FrequentlyAskedQuestions
Whatistheproperagetobebaptized?
IntheEpiscopalChurch,itiscommonpracticetobaptizeinfants.However,itisappropriatetobaptizea personatanyage. Wheninfantsandchildrenarebaptized,thepromisesaremadeontheirbehalfbyadults, godparents,andtheworshippingcommunity. Forthosebeingbaptizedinadolescenceandbeyond,the promisesaremadebythefamilyandtheworshipingcommunity,withtheadditionofanaffirmationoftheir ownintenttobebaptized. Itiswhatotherfaithtraditionscall"Believer'sBaptism."
Iwasbaptizedinadifferentfaithtradition. DoIneedtogetbaptizedagainintheEpiscopalChurch? No. TheEpiscopalChurchrecognizesChristianBaptismfromotherdenominationsthatwereperformedin the"trinitarianformula"oftheFather,Son,andHolySpirit. Thereareotherwaystoaffirmone'sfaithwithin theEpiscopalChurchifyouhavealreadybeenbaptized. Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutthe opportunitytoaffirmyourfaithorbeingconfirmedorreceivedintotheEpiscopalChurch,pleasecontact HeatherSillsintheofficeformoreinformation-receptionist@stdavidschurch.org.
Itisrequiredtoselectgodparents?
Yes.Atleastonegodparentmustbeselectedtostandwiththefamilytomakepromisestolove,support,and nurturethefaithoftheonebeingbaptized.Itiscustomarytohavebetweenoneandthreegodparents.Please referencethe"HowtoSelectaGodparent"resourcecontainedinthisguideforadditionalguidance. Alsonote, thisisaspiritualcommitment,notalegalone. Godparentsarenolongerconsideredtheperson/peoplewho willparentthechildintheeventofdeath.
DoesthegodparentneedtobeChristian?
Yes.Whilewestronglyencourageyoutosurroundyourfamilywithpeopleofmanydifferentfaiths,the godparentsneedtobeapracticingChristian.
Whatpromisesareparentsandgodparentsaskedtomake? Whathappensiftheycan'taffirmthose statements?
ThesacredactofBaptismismorethansymbolic. Ifyouwishtohaveamemberofyourfamilybaptizedoryou seekBaptismforyourselfbutareunabletoaffirmallofthestatementsintheBaptismalCovenant(contained inthisguide)orfoundonpages299-314ofbcponline.net,pleasemakeanappointmenttomeetwithamember oftheclergy. Yourspiritualunderstandingisimportant,andtheyarehappytomeettodiscernwithyou.
Whatisa"PrivateBaptism"?
ThesacramentofHolyBaptismisapublicrite, meaningitoccursinthecontextofaworshipservice surroundedbythechurchcommunity. Aprivate Baptismisonethattakesplaceoutsidetheformal worshipscheduleofthechurch. Itgenerallyonlyhas theparents,closefamily,andgodparentsin attendance. Thisformofbaptismisonlyconducted whenpastorallyormedicallynecessary.
WhenareBaptismsheld?
AtSt.David's,BaptismsarecelebratedduringSunday servicesonthefourthSundayofthemonthandonthe followingfeastdaysofthechurch:EasterVigil (spring),theDayofPentecost(latespring/early summer),AllSaints'Day(fall),theSundayfollowing AllSaint'sDay,andtheFeastoftheBaptismofour Lord(winter). Manyofthesefeastdaysoccuron differentdateseachyear,pleasecontactthechurch officefortheexactdates.
Baptismsareheldinthechurch,chapel,andwithinthe familyserviceinSt.David'sHall. Youareencouraged toselectthelocationthatyouconsideryour worshipingcommunity.
WhomayattendtheBaptism?
Everyone!Thisistheperfecttimetoinvitefriends,neighbors,andextendedfamilytojoinyou.Thereisareserved seatingsectionforthefamilyandgodparents.Allothersarewelcometositamongthecongregation.Childrenare invitedtogatheraroundthefont(baptismalbowl)toparticipateintheBaptism. Peopleofallagesarewelcomein worship.Forthosewhowouldlikethesupport,childcareisprovidedforchildrenagefiveandunder.Itislocatedon thelowerlevelofthemainbuilding. Greetersorusherscanguideyoutothenursery,ifneeded.
Whatwillprepareme/usforBaptism?
ParentsseekingBaptismfortheirchildareaskedtoattendagatheringwithotherparents. Thisgatheringwill coverthebiblicalconnectionofBaptism,abriefhistoryofBaptism(beginningwiththefirstcentury!),the theologicalmeaningofthewordsandactions,andapracticalrunthroughtobepreparedfortheresponsesand movementduringtheservice. Itwillalsobeatimetoshareyourbaptismalstories,learnmoreabouttheother parentswhoareenteringintothissacredactalongsideofyou,andtoaskanyquestionsyoumighthaveabout Baptism,faith,andtheSt.David'scommunity.
TeensandadultsseekingBaptismwillmeetwithaclergymemberoftheirchoicetoengageinthetopicslisted above.
WhatifoneormoreoftheparentsdonotconsiderthemselvesChristian?
WeaskthatatleastoneparentbeapracticingChristiantogothroughthebaptismalprocesswithachild.The parentwhodoesnotconsiderthemselvestobeChristianiswelcometoparticipateinanywaythatfeels authentictotheirunderstandingofGod.IfyourteenagechildhasfoundtheirwaytoSt.David'sthroughyouth ministry,yetneitherparentconsidersthemselvestobeChristian,wewelcometheopportunitytotalkwithyou abouthowyouwillsupportthisfaithexpressionofyourteenagechild.PleasecontactEmilyGiven,Directorof ChristianFormation,tobeginaconversation-egiven@stdavidschurch.org.
IsthereafeeassociatedwithBaptism?
No. Sacramentsarefreeofchargeandwelcometoall.
DoIneedtobeamemberofSt.David'stobebaptized?
Generally,allpeoplebaptizedatSt.David'saremembersorhaveadirectfamilyconnectiontoSt.David's Church.Ifyouarenotamember,wewelcomeyoutotakepartinthegatherings/classesprovidedbythe WelcomeTeam. Baptismisinitiationinthecommunity. Wewouldliketobethatcommunity.
IsthereaspacetoholdareceptionfollowingtheBaptism?
Inmostcases,no. Formation(akaeducation)forallagestakesplaceonSundaymorningsinmanyoftherooms throughoutthebuilding. St.David'sissituatedonalovelyandexpansivecampus,sooutdooroptionsmaybe availablebycontactingDianeDowlin,ParishAdministrativeAssistant-ddowlin@stdavidschurch.org.
Anotheroptionistoprovideadditionalrefreshmentsduringcoffeehour. Ifyoudecideonthisoption,please contactDianeDowlinsothepropersetupwillbeready.
AGuidetoSelectingaGodparent
Theroleofagodparentisasacred,lifelongcommitment.Considerthe followinginformationasyouprayerfullymakeyourselection.
PositiveAttributesofaGodparent
AChristianwhohasanactivelifeofprayer,worship,study,service, andgenerosity.
Apersonwhomyouadmireinallaspectsoftheirlife.
Apersonwhoiscomfortablewithsharingtheirfaithandopento havingfaithconversations.
Apersonwhoiscommittedtoanongoingrelationship. Someonelocal.(Althoughtechnologyhasexpandedourcirclesof meaningfulrelationships,thegiftofpresenceiskey.)
Selectatleastoneperson. Ideally,twoorthreerepresentingmorethan onegender.
HowtoSelectaGodparent
Priortoextendinganinvitation,discussyourexpectationsasaparent. Prayforguidance.
Communicateyourexpectationsandopenupadiscussionofthe importanceoftheirroleinthelifeofyourchild.
Inviteprospectivegodparentstoreadthebaptismalservicetoseeif theyareabletoaffirmthestatementstheyareaskedtomakeatthe timeofbaptism. Theservicecanbefoundonpage299oftheBookof CommonPrayer-bcponline.org.
Reassurethem“no”isanacceptableansweriftheydonotfeelcalledto serveasagodparent.
CommunicateyourgodparentselectiontoHeatherSillsinthechurch -receptionist@stdavidschurch.org.
Invitethemtooneofthebaptismalpreparationgatheringsoffered quarterly.
Includethemintheplanningofanybaptismfamilyevents.
BaptismisthebeginningofalifeinChristandthisnewnesscallsforustorespondbylivingdifferently-everyday. ThepromisesmadeduringBaptismareaninvitationtodeepenone'srelationshipofGod,God'speople,andall creation. Consider:
"Willyoucontinueintheapostles'teachingandfellowship,inthebreakingofthebread, andintheprayers?"
Gatheringtogetherforworshipmatters.Holyandlifegivingthingshappenwhenwecome togethertohearthestoriesofGodandGod'speople,singsongsofpraise,andreceivethegiftof theEucharist.Plantomakeitaconsistentrhythminyourlife.Childrenthriveonconsistency andlove.Makespaceforyourchurchfamilytoshapeandsupportyourlive.
"Willyoupersevereinresistingevil,and,wheneveryoufallintosin,repentandreturnto theLord?
Lifehappensandwearen'talwaysthebestversionsofourselves.Thekeytoahealthyandgrowing ChristianlifeisseektobeabearerofChrist'slightintheworldandtocontinuetoturntowards Godandaskforforgivenessandguidancewhenneeded.Whatmightyouneedtoletgooffin ordertoliveanew/renewedlife?
WillyouproclaimbywordandexampletheGoodNewsofGodinChrist?
Theword"evangelism"hasmixedconnotationsinmodernculture.Considerwhoinyourlife mightneedtohearthewordofGodorexperiencetheloveofcommunitytheninvitethem.There areanumberofpowerfulwaysyoucancommunicatetheGoodNewsofGod.HowmightGodbe encouragingyoutodothisyourown,uniqueway?
WillyouseekandserveChristinallpersons,lovingyourneighborasyourself? (and...)
Willyoustriveforjusticeandpeaceamongallpeople,andrespectthedignityofeveryhuman being?
ThereareendlesswaysthathumansfindtoseparatethemselvesfromoneanotherandGod.How mightyoubecalledtocareforothersinordertobringhealthandwholenessintheworld?Who needsawordofapologyfromyou?HowmightGodbecallingyoutodrawthecircleofyourlife wider?HowmightyourgiftsandtimebeusedforthegloryofGod?
(ItalicizedquestionscanbefoundintheBCP,304-305)
LivingaBaptismalLife-AWordforParents
TheBaptismalCovenant
Celebrant: DoyoubelieveinGodtheFather?
People: IbelieveinGod,theFatheralmighty,creatorofheavenandearth.
Celebrant: DoyoubelieveinJesusChrist,theSonofGod?
People: IbelieveinJesusChrist,hisonlySon,ourLord.HewasconceivedbythepoweroftheHoly SpiritandbornoftheVirginMary.HesufferedunderPontiusPilate,wascrucified,died, andwasburied.Hedescendedtothedead.Onthethirddayheroseagain.Heascendedinto heaven,andisseatedattherighthandoftheFather.Hewillcomeagaintojudgetheliving andthedead.
Celebrant: DoyoubelieveinGodtheHolySpirit?
People: IbelieveintheHolySpirit,theholycatholicChurch,thecommunionofsaints,the forgivenessofsins,theresurrectionofthebody,andthelifeeverlasting.
Celebrant: Willyoucontinueintheapostles’teachingandfellowship,inthebreakingofbread,andin theprayers?
People: Iwill,withGod’shelp.
Celebrant: Willyoupersevereinresistingevil,and,wheneveryoufallintosin,repentandreturntothe Lord?
People: Iwill,withGod’shelp.
Celebrant: WillyouproclaimbywordandexampletheGoodNewsofGodinChrist?
People: Iwill,withGod’shelp.
Celebrant: WillyouseekandserveChristinallpersons,lovingyourneighborasyourself?
People: Iwill,withGod’shelp.
Celebrant: Willyoustriveforjusticeandpeaceamongallpeople,andrespectthedignityofevery humanbeing?
People: Iwill,withGod’shelp.
TheBookofCommonPrayer,304-305
CoverPhoto:
http://www.stduntulsa.org/baptisms
Page2Image:
https://stpeters.org/baptism
Page4Image:
Page6Image:
https://www.stmartinec.org/baptism
St.Dunstan'sEpiscopalChurch-Tulsa,OK
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Page8Image: GoogleImages,UnknownSource TheGuidetoSelectingaGodparent EmilyGiven https://stdavidschurch.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/01/AGuideforSelecting a-Godparent.pdf Page11Image: unsplash.com/s/photos/baptismal-font BackCoverPhoto: GoogleImages,UnknownSource
St.David'sEpiscopalChurch+763SouthValleyForgeRoad+Wayne,PA+19087 stdavidschurch.org/life-events/baptisms
