Baptism at Trinity
Baptism is one of the important milestones in the life of a family. It's an occasion for joy and celebration and Trinity Church welcomes the opportunity to be part of that celebration. In preparing for Baptism, certain questions come up and this will hopefully address some of those most frequently asked.
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One of the "Two Great Sacraments," instituted by Christ, Baptism is one of the most sacred rites of the Church. It is administered to individuals of any age who have not been previously baptized in any other Christian denomination. If someone is joining the Episcopal church from another denomination, their baptism in that denomination is recognized and acknowledged.
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We believe Baptism to be the rite of Christian initiation by which the individual baptized becomes a member of the body of Christ and the Church. Speaking for themselves or through the promises made by sponsors, called God Parents, the individuals vow to follow the Christian teachings and way of life. These vows include participation in corporate worship as well as individual observance of prayer and study as a life-long practice.
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Baptisms at Trinity Church are invited and offered without previous membership of the family required. For non-parish members, an initial meeting is required between the Rector and the adult or the parents of the child to be baptized. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the issues related to Baptism as outlined above. A second meeting is needed as a rehearsal for the ceremony.
Baptisms are held throughout the year, primarily on four occasions related to themes of Baptism. The church calendar varies from year to year and the Baptisms are scheduled according to when these feasts occur. They are:
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The Feast of Christ's Baptism (usually the first or second Sunday of January)
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The Easter Vigil (Saturday evening before Easter Sunday)
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Pentecost Sunday (usually late May to mid-June)
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The Feast of All Saints (always the Sunday after November 1)
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.