Washed: a new song for holy baptism

Sunday we gathered at St Ansgars in Salinas (the congregation my dad, Herb Hoff, has served since 1997), for the baptism of my sister and brother-in-law's dear son, Magnus. We were honored to lead the congregation in singing our family hymn: Children of the Heavenly Father. We also sang a song I wrote for the occasion. The song could be used for the baptism of a girl by making the pronouns "fit".

Washed

©Nathan Hoff, on the Eve of Magnus Clapp's baptism

Titus 4.4-7, Luther's explanation for the Lord's Prayer and Holy Baptism, Collect for Good Friday

Chorus 1

Washed in the water and the word.

Trusting in Him whose voice you heard

Father, Son, Holy Spirit: named,

chosen, beloved, claimed!

Chorus 2

Pour out Your grace

All of his days

Sin, Devil, Death: Undone!

Pour out Your grace

All of his days

Life granted in Your Son

Verse 1

   In Your kindness, guide and guard

When his way is easy, hard

   For You are truly his

   and he is truly Yours

Verse 2

When he sees that he is dust

Speak so he can trust

That You are truly his

and he is truly Yours

Verse 3

   May he find his own place

In your family of grace

   For He is surely ours

   and we are surely yours