For Clara Mary Evangelina

For Jon and Emily, but most especially for our new sister in Christ, the holy and righteous Clara, washed in the water with the Word.

Maybe it's a little long.  It was 9 verses, but I took one out.  I'll save it for later.  Stephen or Robin, I wrote this tune with "Nun Komm" in mind.  If you can imitate that tune in American style, you will have my deep gratitude.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Name of which the baptized boast,
God of pow'r and righteousness,
Giver of eternal grace,

Thanks forever we will give
For Your name by which we live;
Songs of joy unending be
To the Holy Trinity!

To the Father now I come,
Clinging to His only Son,
Who, made flesh for us, once died,
And the pow'r of sin destroyed.

How could my poor praise suffice
To adore this sacrifice,
That in baptism's word divine
Was by faith in Christ made mine?

Nor the prudent nor the wise
Can obtain this water's prize,
But the babes and children small
Answer Jesus' gracious call.

Look, my heart, outside of me -
Hear by faith and you will see
In this water is a bath
That drown's sin and Satan's wrath.

Nor can now the gates of hell
From my heart this truth dispel,
That I am a child of God,
Washed in Jesus' precious blood.

Dying, rising, in this flood,
We will walk the narrow road,
Till the Spirit takes us home
Pure before the Father's throne.

Amen.