10 Ways to Nurture Baptismal

Faith at Home
Children are drawn to the baptismal waters. The joy that the water invites, the ritual that surrounds the font, and the
unique character of the day all speak to children from their earliest days. Help your child begin to understand the sacrament of baptism by using these words:
In baptism God says:
You are mine.
I love you.
You are washed and made new.
In baptism the family of God says:
We welcome you.
Let us serve together.
While many of these suggestions apply to children of all ages, they are ordered to provide ideas from the childs infancy
through young adulthood.
1. The first place that your child experiences the tangible love of God is in your own arms. Give voice to that love as a
gift from God.
I love you so much. Im grateful that God has given us this gift of love to share with each other.
2. Point your child to signs of new life all around, like budding spring flowers, new friendships, and new opportunities.
Help your child identify these signs of life as a gift from God.
What a beautiful tulip! Isnt Gods creation wonderful?
You are starting kindergarten. I am so proud of how you are growing up. I am grateful for the new
beginnings that God gives us.
Look at those two people helping each other. Isnt it great how God gives us opportunities to work
together?
3. Ask your child for forgiveness when you make a mistake, and be gracious
in your forgiveness toward your child. Give voice to the fact that forgiveness comes from God. You might trace the sign of the cross on your childs
head as you say, I forgive you.
Im sorry I yelled at you. Will you forgive me? Thank you for helping
me know that even when I make a mistake you still love me. I am so
grateful that our God forgives us.

2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

I forgive you, son. I know it is hard to choose kind words to say instead of hurtful words. What might be some loving words you can say the next time you are angry?
4. Make it a habit to talk about worship on the ride home, at the lunch table,
on the way to the soccer game. Encourage your child to focus on
words from a hymn, decorations in the church, liturgical actions,
stories from the scripture, or ideas from the sermon. Tell what
you noticed. Wonder together. Ask questions together. Learn
together.
What did you notice this morning at worship?
I wonder what that tells us about God.
5. Help your child know how important he is to your church
family. Build a sense of belonging. Encourage your child to
worship fully by supporting her in the singing of the hymns, the
reading of the words, and the action of the liturgy.
When you sing the hymns in worship, you really help us praise God.
I saw how Joe Smith smiled when you helped him today. Thank you for caring for others in our church family. You
really make a difference.
You were so friendly to the new child at church today. Thank you for showing Gods welcome to her.
6. Carve out time for family devotions. Set aside a special night of the week or choose a season of the church year to
commit yourselves to the discipline of scripture reading and prayer. Encourage your children to help plan or lead your
family devotions. Act out, tell, or read Bible stories that help reveal Gods loving and redeeming power.
What does that story tell us about God and about Gods love?
I wonder where we find new life in that story?
7. Cultivate grateful hearts. Give voice to the gratitude that you feel for
the many gifts that God gives. Model thankfulness for successes and
struggles. Let your child hear you talk about moments of grace in times
of happiness as well as times of sadness. Say simple prayers of thanksgiving together at mealtime or bedtime.
God, we are grateful for the support our friends are giving us in
this tough time. It helps us know that we are not alone.
Thank you, God, for the new life that we feel when we forgive
each other.

2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

8. Help your child embrace how important the church family is to us. Identify a person who is a role model of faith-filled
living. Talk about her strengths and describe how those strengths inspire you. Invite your child to tell how he is inspired
by others. When your child is in upper-elementary school, middle school, and high school, it will become more and
more important to make connections with these role models. An adolescent needs adults beyond his or her parents to
provide additional support and guidance.
It is so inspiring to see Mrs. Smith bring her neighbors to our church. She does such a good job inviting people
and making them feel welcome. Her hospitality is really inspiring to me. I wonder how I could show that kind of
hospitality?
9. Help your child see how precious he or she is in the sight of God. This is a particularly important charge as your child
moves from the elementary school years into middle school and beyond. Tell your child some very specific gifts that you
see in him or her, making sure to identify internal qualities. Leave notes on the bathroom mirror, on a pillow, or on the
bedroom door that express your appreciation for your child as unique and loved by God.
I am grateful for your gift of honesty. Thank you for telling the truth.
You have such a wonderful sense of justice. Thank you for helping me see your point of view.
I am blessed to be your parent.
10. Let your child witness your decision making, especially when there are clear choices from which to choose. Allow
him or her to see you thinking about your choices, weighing which choice would be more life-giving to others and
which choice might be more focused on self.
I really want to go to the baseball game but it starts during worship. I know I would have fun watching the game,
but I also know that worship is important. It keeps me connected to our church family and it gives me an opportunity to praise God. It is really hard to make decisions like this. Hmm . . . which choice would be life-giving to
others?

Tell your childs baptismal story often,

looking back to see the grace that has surrounded you,
looking around to see who is on the journey with you,
looking forward to days filled with service, lived out in faith.
For even more ideas on nurturing baptismal faith at home, see the small book Living the Promises of Baptism: 101 Ideas
for Parents (Augsburg Fortress, 2010).

2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.