Andrew Conard
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
Pre-Baptism Meeting
Welcome
-
Meet each person
-
Opening Prayer
Sacraments
-
What is a sacrament?
-
Sacraments are outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace.
-
Two sacraments in the United Methodist Church - baptism and Holy Communion
-
Holy Communion
-
Bread and cup symbolize the body and blood of Christ and entering into a new covenant.
The Meaning of Baptism
-
Biblical Roots
-
Baptism has roots in the Old Testament as a sign of cleansing and renewal.
-
The Jewish people would undergo a ritual cleansing before participating in religious ceremonies.
-
Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized
-
A New Covenant
-
Throughout scripture we read stories of God making covenants with people - the people of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses.
-
Baptism is a sign of the new covenant in Jesus Christ, mentioned at the last supper.
-
Baptism as initiation into the body of Chris
- In baptism, you become a part of the universal church across all time and space.
-
Baptism as forgiveness of sin
- Sin is not just things that we have done wrong, but also a state in which we exist. Baptism signals that God's forgiveness is always and repeatedly available to us when we repent.
-
Baptism as beginning of a lifetime journey of holiness
- Baptism is not the end of our journey of faith, it is just the beginning.
-
Baptism as commission for ministry
- In baptism, we are commissioned to serve God in all areas of our life
Responsibility of Baptism
- For parents
- To help raise them in the faith and model what it means to be a deeply committed Christian
- Encouraging them to claim faith for themselves
- For Godparents
- To help raise the child in the faith
- For Adults
- To make a commitment to be on the journey of knowing, loving and serving God toward becoming a deeply committed Christian.
- For the congregation
- To be active in the life of the individual helping her or him grow in faith.
- Baptism is a community event
Symbolism in the Act of Baptism
-
Water is the central symbol
Experience of Water
| Symbolism
|
Waters of the womb at human birth
| Spiritual new birth
|
Bringing order out of the waters of chaos at the beginning of time
| Bringing order out of the chaos of our lives
|
Using water for washing and cleansing our bodies
| Our sins being washed away
|
-
Laying on of hands and anointing with oil
- Both laying on of hands and anointing with oil symbolize the work of the Holy Spirit.
- In the Old Testament, kings were anointed as being set aside by God.
Questions from Other Traditions
-
How much water should be used?
- United Methodists practice sprinkling, pouring and full immersion. The water is a symbol of God's action and the amount does not matter.
- You are not more married if you have a larger wedding ring.
- You are not more baptized if more water is used
-
Why are infants baptized?
- As United Methodists, we believe that God is at work in our lives before we are able to recognize.
- Faith is professed by the parents.
-
Do I need to be rebaptized?
- In the United Methodist Church we do not practice re-baptism as we believe that God was at work in the first baptism.
- You do have the opportunity to remember your baptism or rededicate your life.
-
When can a child claim faith for her or him self?
- A child who is baptized as an infant can claim that faith for her or him self in confirmation in 7th to 12th grade.
-
Does baptism make me a member of the church?
- In baptism you become a member of the universal church.
- You become a member of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection as an adult through Coffee with the Pastors.
- Adults who are baptized here are encouraged to join at Coffee with the Pastors.
- Adults who join at Coffee with the Pastors and have not been baptized are encouraged to be baptized.
Questions
-
Do you have any questions?
Logistics
-
Worship service in sanctuary
-
Parents - wear colors, no stripes
-
Arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of time, sit in section A, come up and stand at baptismal font at invitation
-
Special Baptism service in Wesley Covenant Chapel
-
Arrive early
-
Check in
-
Sit in assigned section
-
Baptism Coordinator
-
Make sure that you have signed in with the baptism coordinator
-
Does the baptism coordinator have any additional announcements?
Further Questions
-
I will be available for more questions after the meeting. I will be able to walk through at the baptismal font for those being baptized in the sanctuary.
Closing Prayer