Author's Note: The song enclosed is an original and may not be used without my consent.
"The Church does not dispense the sacrament of baptism in order to acquire for herself an increase in membership but in order to consecrate a human being to God and to communicate to that person the divine gift of birth from God."- Hans Urs Von Balthasar
It was an unusually bright morning in January in Lower Caanan, Ohio. Chloe Ryan awoke from her slumber refreshed and eager to tackle her day.
Today her son was getting baptized.
She herself had grown up in an episcopalian church. She remembered being baptized at the age of seven. Her mother had been crying with joy as she was baptized in the tiny white chapel in her church.
Over the years she had soured on religion. She hadn't been involved with the Episcopal church since she turned twelve. She had wanted to feel her way around different religions and go beyond what she had been exposed to all her life. She hadn't even known that there were other religions until she turned thirteen.
For a while she experimented with different religions, trying to figure out what she liked. She had tried Buddhism, Paganism, and even Scientology before she circled back to Christianity.
For a long time she had only known how the Episcopal church did things. She hadn't explored other denominations within Christianity. She looked at Catholicism, Mormonism, and Presbyterianism before she finally settled into a nondenominational church that had since become a home to her.
She got up, showered, and put on her favorite dress. It was a white silk V-Neck dress that reached past her knees. Her favorite part were the long angel sleeves. She put on a pair of white T-Strap heels and a pearl necklace with matching earrings. She did her hair and let it cascade down her back in soft waves and did her makeup before going to get her son.
Bryce was happily babbling as he reached up to play with some of the toys that hovered over his crib. When he saw his mother his smile grew.
"Good morning, my angel! Are you ready to go to church today?" She asked as she plucked him up into her arms. She dressed him in a white gown with matching booties before loading him into the car and driving to church.
She sat in the front row and listened as the ceremony began.
"Dearly beloved, we are honored with the privilege of being present here today to witness and support in faith the baptism of Bryce Cortland Ryan; the son of Chloe Ryan, born into this world on July 22, 2008."
"You have been invited here as family and friends as your prayers and spiritual support in the life of this child. It has been said that in a Baptism, Heaven comes down and surround the child with God's love for which the effect is lifelong. We join our thoughts and sincere goodwill, asking that Christ's peace might embrace this family and an arc of God's light surround this child for all of his days.
Throughout our lives, we are called upon to make make serious decisions. The decision of dedication you make today is one of the most sacred and significant you may declare. By it you confess your faith and formally dedicate yourself to our heavenly Creator, pronounce your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, call upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and profess fellowship in the circle believers of baptism."
"Let us begin in Prayer:
Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, let that person disregard themselves, take up their responsibility daily, and follow me. For whosoever world save his life selfishly shall lose it, but whosoever loses their life for My sake shall save it."
"Jesus further said: "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
"Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ instructs us that all should come to faith with the eyes and heart of a child. Today, we dedicate Bryce Cortland Ryan to Our God in this Baptism.
In Jesus Christ, we are set free of the punishment of sin and oppression of law. By grace in faith we are forgiven and assured eternal life.
Jesus gave unto us two great commandments, which we should strive in heart and mind to obey. Both are of Love. Love God with all our hearts. Love others as we would have others love us. These two things our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commands of us."
"Chloe Ryan, will you teach Bryce Cortland Ryan the truth that from childhood he may realize his unity with God and of Christian doctrine, the gospel ministry and of the salvation by grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Will you try to conduct your own life so that by both word and example, Bryce may learn to live joyously and harmoniously with Christian principle and the assurance of salvation - will you strive to do this to the best of your ability?"
"I will." She swore.
Pastor Bobby took Bryce into his arms, held him over the water, and poured it over his head.
"Bryce, I baptize you in the name of the Father; In the name of the Son; and in the name of the Holy Spirit; Amen." Bryce did not cry, he did not make a sound.
Pastor looked up at the crowd.
"Let us pray. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secret is kept, we place ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Grant us and this child/believer now dedicated to you, our Lord God and Heavenly Father, a clear understanding of the duties and obligations we now assume. We pray for the care and protection of this child in body and soul. We surrender him to your hands. Please, Dear Heavenly Father, bind your angels to bless and attend him always. May his heart grow strong, may he love patiently, and may he do what is good and holy in your eyes. This we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen."
He put a hand on Bryce's head. "As a child of the covenant, receive this blessing. In Baptism you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever and ever. Amen."
"Throughout the Bible, Old and New Testament, anointing with oil was an act in recognition of wealth, prominence, inheritance and position. Yet in the anointing of Christ before his death on the cross, we were shown the true measure of possession, inheritance and wealth is not found by worldly measures.
In Christian history, anointing a child with oil would follow the Baptism, as a statement that whether Bryce's future in this lifetime is of power and wealth, or is a life of want and hardship, having now entered into the Kingdom of God, Bryce is wealthier than any worldly King or Queen, as Bryce is assured of a final future inheritance and place in the Paradise of Heaven, where all is joy, there is no want and there is perfect peace and harmony."
"Bryce Cortland Ryan, having now been dedicated into the Kingdom of God, I anoint thee with all the wealth you now possess as one of the Kingdom of God - the power and majesty of our Lord God; the unlimited and sacrificial love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the spiritual wisdom and assurance of the Holy Spirit; and of your great inheritance - life everlasting in the paradise of heaven - of perfect peace, harmony and joy. No man or woman could be possess more than this."
"Bryce, from this day onward, no matter how dark the world may seem nor how alone and lost you may feel, you shall never be alone again, never without hope or assurance of final victory. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God and body of believers of Christendom, in this world and in heaven. Our true Lord God shall always be with you; the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ shall always be your salvation through grace in faith, the Holy Spirit shall always minister to your heart and mind; and the multitude of God's angels encompass you
The light of God's Truth surrounds you, the love of God encompasses you, the power of God protects you, the presence of God watches over you and wherever you are God is always with you. So it is and so it shall always be. Amen.
Bryce Cortland Ryan, we bless you and you fill us with joy. God loves you and so do we."
The pastor made the sign of the cross and finished the service with the last blessing.
"May the Lord will Bless you and Keep you; make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; Lift his Countenance unto you and give you peace. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy God, Amen."
Chloe smiled as she carried her son back to their seat. She knew Cortland was so proud.
They ended the baptisms with a potluck luncheon, where everyone came up to Chloe and told her how adorable her son was and how well behaved he had been through the service.
After a hearty lunch of sandwiches, potato salad, and corn (with a brownie or two for dessert), Chloe took her son home. She dressed him in a romper and sat him in a swing she had purchased for him at Christmas. It was a day that should have been devoted to family. She missed Cortland dearly. After preserving the baptismal gown, she watched her son and began to sing him a lullaby of her own creation.
"If Daddy had the chance
To tell you all he could
Would you give a second glance
When he told you where he stood?
Would you get up and run
When you found out what he'd done?
Would you never look at him the same again?
Well you think what you will,
But I remember still
The man who was my husband and my friend
I think about him when I see you smiling
I see him in the stars that hold such grace
And If I had to be honest I'd say I'm lying
If I said I didn't dream about his face.
No one knew about the way he loved me
Our relationship was secret from the start
But that doesn't change the way he felt about me
And that he's the only man who caught my heart
I still write to him to tell him all about you
I send a letter and don't forget to pray
And though he never got the chance to know you
He's the angel watching over you each day.
So if you wonder about the man who made you,
Know that I loved him with everything I had
And I know that he did bad things, I do
But you should still be proud to call him dad."
By the time the song was through, her baby had fallen asleep.