Baptism

Baptism is one of two sacraments recognized and practiced by the United Church of Christ and Fauntleroy Church. “Sacrament” means a holy or sacred act that we feel called by God to practice in our faith. Traditionally, we have called a sacrament "an outward and physical sign of an inward and spiritual grace."

Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit is the sign and seal of our common discipleship with Christ. By inviting the Holy Spirit to be upon the water and upon the person being baptized, we celebrate the beginning of a new life as a child of God in the Church universal.

What Baptism Means

Like a prism, the rite of baptism has several meanings:

• It identifies person being baptized as a child of God.
• It initiates the person into our faith community.
• It commits parents to rearing their child to know Christ and his love for all people or it commits the adult being baptized to faithfully following Christ.
• It blesses with water and prayer the person being baptized as a gift to us and * someone loved forever by the God of all creation.

How, when, and whom we baptize

Typically, we "sprinkle," whereby the pastor cups a little water and pours it over the person's head, saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father (or Creator), the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Because baptism is inextricably tied to community, we do it before the congregation, usually on a Sunday morning.

Anyone may be baptized, at any age, in the United Church of Christ. Because the commitment made is a two-way street, we ask that the person being baptized belong to a congregation that can support parents of a child or the adult being baptized.

To inquire about having your child or yourself baptized, call the church office to schedule a meeting with one of our pastors.