Thanksgiving for Baptism

In the Lutheran tradition, we often start worship with either Confession and Forgiveness or Thanksgiving for Baptism.  I think that any time we can acknowledge our messiness and imperfections in church is good.  It is such a relief to start worship knowing I"m in a room full of imperfect people who are also sinners and have also made mistakes.  Publicly sharing that together is a great way to start our time with God.  It is great to understand how messy we are, how the world hurts us, and that we need God in our lives.  Enjoy this liturgy.  

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
 
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth,
our light and our salvation.
C: Amen.
P: People of God, in the baptismal waters we travel with Christ from death to life. Our past, our sin, our failure, our doubt, and our shame are drowned and gone here.
C:  You, O God, wash us clean.
P: Our fear, our confusion, our self-righteousness, our despair  -- ALL are washed away by grace.
C:  You, O God, wash us clean.
P: Our pride, our hypocrisy, and other people’s opinions of us no longer have the power to define us.
C:  You, O God, give us new life.
P: The Spirit lives and moves through us now, a great and joyful mystery, so we may bring love and mercy into the world as the body of Christ.
C: You, O God, give us new life. 
P: Rejoice that God has claimed us in this baptismal grace, not by our own doing or believing but by God’s mercy alone. 
C: You, O God, give us new life. 
P:  And so, as we begin worship, we give thanks to God for the gracious gift of baptism that joins us together in Christ by the Spirit’s power. Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism,
we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness.
We praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.
To you be given honor and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
C: Amen.

Resource used and edited with permission of Pr. Michael Coffey.  http://mccoffey.blogspot.com/2012/08/thanksgiving-for-baptism-rite.html