One of our greatest joys as Christians is the ability to gather together as one body, to pray to God, and to share the gifts of the sacraments and rites together. We as a community wish to celebrate the milestones in one another’s lives and faith journeys together. There are two primary rites that relate to Christian Initiation. The first is the Sacrament of Baptism, which is full and complete initiation into the body of Christ. The second is Confirmation, which is a chance to make a mature commitment to Christ and to the community. 

Baptisms

In the Episcopal tradition, a person may be baptized at any age. Adults participate in classes alongside those preparing for confirmation or reception to prepare them for the Sacrament of Baptism. For infants and children whose parents wish for them to be baptized, a meeting with the Priest is scheduled for the parents to go over what Baptism will involve, and a rehearsal before the service with all of the participants is scheduled. 

The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated during one of the services on Sunday Morning. It is particularly appropriate for Baptisms to take place on All Saints Day, the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, Easter Vigil,  and Pentecost. If none of these days work for you, the Priest can schedule the service for another Sunday. In line with longstanding tradition, Baptisms are not normally celebrated during the season of Lent. 

On Sundays when a Baptism is scheduled, it may take place at any of our regularly scheduled worship services so that individuals may choose the service that they most often attend or the service that would be most meaningful for them.  Whether infant, child, youth, or adult, all are invited to experience the grace of God through the waters of new birth. As one of the two principal sacraments shared throughout the Christian Church around the world, Baptism is a powerful and important occasion in both the life of the individual and the community. Through baptism we are made “children of God,” and “members of Christ’s Body, the Church.” Both are important. 

Every person who is Baptized into the Christian Faith and into the Episcopal Church must have at least one sponsor. For an adult, the sponsor is someone who can support them in the next stage of their faith journey and/or someone who has help guide them towards Baptism. For children, the sponsors (Godparents) commit to help raise the child in the Christian life and faith and support them along their journey.

If you are interested in being Baptized or in having your child baptized, please fill out the Baptismal Information Form and reach out to Father Nathan and rector@emmanuelbelair.org

In case of a Pastoral Emergency, a Priest (or any Baptized Christian) can celebrate the Baptism immediately in a private service. As in all pastoral emergencies, people are encouraged to reach out to the Priest.    

• The Service of Holy Baptism
• Baptismal Information Form

Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation 

While Baptism is a full and complete initiation into the Christian life and faith, there are times in which making a public and mature declaration of faith is both helpful and important. In Confirmation we welcome those who were Baptized as children the chance to own their own faith. In Reception we welcome those from other denominations into the communion of this Church. In Reaffirmation we welcome those who would like to make a renewal of their Baptismal vows. 

In Confirmation, someone who was baptized as a child is invited to make a mature and public commitment of their faith before the Church. The candidate for Confirmation will make the promises that were made for them in Baptism. The Bishop (as a representative of the whole church) will then bless them and ask God to strengthen them. A person is only confirmed once. 

Reception is meant for those who have made a mature public commitment of faith within another denomination and have now decided to become part of the Episcopal Church. The service looks very similar to Confirmation, but instead of a confirmation of faith, the bishop welcomes them into this communion. 

Reaffirmation can take place as many times as someone wants it to. Sometimes it is chosen by people who have come back to the church after a time away.  Sometimes it is chosen by people who have undergone significant spiritual growth, or have spent a time thinking intentionally about their faith and wish to make a new commitment to Christ and to the Church. 

Any of these services involves a serious personal commitment, and as such the preparation for these services involves a time of learning and prayer. Classes are offered on a regular basis and normally involve a time for prayer, time for conversation, and an overview of the core beliefs of Anglicanism. Anyone who is interested in exploring these rites should talk with the Priest.