Baptism Prayers
This page brings together the two different streams of thought within the Christian tradition regarding baptism, and provides suitable prayers for both occasions. Some traditions, such as the Catholic and Anglican faiths, offer infant baptism, whilst other traditions (such as the Baptist and Pentecostal denominations), only baptise people who have come to faith in Christ (we summarize the arguments for and against this further down this page).
This page features examples of prayers for both infant and believers baptism, with blessings for baptism candidates, a prayer for parents to say at a christening, prayers suitable for closing a baptism service, and traditional blessings to say over the those who have been baptised.
This page features examples of prayers for both infant and believers baptism, with blessings for baptism candidates, a prayer for parents to say at a christening, prayers suitable for closing a baptism service, and traditional blessings to say over the those who have been baptised.
Baptism Prayer from Parents
(a prayer for parents to say when their child is baptized)Take this little one dear Father into your loving arms,
Cover and protect them, guide them from all harm.
Fill their days with love and joy, nurture all they are,
Help them as they learn and grow, to feel loved and set apart.
Speak to them of truth and light, so that their souls can sing,
A cry of praise, a song of joy, and a love for peaceful things.
Take their little hands dear God and bless them as they pray,
Let a beautiful love story begin on this their baptism day.
(a baptism prayer poem from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
resources on this page
Prayers suitable for infant baptism
Prayers for believers baptism
The biblical arguments for infant baptism
The biblical arguments for adult baptism
Prayers for believers baptism
The biblical arguments for infant baptism
The biblical arguments for adult baptism
Prayers for Infant Baptism
Episcopal Baptism Prayers
Each candidate is presented by name to the Celebrant, or to an assisting priest or deacon, who then immerses, or pours water upon, the candidate, saying
N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When this action has been completed for all candidates, the Bishop or Priest, at a place in full sight of the congregation, prays over them, saying
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, 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.
(source: Book of Common Prayer, 1979 version, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA).
N.B For other prayers in this ceremony (such as for the sanctification of the water) please see the Episcopal service for baptism.
Prayers for Adult Baptisms
Believers Baptism Prayers
It is common for a baptism candidate to usually make some kind of confession of faith in Christ before being baptised. This may be in the form of a testimony about their journey with God, or by a question from the leader or pastor, such as "N. do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour?" to which the candidate would reply "Yes" or "I do".
The leader will then pray: "N. we baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit"
It is common for the candidate to then be prayed for.
Some traditions also ask these words (or similar) before baptism:-
Pastor or leader: "N. do you renounce the world, the flesh and the devil?"
Candidate "I do" or "Yes"
A Prayer for New Beginnings
An inspirational prayer for committing your whole life over to God with, suitable for showing in a baptismal service:-
Prayer for Baptism Candidates
(a prayer suitable for praying over someone after they have been baptized)Lord, thank you for the precious gift of baptism, that we can publicly declare our love and passion for you. Lord, we ask for your goodness and blessings to be poured out on this faithful servant. We pray that you would work deeply within their heart and soul to renew and refresh them each day. Come guide their footsteps, give them a hope and a vision for the future.
Today, the past is gone. They stand free and whole, loved and forgiven within the kingdom of God. Father, cover and protect them now, encircle them with your promises and fill their hearts with joy. May this day be one they cherish and remember forever!
Amen.
(a modern baptism prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
May The Lord Bless You
an ancient Judeo-Christian prayer suitable for blessing a candidate who has just been baptised:-
Closing Prayers for Baptism Services
Dear Lord,
We thank you for your love, that we have become sons and daughters of a heavenly Father.
We pray for those who have been baptised today in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. May they walk forward, cleansed of sin, embraced and loved by the Father.
May they follow the leading of the Lord Jesus Christ, guiding their paths.
And may they be fill of the Holy Spirit, flowing with love and grace, drinking in the truth of God and pouring out your hope and redemption into a broken world.
Amen.
(a baptism prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
May The Road Rise Up To Meet You
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
(traditional Irish blessing)
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Psalm 71:18, (NLT)
The biblical argument for infant baptism
Matthew Slick argues that Baptism is a new testament symbol of the covenant between God and Man. Just as infants where included in the Old Testament covenant (by the symbolic act of circumcision) so too are infants in the act of baptism. Matthew points to evidence for this in the Acts of the Apostles - at the conversion of the jailer in Acts 16:27-34, "he and all his household were baptized." (16:33, NIV)
As covenant Jews where commanded to have children (Genesis Chapters 2 to 3), it would be extremely unlikely that these households did not include children. Matthew Slick notes that infants are not necessarily saved through baptism - salvation may come at a later point.
As covenant Jews where commanded to have children (Genesis Chapters 2 to 3), it would be extremely unlikely that these households did not include children. Matthew Slick notes that infants are not necessarily saved through baptism - salvation may come at a later point.
The biblical argument for believers (or "adult") baptism
Greg Boyd argues that baptism in the new testament always follows belief in Christ. For example, Peters sermon at the first Pentecost (Acts 2:38-39) and the Samaritans in Acts 8:12 who were baptized after believing in Philip "as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (NIV). There are no recorded accounts in the new testament of infants being baptised. On the issue of households being baptised (Acts 16), Boyd argues that the term "household" in this context referred to the adults and servants of the household - the children where generally excluded in this term in the Roman times.
follow this link for prayers suitable for a baby blessing ceremony.