EMMANUEL
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
BAPTISM & CONFIRMATION
Baptism
This is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Kingdom of God (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 298, 858).
Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons, or godparents, who speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children who cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates.
During the baptismal rite the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They then join with the candidates by renewing the Baptismal Covenant.
Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saint's Day (the Sunday following) and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany).
Baptisms will NOT be conducted on Christmas Eve.
Please complete the Baptism Information Form and return to the office (eechbg@gmail.com).
Confirmation
This is the sacramental rite in which the candidates "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 860).
Those who are baptized at an early age and those baptized as adults without laying on of hands by a bishop are expected to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive laying on of hands by a bishop (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 412).
If you have already made a mature Christian commitment in another denomination you are recognized as members of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, and are received into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.
We offer a confirmation class that spans a several weeks that help the candidates discover the meaning of Christian commitment in their lives, and explores ways that their Christian commitment can be lived.
