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Many world faiths symbolize renewal of faith and inclusion in the community through ritual cleansing with water. To inspire us, Christians have the example of Jesus’ baptism by his cousin, the prophet John. Through the sacrament of baptism we celebrate our commitment to join Christians through all time and space on a journey of faithful discipleship. We symbolize our decision to keep turning away from that which destroys in malice and to turn toward that which creates in love. As a sacrament, baptism is “an outward sign of an inward grace” – a physical way of celebrating that God’s Spirit lives within us. We are renewed by what God told his child, Jesus: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Being baptised at Community United Church of Christ Our members have been baptised by immersion in a local pond and by a handful of water from our baptismal font. Some are baptised as infants, their spiritual development entrusted for the time being to their parents and the church. Others are baptised when they confirm their faith as teens or as adults. If you would like to be baptised, your first step is to talk with the pastor so that together you can prepare the ritual which makes sense in your faith journey. United Church of Christ on baptism When a child is baptised, the parents and sponsors promise to encourage the child toward these commitments. The four stories of Jesus’ baptism |