Baptismal Process

In the Episcopal Church, we believe Baptism to be the foundational sacrament of the Christian life. Our prayer book proclaims it to be, "full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church" (Book of Common Prayer p299).

Baptism is both the beginning and sum of all it is to be a Christian, of all it means to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Adults (age 16 and above) are admitted to Baptism through the Catechumenate (from an ancient Greek word meaning a period of training). The Catechumenate is a long-term process of Christian formation that allows a person to develop a deeper relationship with God in Christ through prayer, study, and service. 

Adults are normally baptized during the Easter Vigil, the most important and resplendent of Christian worship services held the night before Easter, when Jesus "passed over" from death to life.

Young children and infants are baptized when they come from Christian households.

We seek to help the parents and godparents of such children understand the commitment they are making on behalf of their child/godchild by requiring that parents, and godparents when feasible, attend a pre-baptismal process beginning four to five weeks prior to the baptism.

This process consists of:

• special blessings held each week in Church
• two meetings with parish sponsors
• attendance at an information seminar held by the rector.

Children should be enabled by their parents and godparents to grow into a relationship with Christ, coming to the point where they are willing and able to make a mature, adult commitment to their baptismal covenant (via Confirmation or some other such public witness). 

Children are normally baptized five times a year on special holy days that enhance the meaning and celebration of the baptism:

• The Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter)
• Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit was first given to Jesus' followers)
• All Saints' Day (commemorating the great heroes of our faith)
• The Baptism of Christ, and the
• Bishop's Visitation

However, the rector will schedule baptisms on other days when circumstances warrant. 

All regular baptisms are celebrated in a public worship service with a reception following.

The newly baptized are also given, as a gift of the parish, a baptismal candle inscribed with the individual's name and the day of the baptism.

Anyone interested in baptism for themselves or family members should contact the church office.