Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which one becomes a Christian, a member of the Body Christ, a partner with Christ in the world, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of God. It is the primary sacrament of initiation into the Christian Church. Therefore, participation in the worshiping community is essential in order for the sacrament to have its fullest meaning.
It is an event of importance and celebration both for the individual Christian and for the whole church. Parents and godparents who present children for baptism discover that their participation has a profound effect on their own spiritual lives. Adults who come to be baptized experience this as a crucial step in their journey of faith.
Though during the ritual we make promises to God, we understand that at the heart of it is not our act but God’s: in Baptism we are marked, claimed, and made God’s own. Baptism makes the rest of our lives and forever the long and sometimes difficult journey of learning to trust that immense gift and to shape our lives to reflect it. Baptism is, in short, the beginning of a whole new way of life in which Christ is our companion, model and savior.
Baptism for is celebrated several times throughout the church year. Those seeking baptism, either for their children or for themselves, must attend a preparatory class. To arrange this, or for more information, please contact the Reverend Lori Walton at 510.797.1492.