Baptism: Jk - Gr 1

Lesson Objectives: 

• What is Baptism 
• Why is Baptism Important?
• Baptism Symbols
• Baptism for Babies
• What Happens During Baptism?
• What Do Parents Do?
• Ending the Ceremony

Resources:

https://www.stminahamilton.ca/blog1/wp-content/uploads/pre-servants/Church_Rites/Lecture%2002%20-%20The%20Sacrament%20of%20Baptism%20-%20Slides.pdf 

https://orthodoxsundayschool.org/epistles-feasts-and-sacraments/3-5-years-old/baptism 

https://lacopts.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/The-Sacrament-of-Baptism-order-and-explanation.pdf 

What is Baptism?

• Baptism is a special way we become part of God’s family and join the Church. It helps us be close to God.
• When we are baptized, we are made clean and forgiven for any wrong things we’ve done.
• Baptism is a new beginning, like when we are born again as a child of God.

Why is Baptism Important?

• Baptism helps us get ready for Heaven and be with God forever.
• Jesus wants everyone to be baptized. He told us to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism Symbols

1. Water – Water helps wash away the bad things we do, just like how Jesus helps clean us.
2. Clothes – After baptism, we wear new white clothes to show we are starting fresh and clean.
3. Red Ribbon – The priest puts a red ribbon on the child. It reminds us of the love and blood of Jesus that saved us.
4. Crown – The child wears a crown, which shows that they belong to God’s kingdom and have victory over death.

Baptism for Babies

• Babies are baptized too because everyone needs Jesus’ help to go to Heaven. In the Bible, whole families were baptized together (Acts 16:14-15).
• We baptize babies soon after they are born because baptism is very important.

What Happens During Baptism?

1. The Water is Blessed – The priest prays over the water to make it holy and special.
2. The Baby is Cleaned and Anointed – The priest puts oil on the baby to help them become close to God.
3. Saying Goodbye to Bad Things – The godparent says "Goodbye" to Satan and "Hello" to Jesus.
4. The Baptismal Water – The priest puts the baby in the water three times: once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Spirit. This shows we are buried with Jesus and then come out alive again.
5. New Clothes and the Crown – After baptism, the baby wears a new white robe, and the priest places a crown on their head.

What Do Parents Do?

• Parents promise to help the child grow in faith and teach them about God.
• The Church asks parents to remember how special their child's baptism is and the big responsibility they have in raising the child in the faith.

Ending the Ceremony

• At the end, the priest says a prayer over the baptismal water and asks God to return the water to its simple form, reminding us that everything we do is for God's glory.