Sacraments

Baptism

Baptism is traditionally the first sacrament offered, with communion coming after. In Baptism, we use water to outwardly embody the act of the Holy Spirit in initiating the baptized into the body of Christ, the Church. With oil, we recognize that God’s welcome and inclusion of us is unbreakable.

Baptism is rich with meaning, beginning with recognition that God is active through water across Scripture. In Baptism, we die with Christ, and we join in Christ’s resurrection. We baptize people of all ages and we baptize in community, with the church present to support and affirm the baptized.

When babies and young children are baptized, their parents and godparents take on baptismal vows on behalf of the child, vows that we take seriously. Alongside them, the gathered congregation makes our own vow to support the newly baptized. Baptizing a baby or young child is not just a celebration of young life, therefore, but a serious commitment to bring a child up in a life of faith.

We likewise walk alongside older children, youth, and adults who seek baptism. The main difference is that older baptized can make the promises of faith for themselves!

If you are interested in being baptized yourself, or in bringing your child for baptism, please reach out to our priest. In an emergency, she will come to you or talk you through performing an emergency baptism yourself. We hope to be able to gather and celebrate as a church after the emergency has passed.

We recognize all baptisms that use water and name the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, regardless of the person or church which performed the baptism.

You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever.

"Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me."

Eucharist

Eucharist is the repeatable sacrament, for we gather again and again to be transformed in our reception of Christ’s body and blood, after which we give thanks and are sent back into the world.

In praying over the Eucharist, we remember God’s saving actions and the words that Jesus used to institute Eucharist.

We name the work of the Holy Spirit, done in the community of the gathered church, in making the bread and wine that we bring to Eucharist into Christ’s body and blood. We recognize that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, though we don’t insist on any one understanding of how Christ is made present. We therefore treat the Body and Blood of Christ with reverence and care. We recognize, too, that in Eucharist, the Holy Spirit is at work in us.

In sharing the Eucharist, we are offered a glimpse and a taste of God’s heavenly banquet, and we take seriously Christ’s command to continue to celebrate and share Eucharist.

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