Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Ordination of Elena Garcia ARCWP as a Deacon and Baptism of her Grandson Brohdi Lucas at Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community in St. Andrew UCC, Sarasota, Florida on March 25, 2017

ARCWP Ordination of Elena and Baptism of Brohdi

MC: I invite Carolyn, Drew and Brohdi to stand with Brohdi’s Godparents, Barbara and Christopher.

Bishop: Today as we celebrate two sacraments: holy orders and baptism, we affirm our call to live the fullness of love in loving service to our sisters and brothers. From the first moment of our existence and all through our lives each of us is the beloved of God called to reflect the divine presence in our world. 

 In Baptism we celebrate our sacred initiation into a community of faith that supports us on our spiritual journey In Holy Orders we celebrate an individual’s call to serve a community of faith in sacramental ministry. Today, at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community we have ordained our sister, Elena, as a deacon. Now Deacon Grandmother Elena will baptize her precious grandson Brohdi Lucas in her first act of diaconal service as all of us warmly welcome him as a new member of the Christian community.

Bishop: (to the parents) Carolyn and Drew, what do you ask of this Christian Community?

Carolyn and Drew: We ask that our son Brohdi be welcomed into the Christian community through the sacrament of Baptism.

Elena: By asking for Baptism within the Christian community, you are promising to teach Brohdi to live justly, to love tenderly and to walk with integrity for all to see and celebrate. You are promising to teach him about his brother, Jesus and his message of love. Do you promise to do this to the best of your ability?

Carolyn and Drew: We do.

Bishop: (to the godparents) Barbara and Christopher, do you promise to help Carolyn and Drew as they teach Brohdi about the Source of All Life and about Jesus, our brother?

Godparents: We do.

Bishop: In the name of Jesus, we choose you, Brohdi, for baptism.

All: Thanks be to God. Applause.

RITE OF BAPTISM

MC: We are now going to baptize Brohdi Lucas. We invite Brohdi, parents and godparents to come forward to the baptismal font.

Elena: In our sacramental rituals we use many symbols and signs. We now begin the baptismal ritual with a blessing of the water and the oil.

Carolyn: O Holy One, Source of all that is, we experience your grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of your unseen presence.

Drew: At the dawn of creation, Your Spirit breathed on the waters making them the wellspring of all holiness.

Christopher: The water of the Red Sea, through which our ancestors traveled, is a symbol of our liberation from all that holds us captive. In the waters of the Jordan River, our brother Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John, and anointed with your Spirit.

Barbara: After the resurrection, the disciples of Jesus celebrated baptism in water and the Spirit with those who answered Your call to holiness.

Carolyn: From age to age, oil has been used to anoint the priests, prophets, leaders and visionaries.

Bishop: (to all present - Please extend your hands in blessing the water and oil.) O Holy One, you call us to be co-creators of a world filled with blessing and abundance. As co-creators with you, we bless this water and oil as a symbol of your grace filled presence in our community. (pause)

Baptismal Promises

MC: Parents and godparents you are invited to light the Pascal candle.

Bishop: In this part of the baptismal ritual, Carolyn and Drew make baptismal promises for Brohdi. I invite everyone to renew their baptismal promises and respond “I do” to each of the following questions:

Do you promise to see what is good for your sisters and brothers everywhere, rejecting injustice and inequity, living with the freedom and responsibility of children of God? All: I do.

Elena: Do you promise to work for the realization of God’s vision of harmony and right relations among all peoples, rejecting the idols of money, property, color, sex and position? All: I do.
Bishop: Do you promise to seek peace and live in peace in one human family, rejecting prejudice and half-heartedness in every form, and all barriers to unity? All: I do.

Elena: Do you promise to cherish the universe, and this precious planet, working creatively to renew and safeguard the elemental sacraments of air, earth, water and fire? All: I do.

Bishop: Do you believe in God, the Source of all life, in Jesus, our brother who loved and lived among us so that all might live with abundant fullness; in the breath of God’s center, the Spirit who continues the work of forgiveness and reconciliation, birthing and blessing, challenge and hope, so that together we can continue the work of creation? All: I do.

Pouring of Water (as Godparents hold Brohdi over the baptismal font and as Drew pours water over Brohdi’s head)

Elena: We baptize you, Brohdi
- in the name of our God who is Father and Mother, the source of all life
- in the name of our God revealed in Jesus, the Christ and in our humanity,
- in the name of our God whose Spirit dwells everywhere and inspires us as co-creators. Amen.

Anointing with Oil (as Carolyn anoints Brohdi’s forehead)

Bishop: Brohdi, you were conceived in love and welcomed to life with love. We anoint you with this oil in recognition that human love is sacred, that you are sacred.

Presentation of Stole (as Christopher places stole on Brohdi)

Elena: Brohdi, we present you with this stole. May it remind you that you carry in the depths of your being the Spirit of Life and Love itself.

Lighting Candle (as Barbara lights Brohdi’s candle from the community’s Easter candle)

Bishop: Brohdi, may this candle remind you of Jesus, who opened peoples’ minds and hearts to see the “light” of God’s presence within them.

Presentation of Child to Community
(as Carolyn and Drew lift Brohdi and present him to the community)

Elena: It is with great joy that we welcome Brohdi Lucas Courtney to the Christian Community!