Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.
The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 858
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church joyfully welcomes new members into the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, which we give to both infants and adults. Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the church. The bond which God creates in Baptism cannot be broken. The sacrament of Baptism is a Holy Mystery, which means we can understand the meaning of the act without every fully comprehending the depths of its significance. Baptism is one of the two Sacraments of the Episcopal Church, and it brings full membership into the Church, including participation in Holy Communion.
Candidates are sponsored by parents and godparents—or in the case of an adult, presented by a beloved friend or family member—and are surrounded and affirmed by the congregation. Accordingly, all baptisms take place during public worship.
Should I be baptized, confirmed, received, or should I reaffirm my faith?
Baptism:
is for people who have never officially become a Christian. Baptism is the rite of initiation into the body of Christ. If you were not raised in the church, or if you were raised in a church that practices adult baptism and left that church before you ever made a profession of faith and were baptized, we will be delighted to baptize you as a Christian and invite you into St. Matthew’s as your first Christian community.
Confirmation:
is making a mature public affirmation of faith as an adult. If you were baptized as a child but have never affirmed the faith of your childhood as your own in your adult life, confirmation will be the route through which you can join St. Matthew’s. In Confirmation the Bishop prays you will receive gifts of the Holy Spirit for ministry. Confirmation also serves as a rite of membership in the Episcopal Church and in our parish in particular.
