About St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Baptism at St. Luke’s
What exactly is baptism?
Baptism is one of the two most important sacraments of the Church. The other is the Eucharist (Holy Communion with Bread and Wine.) Baptism may be administered by a Priest or Deacon to individuals of any age who have not been previously baptized in any other Christian denomination.
Why is baptism important?
Baptism is a special time when a family (on behalf of a child), or an adult (who speaks on their own behalf), becomes a member of the body of Christ and the Church. Sometimes a child’s baptism is also called a “christening.”
Speaking for themselves (as adults). or through the promises made by family and friends (on behalf of a child) a vow is made to follow Christian teachings and way of life. These vows include participation in regular worship services as well as individual observance of prayer and study as a life-long practice.
Will you use water as part of the baptism?
Definitely! The word “baptize” means to “dip” or to “plunge” for the purposes of purification, which is a good description of what happens in the baptismal service. At St. Luke’s, we use a very small amount of water taken from the “baptismal font” and pour it over the head of the person being baptized at the appropriate time in the baptismal service.
Do I have to be a member of your church to be baptized or have my child baptized?
Requiring membership before baptism is a decision for an individual church to make, and at St. Luke’s we feel that people should be baptized and have their children baptized with as few obstacles as possible. You will automatically become a member by virtue of your baptism, and we hope that you will return often and become a regularly participating member of our community, in order to live out your baptismal vows.
What will happened during the baptism
You (or your child) will gather around the baptismal font, along with your sponsors (or God Parents in the case of a child). The Sponsors or God Parents, as well as the entire church community present, renew their own baptismal vows at the same time and promise to support you in your Christian life. This personal and community support is important to all Christians, and it is a reason that private baptism is not encouraged except for special circumstances.
What, exactly, will happen during the baptism ceremony
We encourage you to read the baptism rite in the “Book of Common Prayer” so that you will know what to expect. We will be happy to share that with you.
What do I need to do next.
Contact Father David at 802-524-6212 for an appointment to discuss the baptism. He will take some basic information and answer your questions. Then, you will have a second meeting some time before the baptism to walk through a rehearsal—this may be the day of the baptism or some other day, depending on what works for everyone.
When do you have Baptisms?
At St. Luke’s, we schedule baptisms year-round as requested. The Easter Season is a popular time for baptisms because of the focus on new life and transformation. Usually the season of Lent, in mid-winter. is the least requested time, since this more a time of sober reflection..
Other Information:
In special cases, private baptism may be scheduled, but only by prior arrangement with the Rector.
The number of God Parents for infants and small children can vary. God Parents should be aware that they take on the responsibility of seeing that the child they sponsor takes seriously their Christian life and formation. It is therefore wise for parents to choose God Parents whose own Christian life reflects this commitment.
Baptism is one of the important milestones in the life of a family. It's an occasion for joy and celebration and St. Luke’s welcomes the opportunity to be part of that celebration.
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If you have reached this page, you may researching baptism at St.Luke’s, perhaps for yourself or for a child. You have come to the right place and we would like to answer any questions you have. You may be wondering:
