Order of Service

A Service of Holy Eucharist with Baptism

Welcome

At St John’s and St Barnabas we celebrate Baptism as part of our regular Eucharist — a sign that this sacrament is about belonging to the whole family of the Church.

In baptism we welcome a new member into the community of faith and into the life of Christ himself. Through the symbols of water and light we affirm God’s love, freely given to each of us, and we rejoice in the new life that begins in Christ.

As we share in the Eucharist, we give thanks for God’s grace revealed in Jesus, and we commit ourselves as a community to support the newly baptised in faith and friendship. Whether you come as family, godparent, friend, or member of the congregation, your presence today is part of that welcome — a sign that we all share in the love and life of God’s Church.

Baptism is both a beginning and a belonging: a joyful reminder that we are known, loved, and called by name to walk in the way of Christ.

The readings and hymns can be found in the Pews News leaflet**

Hymn numbers are also displayed at the front and Hymn books are available.

There are Children’s Activity Boxes at the back of the church (St John’s), and also some colouring sheets (St John’s & St Barnabas’). If you feel your child would like to use these during the service, please ask one of the Welcomers when you pick up your Service leaflets.

The words in bold are said together/ by the respondent

Before the service begins, please take a moment to silence your phone or set it to “Do Not Disturb”.

This helps us all to be fully present in worship and to share in the stillness and reverence of this time together.

The Gathering

We stand to sing the First Hymn**

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Grace and peace be with you.
And keep you in the love of Christ.

Or in Eastertide:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Heavenly Father, all hearts are open to you. No secrets are hidden from you. Purify us with the fire of your Holy Spirit that we may love and worship you faithfully, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

We sit or kneel for the Kyries.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Our Lord Jesus commanded ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

We confess together:
Heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and have failed to do what we ought to have done. We are sorry and truly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us, forgive us all that is past and lead us in his way to walk as children of light. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you and set you free from sin, strengthen you in goodness and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Baptism

Parents, Godparents and children come forward

What do you ask of the Church of God?

I ask that this child/these children may be baptised. (Parents)

What is the name given to your child/children?

(State names)

The baptism of new members is an occasion of great joy for the Christian Church. By water and the Spirit, we are reborn as God's children and are made followers of Christ, members of his body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

Will you accept these things on behalf of your child/children?

I will. (Parents)

In asking for your child/children to be baptised you are accepting the responsibility of bringing them up as a Christian. In caring for them, will you help them to keep God's commandments by loving God and neighbour as Christ has taught us? Will you pray for them and teach them by your own example a life of faith?

With the help of God, I will. (Parents)

Godparents, will you support and help in doing these things?

With the help of God, we will. (Godparents)

People of God’s church, will you welcome those being baptised today and do your best to uphold them in their life in Christ?

With the help of God, we will. (Congregation)

The Proclamation of the Word

Readings and psalms can be found in the Pews News**

The Collect for Baptism

Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit you give to your faithful people new life in the water of baptism: guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit, that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love and grow into the full stature of your Son Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Please be seated as we listen to the readings from God’s word.

The Old Testament Reading:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm:

(Response)**

The New Testament Reading:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

We stand and turn to face the Gospel, a sign that we centre our lives on Christ and his word.

Listen to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to …

Glory to you, O Lord.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated for the Sermon.

The Liturgy of Baptism

Parents and godparents, you have declared your wish for these children to be baptised. We therefore now invite you to respond to Christ's call.

Do you turn to Christ?

I turn to Christ. (Parents & Godparents)

Do you repent of your sins?

I repent of my sins. (Parents & Godparents)

Do you renounce evil?

I renounce evil. (Parents & Godparents)

Almighty Father, you sent your Son into the world to destroy the powers of darkness. Hear our prayers for all being baptised. Deliver them from evil, give them light and joy and fill them with your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

By his cross and precious blood, our Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed the world.

I sign you with the sign of the cross and claim you for our Saviour Jesus Christ. Never be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.

Fight valiantly against sin, the world and the devil, and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life. Amen.

Do you believe in God the Father, the Creator of all?

I believe and trust in God the Father.

Do you believe in his Son Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world?

I believe and trust in God the Son.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life?

I believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit.

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The priest blesses the water:

Through the power of that same Spirit, + sanctify this water so that those who are washed in it may be united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Cleanse, deliver and heal them from all sin, bring them to new birth in the family of your Church and make them inheritors of your Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord whom, by the power of the Spirit, you raised to live with you for ever and ever.

Amen.

N, I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

May God who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of his grace. As Christ was anointed as priest, prophet and king, may you daily be likened to his image.

Amen.

You have received the light of Christ, walk in this light all the days of your life.

Shine as a light in the world, to the glory of God the Father.

The Peace

Please stand.

Jesus said, This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
Love in all sincerity. Never pay back evil for evil. If possible, so far as it lies with you, live at peace with all.

The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

We shake hands and offer each other a sign of peace and say “Peace be with you”

The Offertory Hymn**

During this hymn we prepare the altar and bring our gifts to God.

This hymn marks the Offertory — a time to give thanks for all God’s blessings and, if you are able, to support the life and ministry of our church.
Your offerings help sustain our worship, outreach, and community care.
You can give by cash or card at the back of the church, or online via BACS after the service.
Give to St John’s and St Barnabas →

The ThanksGiving

We celebrate together the gifts and grace of God.

We take this bread and wine to follow Christ’s example and obey his command.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy at all times and in all places to give you thanks, holy Father, all-powerful and everliving God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Who, through his death and resurrection has made us children of the light. In baptism we share the promise of his glory, and are filled with a joy that never ends! And so with the hosts of angels and all the company of heaven we proclaim the glory of your name and join in their unending hymn of praise:

We sing this at St. John's

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

All praise and thanks to you, true and living God, Creator of all things, Giver of life. You formed us in your own image; but we have marred that image and fall short of your glory. We give you thanks that you sent your Son to share our life; you gave him up to death that the world might be saved, and you raised him from the dead that we might live in him and he in us.

Sanctify with your Spirit this bread and wine, your gifts to us, that they may be for us the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. On the night he was betrayed, he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. In the same way after supper he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins: do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come in glory.

As he has commanded us, Father, we remember Jesus Christ, your Son. Proclaiming his victorious death, rejoicing in his resurrection and waiting for him to come in glory we bring to you this bread, this cup. Accept our sacrifice of thanks and praise. Restore and revive your people, renew us and all for whom we pray with your grace and heavenly blessing, and at the last receive us with St. John, St. Barnabas and all your saints into that unending joy promised by your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, we boldly pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Communion

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body for we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

The Prayer of Humble Access

We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.

Come, let us receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

If you wish to receive, you are warmly invited to come to the altar to share in the holy sacrament.

The sacrament is shared with these words

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Return to sit and pray.

The Communion Hymns **

The Sending OUt

Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious:

His love is everlasting.

A Post Communion prayer may be said.

We thank you, Father, for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son in this holy sacrament, through which we are assured of the hope of eternal life. We offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice. Keep us in the fellowship of his body, the Church, and send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Final Hymn** (Stand)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

In baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised to new life in him. May you all know his joy in lives of service and praise. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you this day and always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Or in Eastertide:

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thank you for joining us in our worship, we hope it was an opportunity for you to encounter God. Please do stay after the service and feel part of the family. If you would like to pray with anyone or get to know more about the life of the church, please speak to Rev’d Ben or one of the ministry team.

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