)

The dictionary defines the word welcome as "received with pleasure and hospitality into one's company or home." In this busy season, take the time to focus on acts of welcoming in your congregation and extend these into the home. Spend class time talking about how to welcome others.

Welcome Jesus and others this month by

--Making "welcome mats" for every entrance to the church. You can be simple and use heavy paper that various classes decorate with words of welcome. Use duct tape or masking tape to attach the mats to the floor. If you prefer, purchase simple plain fabric mats and decorate them with fabric paint or other materials.
--Developing a welcome handbook to give tips to members on how to welcome visitors during this holiday season (or anytime!)
--Getting volunteers to help at shelters for homeless people during the holiday season.
--Helping families and individuals plan alternative celebrations for Christmas. For example, offer a consignment of gifts made by persons in developing countries. Purchase of these handmade items directly benefits the persons who make them, leaving out the distributors who generally keep the profit for themselves.

Prayer: Emmanuel, God with us, in this holy season, help us to keep things in perspective and take time to reflect on the meaning of your presence among us. Give us joy in your presence that we may live our baptismal promises even more fully in this season of loving and giving. In Jesus' name, Amen

January - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Water, Word, and Promise

Theme item: A water drop (made from felt or heavy blue paper) or a shell

Make January your "big splash" for Baptism. This month we celebrate Jesus' baptism. Talk about Baptism all month.

Emphasize baptismal living this month by:

--Making a large wall display that lists everyone's name and baptismal birthday (Several churches use a large banner with a felt water drop for each member).
--Giving everyone a shell as a reminder of their baptism.
--Making baptismal candles or banners for persons who are newly baptized.
--Placing the names of all who were baptized in the last year on alter rails (print the names on paper and attach them with tape) or the ends of pews.
--Encouraging Sunday school classes, women's and men's groups, and other small groups to adopt a newly baptized person (or an older person) and pray for that person daily.

Prayer: Our God and Lord, you gave us new life in the waters of baptism. Help us to remember your promise and trust in your love, through Jesus Christ. Amen

Lent - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Journey to the Cross

Theme item: A simple cross

Begin the Lenten journey to the cross by focusing on the cross as a symbol of our faith. The baptismal journey leads us to the foot of the cross.

Help your members walk the way of the cross this Lent by:

--Having a display of different kinds of crosses with explanations of each. Use a book that explains symbols find crosses such as the Maltese cross, Celtic cross, Roman cross, Jerusalem cross, etc.
--Reminding students that they were given the sign of the cross at their baptism and point out the uses of the sign of the cross in the liturgy.
--Beginning a "look for the cross" emphasis during Lent. Send home a handout that talks about the importance of the cross as a Christian symbol and encourage everyone to look for cross images in daily life.

Prayer: God of our salvation, you gave your son to die for us on the cross. Help us to keep the cross as a great symbol of our faith. Let is remind us of the sacrifice you made to give us life. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen

Lent - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: The Journey Continues

Theme item: A palm cross

Continue an emphasis on the cross by using a symbolic "signing" that relates the cross to parts of the body:

--Make the sign of the cross on the ears to encourage listening to God's voice and hearing God's Word.

--Make the sign of the cross on the eyes to help the person see God's glory in all of life.

--Make the sign of the cross on the lips to encourage the person to respond to God's Word.

--Make the sign of the cross over the heart so that Christ may dwell there.

--Make the sign of the cross on the shoulders so that the person will bear Christ's gentle yoke.

--Make the sign of the cross on the hands so that Christ might be known in one's work.

--Make the sign of the cross on the feet to encourage the person to walk in Christ's way.

Continue the Lenten journey this month by:

--Giving children the opportunity to participate in making palm crosses to hand out for worship on Palm Sunday.
--Doing a different cross craft each Sunday.
--Handing out small handmade pocket crosses at worship one Sunday. Find an interesting type of material to use to make the crosses.

Prayer: God of death and life, as our Lenten journey continues, help us to sit at the foot of the cross and reflect on what you have done for us. Help us to remember that you took an instrument of death to give us life. Help us to turn sorrow into joy and bring that joy to others in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. Amen

Easter - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Rising to New Life

Theme item: A flower with a note attached that says something like: Nourish new life remember your baptism daily

Easter is the central celebration in our faith. Make a big baptismal "splash" at Easter by having all ages participate in the Easter Vigil. If your congregation does not Celebrate the Easter Vigil incorporate part of the Easter Vigil into an Easer Saturday festival. Link the water of baptism to new life at Easter by talking about the nourishing aspects of water in nature.

Plan to celebrate the "great 50 days" of Easter (the 50 days from Easter to Ascension) by:

--Discovering how various cultures celebrate Easter. Visit other churches if possible.
--Have members bring a fresh flower to church on Easter morning. Arrange these flowers on a polystyrene cross shape that is attached to a long pole (like a banner pole). Use this as the processional cross for Easter morning worship.
--Making and decorating miniature watering cans to remind us to nourish new growth in the waters of baptism.

Prayer: Risen Lord, you overcame the power of death by rising from the grave. We celebrate your resurrection with joy. Grace us with your presence and walk with us daily. Amen

Spring - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Pour Out the Spirit

Theme item: A container of bubble solution and a wand. (You can usually get small containers of this solution in large quantities at craft or party supply stores.)

Focus on three symbols or emphases for Pentecost--

--The Holy Spirit--take a look at the references to the Holy Spirit in the service of baptism.
--Wind and Fire--look at the images of the Holy Spirit as wind and fire in the Pentecost story in Acts 2.
--Christian vocation--our calling through our baptism to serve God in the world

Focus on these images by:

--Making Pentecost wind socks. Use thin paper or fabric. Decorate the wind sock with flame images.
--Making Baptismal night lights. Purchase simple plain night lights that can be painted with acrylic paint using baptismal images.
--Blowing bubbles at a Pentecost party.

Prayer: God of power and might, as your Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost, may that same Spirit give us the power that comes from living in your Word. Help us to go forth in our daily life and use that power to gather in those for whom the power of your word and the flame of your Spirit have yet to become active. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

June - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Wade in the Water

Theme item: A small container of colored sand to encourage us to remember our baptism while on vacation.

In June school is out for the summer. Often the Christian education program slows down. In most places June is the beginning of the summer weather and vacations begin.

Keep learning alive in the summer months through:

--Developing "Take Home learning" packets of activities for all ages to use at home and on vacation during the summer months. --Planning a summer kick-off picnic. Have a wading pool to remind us of our baptism.
--Developing a summer reading list for all ages. Sponsor a reading contest. Give prizes for the most books read in various age categories.

Prayer: God of love and warmth, as the weather turns even warmer, help us to celebrate the warmth of your love for us by keeping up our growth in faith while we pause for refreshment in the summer months. Keep us diligent in the study of your Word. Remind us of your presence in the beauty of nature. In Jesus' name, Amen

July - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Plunge In!

Theme item: A paper fan to remind us of the wind of the Holy Spirit that helps our baptism come alive

Summer is in full swing in July. Continue an emphasis on summer learning and on baptism by acknowledging the various activities dealing with water.

Consider doing the following:

--Have a mid-summer baptismal pool party. Gather at a local swimming pool. Decorate the area with baptismal images such as shells and water drops.
--Ask members to collect a small contained of water from each place they visit on vacation. Encourage them to add the water to the baptismal font when they return from vacation or have a special baptismal renewal service where everyone adds his or her water to the font.

Prayer:: God of laughter and joy, as we continue to enjoy a more relaxed pace in the summer months, let us always remember that you do not take a holiday. Help us to be diligent in the study of the Word and in our growth in faith even when we are away from home. IN the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

August - Affirm! Alive in Our Baptism: Alive in Our Hope

Theme item: A small anchor (a sticker will do) a symbol of hope

In August, we begin to get ready for a new cycle of learning that will begin in the fall while we enjoy the last carefree times of summer. Take this time to think about what will happen in the fall.

Encourage teachers to begin to get to know new students by:

--Making "welcome" phone calls to students.
--Having a "get to know you" picnic before Sunday school begins. Be aware that you will not have 100% attendance.
--Look forward to the new year by hosting a sneak preview of the new theme on a week night or Saturday.

Prayer: God of hope, as we end this cycle of learning and look to the future, keep us grounded in your Word. May we be refreshed daily by new understandings and insights. Guide us as we seek to proclaim your Word to all who would hear. In your holy name we pray. Amen

Copyright © by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. 800/638-3522.  Produced by Christian Education of the Division for Congregational Ministries.

Permission is granted for congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to reproduce this resource for local use.