Baptism is one of the two sacraments recognized by the United Church of Christ, the other being The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion. A sacrament can be defined as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." It is a public symbol and act which reminds us that God reaches out to us in love.
Baptism is a service of thanksgiving, a joyous celebration of new birth, a renewal of our covenant, and recognition of God's free and undeserved gift of grace. In the baptismal ceremony, which almost invariably takes place before the congregation during Sunday morning worship, a person is welcomed into the household of the Church of Jesus Christ, the community of faith. We believe that we need each other to nurture, support and challenge our growth into mature Christian disciples.
Planning and Preparation
The request for baptism may be made through one of the ministers or the church office. Sufficient time should be allowed for counseling and preparation. Given that a baptismal certificate can serve as a legal document, the office will need the following information for the baptismal certificate and the church records: full name, birth date and place, full names of parents, including the mother's maiden name.
When you seek baptism, the minister is responsible for preparing you for this sacrament so you can understand its meaning. If you are a parent seeking baptism for your child, you should understand its meaning for the child and your own responsibility toward your child and the church. This includes providing a Christian atmosphere of teaching, example and prayer in your home, taking your child to church as soon as he or she is able to be placed in one of the Sunday school classes, and participating in the life of the church in order that you, too, can grow as a responsible Christian parent.
Though typically celebrated for young children, our congregation welcomes and has celebrated baptisms for persons of all ages…infants, teens and adults. Please note: we do not schedule Baptisms on the first Sunday of the month, as that is Communion Sunday.
Godparents
Sometimes parents will choose special people to stand with them as godparents. While this is not required, it can have special meaning for the family. These persons, by their close friendship or family ties, represent one of the specific ways by which the baptismal vows are honored. If you choose to have individual sponsors or godparents, they, too, should be instructed in the meaning of baptism so they will fully understand their responsibility.
For further information or to schedule a baptism, please call the church office at (203) 938-2004.
|
