Some years ago I wrote a baptism hymn to the tune O Waly Waly which would be appropriate for this Sunday or for most Baptism Sundays.
Image: I, Davezelenka, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
It's based on the Baptism of Jesus Passages eg Luke 3:15-22, on Romans 6:2-11, on Calvin's notion for regeneration or recapitulation as a central way to understand trhe atonement and on Jesus' discussion with James and John in Mark 10:35-38 “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”” (Mark 10:35–38, NRSVue Emphasis Added)
When you were born you joined us Lord
Words Andrew Gillies
© 2002/2003
Used by Permission
When you were born, you joined us Lord.
You took our human way and strife,
and in the Jordan were baptized.
You took our place, remade our life.
Then through your living and the cross,
into the tomb and raised again,
your gift for us was made complete,
and through all this you cleansed our stain.
And, so because you loved us first,
we surely can bring everyone,
obey your call that they should come,
and be baptized, new life begun.
To be sung to O Waly Waly - AHB 453, TIS 536
First written for the occasion of Tia Mary Wild’s baptism, Jan 13, 2002.
When you were born you joined us Lord
Words Andrew Gillies
© 2002/2003
Used by Permission
When you were born, you joined us Lord.
You took our human way and strife,
and in the Jordan were baptized.
You took our place, remade our life.
Then through your living and the cross,
into the tomb and raised again,
your gift for us was made complete,
and through all this you cleansed our stain.
And, so because you loved us first,
we surely can bring everyone,
obey your call that they should come,
and be baptized, new life begun.
To be sung to O Waly Waly - AHB 453, TIS 536
First written for the occasion of Tia Mary Wild’s baptism, Jan 13, 2002.