Baptism...Did you know?
Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the Kingdom of God. The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The inward and spiritual grace is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God's family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. Baptism requires that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Adult baptism is normative. Infants, however, are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God. Children are baptized as a special exception to the rule which is granted only when an appropriate adult stands as the guarantor for the child. In the Catechism, on page 859 of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), it states, “Promises are made for them (children) by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.” That means that it is not permitted to baptize a child unless the parent(s) is active in the Church. An infant cannot be baptized on grandparents’ or other relatives' memberships unless they are the primary guardians.
There are 4 major feast days that are particularly appropriate for baptisms: The first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6), which is the feast day for the Baptism of Jesus; The Easter Vigil (Night before Easter); Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter); and All Saints Day (or the first Sunday after November 1). It is especially appropriate to celebrate the making of a new Christian (a Saint) in the context of the Holy Eucharist, in which it is especially appropriate for the newly baptized, regardless of age, to be admitted to Holy Communion.
Please talk to Fr. Melton if you are interested in being prepared for Baptism.
Adult baptism is normative. Infants, however, are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God. Children are baptized as a special exception to the rule which is granted only when an appropriate adult stands as the guarantor for the child. In the Catechism, on page 859 of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), it states, “Promises are made for them (children) by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.” That means that it is not permitted to baptize a child unless the parent(s) is active in the Church. An infant cannot be baptized on grandparents’ or other relatives' memberships unless they are the primary guardians.
There are 4 major feast days that are particularly appropriate for baptisms: The first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6), which is the feast day for the Baptism of Jesus; The Easter Vigil (Night before Easter); Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter); and All Saints Day (or the first Sunday after November 1). It is especially appropriate to celebrate the making of a new Christian (a Saint) in the context of the Holy Eucharist, in which it is especially appropriate for the newly baptized, regardless of age, to be admitted to Holy Communion.
Please talk to Fr. Melton if you are interested in being prepared for Baptism.
