AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS
**The Service may begin with a hymn, or the following Psalm, which can be either said or sung.
PSALM 15
LORD, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill?
EVEN he that leadeth an uncorrupted life and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from the heart.
HE that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour;
HE that promiseth his neighbour and disappointeth him not, though it were his own hindrance.
HE that hath not given his money upon usury nor taken reward against the innocent;
WHOSO doeth these things shall never fall.
The Minister will then say: LET US PRAY
HEAVENLY FATHER, we come together in a spirit of joy to link still more closely to Thy holy love one of Thy children. Take into Thy keeping the life of this thy servant that he/she, being dedicated to Thy service, may in all sincerity follow the way laid down by Jesus the Christ, and turn to those things that will release still more the Divine within him/her. Guide him/her and sustain him/her, and grant that this Baptism may indeed signify a rebirth of the spirit within, so that in the body and free from the body he/she may work for the coming of Thy Kingdom. Amen.
**Then follows the Reading from the 1st chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, beginning at the 29th verse.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith: Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said: After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for He was before me, and I knew Him not! But that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptising with water. And John bare record, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not! But he that sent me to baptise with water, the same said unto me: Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is He which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.
**Then follows this short address:
As we think upon the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find that three very important events took place: firstly, that Jesus prepared Himself by self-denial and prayer; secondly, that He received the full power of the Holy Spirit; and thirdly, that He was welcomed by God the Father to Sonship and partnership.
All this is symbolic of the blessings that every child of God can receive if, with understanding, he/she comes with a true desire to be baptised by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the course of life there are many tests and temptations, but if you believe in Christ, the protection and guidance can be forthcoming; and should you fail at times, you can take comfort from the thought that by striving to rise above the faults of the past, the time will come when you shall fail no more.
Having bought this experience by suffering you will find that the missionary spirit is released within, and the desire will grow ever stronger to safeguard others on the steep road of life; so that they too may resist those influences which are hurtful to the soul and the body.
In service to mankind you will show forth in your life that power which comes upon you today, and which can give you peace, both on Earth and in the world to come.
