When Do Baptisms Occur?
We celebrate the sacrament of baptism regularly at both of our morning services throughout the year. Baptism is the church's way of saying welcome into the family of God, a sign that we belong to God's covenant community. Most often, we baptize infants and young children, but there is no one "right age" at which a baptism should occur. We also baptize older children, youth, and adults, if they have not been baptized before. As United Methodists, we recognize baptisms from other Christian traditions and do not "rebaptize" anyone.
You do not need to be a member of our congregation to have your child baptized here. However, we ask everyone, members and friends alike, to be in attendance at least four times in the three months prior to the baptism. The reason for this is that we want to make it clear that baptism is not a one-day affair and requires ongoing commitment.
Scheduling a Baptism
If you are interested in scheduling a baptism here, please contact either Rev. HiRho or Rev. Scott and they will talk with you about available dates and set up a meeting to discuss it further with you. We try to avoid first Sundays, but beyond that, most Sundays are available, unless there is something special going on. The next step is for you to fill out and return a Baptism Information Form and return it to the church office. We will work with you as much as possible to accommodate your schedule because we know you want to have family members and friends share this special day with you.
While it is not required that parents be members of our congregation, it is essential that they be committed to raising the child in the Christian faith. In order for the sacrament of baptism to be administered with integrity, it is expected that parents will continue to attend church on a regular basis following the baptism, either here or at another church where they feel comfortable. The ongoing support and care of a congregation, combined with the example that parents set by their own participation in worship, study, and service will provide the healthiest atmosphere in which a child may grow into his or her baptism.