Baptism

Baptism is an ancient practice rooted in the symbol of being washed with water as a sign of transformation, marking a new way of being and belonging.

To be baptized into Christ is to follow Jesus as the one who gave his own life away through the “dark waters of . . . death” (BAS 146) and then receives it again in the mystery of the resurrection: the gift of life given by the power of God at work even beyond death. God makes all things new!

The Church has been formed from its beginnings by this transformative moment. Whether young or old, those who desire to follow the way of Christ are baptized in water in the name of the Triune God (Matthew 28:16-20) and anointed with the oil of chrism “as Christ’s own for ever.”

As one of the two principal sacraments (Holy Things) in the Anglican expression of the Christian faith, baptism is radiant with God’s gift of life and love, and by this we are gathered into Christ’s “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic” Church.

Confirmation

To be confirmed in one’s faith is to take the next step in a baptismal faith — it is really ‘Part B’ of the sacrament of baptism, in which the Bishop confirms and commissions you by the power of the Holy Spirit, as you embrace the way of Christ for your own life in and for the world. Confirmation is not so much a ‘rite of passage’ as the energy for the journey of faith, after asking questions about and exploring the meaning of the faith for yourself. The baptismal vows reappear during the ceremony of confirmation, as confirmands affirm “I will, with God’s help” to the faith-filled work of seeking to Love God and love others through the work of sharing the faith in word and deed, in sowing the seeds of justice, peace, and dignity for every human being, and in working to care for the Creation itself.

Preparation

Both baptism and confirmation involve consideration and preparation. Traditional times for baptism follow particular Feast Days in the church calendar: The Baptism of Our Lord (early January), the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday (early spring), the Feast of Pentecost (late spring), and the Feast of All Saints (early November); these are given priority, but in-between times may also be viable.