Théodore Paul Oudet

18 JUILLET 2020
ÉGLISE SAINT-NICOLAS
SEPTEUIL, FRANCE

WELCOME
The Catholic Church believes the Sacrament of Baptism to be the basis of Christian life; and the door that
gives access to the other sacraments, such as Holy Communion, and, ultimately, Heaven. Through baptism,
the child is freed from original sin, reborn as a child of God, gifted the Holy Spirit, incorporated into the
Church community, and made sharer in the Church mission.
In the different Protestant Churches, the baptism practice varies. For Evangelic Churches, baptism is
celebrated in adulthood by request of the individual as a symbol of their rebirth. Traditional Churches also
baptise children; emphasising the love of God that goes before us and the commitment of the parents.
Despite these ritualistic differences, all Christians consider the symbol of water as a visible sign of the
invisible grace of God, and a representation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hold it as a
symbol of death to our old lives and the rebirth of new lives as children of God.
Today we present our son, Théodore, to the Church. We hope that, as he is guided and cherished by the
family of God, Théodore will grow in the knowledge, grace, and wisdom of Christ, and choose to walk with
Him each day.
 THE QUESTIONING
Fr Daniel: Sarah and Stéphane, what name have you chosen for your child?
S: We have chosen the name Théodore for our son.
Fr Daniel: What do you ask of God’s church for Théodore?
S: We ask that he enter into the family of the children of God,
and that he learn to discover the love of God.
Fr Daniel: You ask for your son to be baptised. In doing so, you must raise Théodore in the faith and
teach him to guard the commandments, so he will love God and his neighbour as Christ taught us.
Do you understand what you are undertaking?
S: Yes, we do.
Fr Daniel: And you, Leonardo and Erika, who have accepted to be Théodore’s godparents, you must
help his parents carry out their responsibilities. Are you ready to do so?
Leonardo and Erika: Yes, we are.

SIGN OF THE CROSS

Fr Daniel: Théodore, the church of God welcomes you with great joy.
In His name, I mark you with the sign of the Cross, the sign of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Théodore, enter the house of God in order to share life with Christ eternally.

All: Amen.

PROCESSIONAL
(All stand) Music: Lord Guides and Sanctifies, G. F. Händel
 OPENING WORDS
Pastor Arnaud

FIRST READING
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13
Read by Pastor Arnaud

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;

and though its parts are many, they form one body.
So it is with Christ.
For we are all baptised by one Spirit into one body
– whether Jews or Greeks, enslaved or free –
and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

PSALM 23
(All stand and recite together in French)
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 SECOND READING
MARK 10: 13-16
Read by Father Daniel
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this, He was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.

T HE G OOD S AMARITAN
L UKE 10:25-37
Read by Timothy Cheang
An expert in law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”
Jesus told a story about a man who was walking on the road, when he was attacked by robbers.
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and left him half dead.
A priest came down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
So too, a Levite came down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, took pity on him. He
went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey,
brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denari and gave them to the
innkeeper saying, “Look after this man. When I return I will pay you for any extra expenses you may
have.”
Jesus asked, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who was attacked?”
The expert in law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

SERMON
Pastor Arnaud
 COMMUNAL PRAYER
Read by Amy Cheang
Lord, we pray for this child, Théodore, as through the baptism,
he becomes an adopted son of God, reborn of the Spirit.
All: Lord, hear us. Lord, grant us.
Lord, we pray that Théodore will grow as a living member of the Church,
supported by the words and example of his parents and godparents.
All: Lord, hear us. Lord, grant us.
Lord, we pray for all those baptised, who form
a single body of Christ, living in one faith and one charity.
All: Lord, hear us. Lord, grant us.
Lord, we pray for all the disciples of Christ, united in the Church,
witnesses to the love of God for the world.
All: Lord, hear us. Lord, grant us. Amen.

PRAYER OF EXORCISM AND ANOINTING

Fr Daniel: Almighty Father, You sent Your only Son to Earth to deliver us from the slavery of sin
and give us the freedom of Your own Son;
You know that this child, as each of us, will be tempted by the lies of the world and must resist Satan.
We humbly pray that, through the crucifixion of Your Son and His resurrection, the powers of Satan be
cast out; give them the power of Christ, and guard them all their lives.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

All: Amen.
 HOLY HOLY HOLY
(All stand and sing together in English)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

Read by Solène Oudet

One night I had a dream. I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes
from my life. In each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.
One was mine, and one was the Lord’s.
When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my
surprise, I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints.
And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life.
I asked the Lord about it: “Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all
the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only
one set of footprints. I don’t understand why You left my side when I needed You most.”
The Lord said, “My precious child, I never left you during your times of trial.
Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.”
 WATER BLESSING
Fr Daniel: God wanted to serve water to give His life to believers. Let us turn our hearts towards Him and
pray that Théodore will be reborn into a new life through the water and the Holy Spirit.

RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH

Now, I address you, the parents and godparents. By the baptismal sacrament, Théodore will receive new life from God, who is
love. To fight against sin and grow in faith, he will need you. If you are led by faith to accept this responsibility, I invite you
today to renew the vows of your own baptism and renounce sin and profess your faith.
To live in the freedom of God’s children,
do you reject sin?
- I reject it.
To avoid the influence of sin,
do you reject that which leads you to sin?
- I reject it.
To follow Jesus Christ, do you reject Satan, the author of sin?
- I reject it.
Do you believe in God, the Almighty Father, creator of the earth and sky?
- I believe.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord born of the Virgin Mary, who was crucified and buried, and rose from
death, and who sits at the right hand of the Father?
- I believe.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body and eternal life?
- I believe.

BAPTISM
Fr Daniel: Théodore, I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
 ANOINTING WITH CHRISM
Fr Daniel: Through baptism, the Almighty God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin and you are
reborn through the water of the Holy Spirit. You, who are now one of His people, are marked by the Holy Oil as a
member of Jesus Christ.

CLOTHING WITH WHITE GARMENT

Fr Daniel: Théodore, you are a new creation and this white garment is a sign that you are clothed in Christ.
With your parents and godparents to help you, with their words and example,
guard the dignity of the Song of God for eternal life.

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE

Fr Daniel: And you who have accepted the role of Théodore’s godparents, you must help his parents exercise their
responsibility. Are you ready to do this?
Leonardo and Erika: Yes, we are.
Fr Daniel: Receive the light of Christ. Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you.
Take care to ensure that your child, enlightened by Christ, walks in the light and perseveres in the faith,
so that, when the Lord comes, Théodore may go out to meet Him in the heavenly Kingdom.

All: Amen.
 THE LORD’S PRAYER
(All stand and recite together in French)
Our Father who art in Heaven,
hallowed by Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.

FINAL BLESSING
Father Daniel

REGISTRY SIGNING
(All stand and sing together in English)

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heav’n along
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in one
Oh, praise Him! Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 FINAL PRAYER
Pastor Arnaud

RECESSIONAL
Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Cecil F. Alexander

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK …

… Father Daniel and Pastor Arnaud for officiating our ecumenical ceremony.

… Théodore’s godparents, Erika and Leonardo, for committing to engage in his spiritual and personal development.

… our congregation of witnesses, here in person and online, whose prayers and presence have supported
and celebrated Théodore today.

We’re hugely honoured to share this day with you.