welcome to the family

OK, friends... especially ELCA friends... i love that we love baptism and that we celebrate God's act through baptism in so many and varied ways and liturgies and so on. but sometimes i think "affirmation of baptism" is not the best liturgical rite for the welcoming of new members..

so here is one i wrote specifically for 1st Trinity.

i think it'll work in our context :)

peace.

Welcome to the Family
Rite for New Nembership

This service may take place immediately following the Hymn of the Day and before the Creed.
The congregation and candidates for membership gather around the font as able.
The minister adresses the congregation:
P: The Lord is with you!
ALL: And also with you!
P: Let us Pray.
God of justice, God of peace, God of love and God of new and everlasting life, we praise you for the gift of community and the gift of your presence promised to us whenver we gather in your holy name—in bread and wine, in water and word, and in the precious gift of one another.
As we welcome these men and women into our community and celebrate their lives now interwined with our own, we ask your grace to move through us. We ask your love to bind us together. And we ask for your Spirit to unite us, as your children, into the family of faith and hope that you have called us to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
ALL: Amen.
The minister adresses the candidates.
P: INSERT NAMES, do you wish to become members of First Lutheran Church of the Trinity?
Candidates: We do!
P: Do you promise to take these people seriously, to treat them lovingly, and to hold them in your heart and in your payers?
Candidates: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Do you promise to hold fast to the faith, and to hold tighter to God’s grace, knowing that God’s faithfulness transcends our faithfulness?
Candidates: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Do you promise to deepen your relationship with the Scriptures, the Creeds, and the Christian tradition, seeking the Spirit of life and freedom contained therein?
Candidates: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Do you promise to pray for this community, for the ELCA, our bishops and synods, and for all people of faith everywhere?
Candidates: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Will you pray with us, learn with us, hope with us, and seek to build up your sisters and brothers gathered here?
Candidates: We will, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Will you seek to welcome all who come in through these doors?
Candidates: We will, and we ask God to help and guide us!
The minister adresses the congregation:
P: Do you, people of First Trinity, promise to welcome INSERT NAMES into our congregation; to care for them as sisters and brothers, and to regard them as your family in Christ?
Congregation: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Do you promise to take them seriously, to treat them lovingly, and to hold them in you heart and in your payers?
Congregation: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Will you journey with them in life and in faith?
Congregation: We will, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: Sisters and brothers at First Trinity, will you now accept INSERT NAMES as members of this congregation, First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, into the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, and into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran World Federation?
Congregation: We will, and we ask God to help and guide us!
P: I now declare you members of this congregation. Welcome to the family!
Applause may be offered as sign of thanksgiving and celebration.
This rite may be followed by a Creed, the Prayers of the People, and the Passing of the Peace.



©2009, First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, 643 West 31st St., Chicago