Prior to this prayer ask each student to find out the date of their baptism and if they have memento to bring this in. For students in the class who are not baptised Christians they could be given specific tasks during the prayer such as preparing the prayer space and leading the opening and closing prayers. The dates of the student’s baptism could be written on large cards and placed around the prayer space.

Prepare the prayer space with a white cloth; a large bowl of water and a large white candle ad the dates of the students baptisms.

Use a gathering song to accompany procession of the large Candle. Carefully place the candle to stand in or near the bowl of water.

Leader:  We begin “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, Amen”. We gather in the knowledge that we are in the presence of our loving God. When Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan, the holy Spirit descended upon him and God solemnly declared him as the beloved Son. Through our baptism we are made members of Christ’s body and God says to each of us: ’You are my beloved son/daughter; my favour rests on you.’

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Read Mark 1:7-11

Ask those students who have placed cards with the date of their baptism to collect this from the prayer space and then together renew their Baptismal Promises (adapted from http://www.catholicculture.org)

I was privileged to be baptized “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19, 5) on ____________________(insert baptismal date). Now in the presence of this same loving God and of his only-begotten Son I would like to sincerely renew the promises that were made for me at the time of my Baptism.

I reject Satan and all his works and all of his empty promises.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Taught by our Saviour’s command and formed by the word of God, I now dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Leader: Water is a sign of life as without water nothing can grow. Water is also a sign of the new spiritual life into which the baptised person is entering.