Godparent's Sunday
Sunday, February 3, 2008
One of the most special days of the year for our children is Godparent's Sunday. On this special day, children and their godparents come to Church together to receive Holy Communion.
In recent years, Father Christ has started a beautiful tradition by performing a rededication service within the Divine Liturgy.
This service is included below.
GODPARENT'S SUNDAY
RECONFIRMATION OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
BY
GODPARENTS AND GODCHILD
Immediately following the
Communion Hymn (Koinonikon), the Priest invites the congregation to reconfirm
their baptismal vows, saying:
PRIEST: Do you renounce Satan, and
all his works, and all his worship, and all his angels, and all his pride? (3x)
ALL: We do.
PRIEST: Have you renounced Satan?
(3x)
ALL: We have.
PRIEST: Do you unite yourselves to
Christ?(3x)
ALL: We do.
PRIEST: Have you united yourselves
to Christ? (3x)
ALL: We have.
PRIEST: Do you believe in Him?
ALL: We
believe in Him as King and as God.
THE CREED
I
believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and
of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only
begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light,
true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father,
through whom all things were made. Who for us and for our salvation, He came
down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and
became man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried. On
the third day He rose according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and
is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead. His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.
In one, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the
age to come. Amen.
PRIEST: Have you united yourselves unto Christ?
ALL: We have.
PRIEST: Then bow before Him and worship Him.
ALL: We bow before the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Trinity One in
Essence, and Undivided.
PRIEST: Blessed is God Who desires that all men to be saved, and to come to the
knowledge of Truth; both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER OF RECONFIRMATION
PRIEST:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Blessed are You, Lord God
Almighty, Fountain of Blessings, Sun of Righteousness, Who made to shine forth
for those in darkness a light of salvation, through the manifestation of Your
Only Begotten Son and our God, granting unto us, though we are unworthy, blessed
cleansing in Holy water, and divine sanctification in the Life-effecting
Anointing; Who has been well-pleased to regenerate these Your servants through
Water and the Spirit, giving them forgiveness of voluntary and involuntary sins:
do You Yourself, Sovereign Master, Compassionate King of All, bestow upon them
also unto them the Seal of Your Holy omnipotent and adorable Holy Spirit, and
the Communion of the Holy Body and Most precious Blood of Your Christ. Keep them
in Your sanctification. Reconfirm them in the Orthodox faith. Deliver them from
the Evil One and his devices. Preserve their souls, through Your saving fear, in
purity and righteousness, that in every work and word, being acceptable before
You, they may become children and heirs of Your heavenly Kingdom. For You are
our God, the God of Mercy and Salvation, and to You we send up Glory; to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the
ages of ages.
ALL: Amen.
COMMUNION PRAYERS
ALL:
I believe, and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body, and that this is
truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray You, have mercy upon me, and
forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known
and unknown. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure
Mysteries for the forgiveness of my sins and for life eternal. Amen.
Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Your Mystical Supper. I will
not reveal Your mystery to Your adversaries. Nor will I give You a kiss as did
Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Remember me in Your Kingdom.
PRIEST: Approach with the fear of God, faith, and love.
The Faithful come forth to receive.
After returning to your pew, recite the following Prayer of Thanksgiving to
oneself.
Glory to You, our Lord, glory to You. (3x)
Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let Your sacred Body be unto me for eternal life and
Your precious Blood for forgiveness of sins. Let this Eucharist be unto me for
joy, health and gladness. And in Your awesome Second Coming make me, a sinner,
worthy to stand at the right hand of Your glory; through the intercession of
Your pure Mother and of all Your Saints. Amen. (Additional prayers are located
on pp. 40-42 of the Holy Cross Liturgy Book.)