Opportunities to be baptized | Saturday baptisms

Welcome one another therefore as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7

Baptism is a sacrament of welcoming into the Body of Christ for children and adults. Through baptism, we acknowledge and celebrate God's love and embrace for God's people as unconditional and absolute. It is also a time when the community of faith gathers together to renew its own commitment to Christ and to support those who are being baptized in their life in Christ. As such, the Sacrament of Baptism is generally celebrated in the context of the baptismal candidate's ongoing relationship with the community of faith and within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast.

In the early Church, adult baptisms were the norm as more and more people heard and responded to the Gospel. While there are fewer adult baptisms in the Episcopal Church today, they are cause for great celebration in their witness to God's ongoing, active presence at work among us and in their affirmation of God's promises of new and abundant life in Christ. We encourage adults who are exploring the Christian faith at St. Stephen's to discuss the possibility of baptism with one of the members of the clergy.

When a child is born in a parish, it is cause for rejoicing for the entire Body of Christ. At St. Stephen's, the Guild of the Christ Child and the clergy are eager to support new parents. Therefore, early in pregnancy or at the time of birth, we encourage parents to contact the church. This will enable us to begin providing support and information about baptism.

Our Book of Common Prayer designates certain days in the liturgical year as being especially appropriate for the celebration of Holy Baptism. These are the Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter Day), the Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day or the Sunday after All Saints' Day, the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany) and the Annual Bishop's Visitation. Given the size of our parish, we celebrate Holy Baptism on other Sundays throughout the year.

November 4 (The Sunday after All Saints Day)
November 25
January 13, 2008 (The Baptism of Our Lord)
Saturday, March 22 (Easter Vigil—adult baptisms)
May 11 (Pentecost)
May 25

In addition to the Prayer Book baptism dates, we occasionally offer baptism on Saturdays at 10:30 am. We hope this is helpful for the families of children to be baptized, no matter which of the Sunday services you typically attend. These Saturday services are conducted exactly as the Sunday services, and the whole congregation is invited to join the celebration. 

The next Saturday morning baptism is scheduled for April 5, 2008.

If you would like to be baptized or to have your children baptized, please contact Mary Frances Siersema, extension 302.