Call to worship
God who is unseen – yet we have seen you in the lights of the skies
in the greening of the earth, in flowing waters –
To you we offer our praise
God who is untouchable – yet we have felt you in the warmth of the sun,
the wildness of wind, in the stillness of the silent bush, in the touch of another.
In and beyond our senses, in taste, and touch and sound your mystery has been made known –
To you we offer our praise
God who is Life – we come at the beginning of the day as the darkness of night has given way to light.
We desire to know you in and beyond our senses – may we know you presence, O God, may we know your everlasting presence.
To you we offer our praise.
Candle Lighting
We light this candle as a people of faith,
Remembering that we find belonging in family and in community.
May the burning flame remind us that, in this space,
as we join together to worship God
All are welcome; All are bearers of God’s light; Everyone and everything belongs here.
A Musical Pause
Reading
John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Reflection – do whatever he tells you?
The Baptism of Leo
The Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is a visible symbol of God’s inclusive love. It is also a symbol of our willingness to surrender, to get wet and to do something a bit absurd because it’s also holy and includes us in a sacred mystery.
Through baptism we share in the death and resurrection of Christ, and are incorporated into the Body of Christ, the Church.
In a ritual that speaks of cleansing, renewal, acceptance and inclusion, we participate in the spacious and gracious love of God.
Through baptism, the Holy Spirit binds us to each other and joins us to Christ’s ministry of love, peace, reconciliation and justice.
Parents Maia and Daniel have come today to present their son, Leo, for baptism.
Surrounded by family and friends, I acknowledge grandparents Owen and Susan, Michell and Antony, great grandparents Nanny and Pappa and also Miles, Annie and Anne as elders and representatives of the wider church family; all of you form the inner circle in a web of relationships that have nurtured and will continue to support and encourage Leo, Maia and Daniel on their journey of life and faith.
To parents: what do you ask of God’s church and of me as its representative?
Parents: We ask that our child, Leo, be baptised into the faith and family of God’s love.
Congregation respond: Leo, you are welcome in the family of God and you are welcome in the community of faith.
Thanksgiving for and blessing of the water
God is the heart of life.
And we are the heartbeat.
May our hearts be filled with thanks and praise and songs of joy.
We rejoice in the miracle of life and delight in our participation.
In our world water is a precious commodity.
Water is life, so we claim the joy of water and the way it sustains and nourishes us.
Let it flow for all people, that all may know each day, the gift of God in water.
The biblical stories also tell of the preciousness of water, and of how it is part of the way God has been made known to us. In the beginning of creation God’s Spirit moved over the waters. The children of Israel were led by God through the waters of the Red Sea into the freedom of the promised land. In the river Jordan, John baptised Jesus and God’s Spirit came down like a dove. And Jesus spoke of living water to a Samaritan woman who had come to draw from the well.
God’s love is like water in many ways. God’s love is like a shower of rain in drought, awakening the sleeping seed within the soul and luring it to blossom.
God’s love is like a paddling pool, inspiring the responsive love of children, jumping, splashing each other, laughing in delight.
God’s love is like a hot shower after a long day’s work, cleansing us, reawakening us.
God’s love is like waves crashing on the shore, breaking in on us and enfolding us, leaving us feeling vital and refreshed.
So we give thanks for this love that reaches out to us, and for this water, symbol of that love.
The water is poured into the font
Leo, in the touch of this water, the ancient symbol of new life,
I baptise you into the love, service and joy of God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…
Grace, Peace, and Love
And I sign you with the sign of the cross – a symbol of hope.
May the presence of the Spirit of Love in you be ever nurtured and daily affirmed by your family, your friends, and by your church community.
May the sun and the stars delight and touch your heart with fire and so may you find passion to be creative. May you know God’s blessing.
A story and a gift
Leo is given a copy of the Story Book Bible
Maia and Daniel, I ask you now to respond to God’s goodness to Leo by making these promises:
Will you provide for Leo a welcoming home of love and trust?
We will.
Will you help Leo grow in his understanding and appreciation of the journey of life and faith?
We will.
Will you encourage Leo to reach out to others with love and compassion?
We will.
Baptismal Prayer
Loving God, bless this newly baptised child. May he always know that the Source of all Love lives and comes to unique expression in him.
Bless parents, Maia and Daniel. May they find ways to show their gratitude for the new life given them as they guide and care for Leo.
Bless grandparents Michelle and Antony, Susan and Owen. May they be wise and generous in their loving and caring for their grandson.
Bless this faithful people gathered here.
May we all live in love.
And may we continue to draw encouragement
from the faith which connects all our loving
within the mystery we call ‘God’.
Amen.
Baptismal candle
Jesus said such wonderful things, and did such amazing things, that people often asked him just who he was.
One time when they asked him, he said….I am the light of the world.
So I give you this light, to help you remember Jesus the light, and to encourage you to shine as a light in the world.
A lighted candle is given to the parents
Prayers of the People
Blessing
May God the Maker bless us may we grow wise and strong and holy
May God the storyteller bless us may we know laughter and grace and healing
May God the life – breather bless us may we be filled with curiosity and courage and love
Amen
