For those who wish to know more about baptism, two sections are included on this page. The first states what we believe about baptism. Below you will find more information about how to be baptized, what is involved, and how you can get started.

What we believe about Baptism

1. We baptize infants
It is clear from the New Testament that children in the early church were baptized. For example, consider this passage from the Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the New Testament:

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
-- Acts 16:33

Some church bodies choose to only baptize adults, believing that one must be old enough to make a decision. We believe that baptism is primarily God's action, not ours. In baptism, we receive the seal of God's promises in our lives: the promise of forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. We do not earn this by our decision or commitment. It is a free gift.

We do, however, choose to receive this grace by making promises of our own. We do recognize that before one is baptized, someone has to make a decision to be baptized: either the parents, deciding to baptize the child and raise him/her in the Christian faith, or the adult to be baptized and become a follower of Christ, and a member of the church.

Although the principal actor in baptism is God, we acknowledge that we are not entirely passive in the process. Therefore we profess our faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin and confess the faith the church, the faith in which we baptize. Parents and sponsors commit to attending to the child's religious instruction at home and at church. Adults commit to worship and growing in faith through Bible study, fellowship and service.

2. We are baptized into Christ Jesus and into his death.

We are buried with Christ through Baptism into death, so that, in the same way Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, thus also must we walk in a new life.
-- Romans 6

The apostle Paul, who wrote many of the letters in the New Testament, understood baptizing as a dying to, or renunciation of, our old self, and then a rising to a new life in Christ. As people of faith that fall into sin, we need to daily return to our baptism, die again and rise once more. This is one of the reasons that we usually have a prayer of confession and an announcement of God's forgiveness at most services at Grace.

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
-- Acts 22:16

It means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, in turn, a new person daily come forth and rise from death again. He will live forever before God in righteousness and purity.
-- Martin Luther, Small Catechism

3. Baptism is initiation into the church, the body of Christ.
While we are baptized into Christ Jesus, we are also baptized into the church.

13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink… 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
-- I Corinthians 12:13 and 27

4. Christ commanded the church to baptize.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, for lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age.
-- Matthew 28:19-20

It is part of our mission to make disciples, by baptizing and teaching. Baptism and learning are bound together in the business of discipleship. None of this is optional for the church.

5. Therefore, when we baptize children, parents traditionally commit to raising the child in the Christian faith.

You have made public profession of your faith. You should, therefore, faithfully bring him/her to the services of God's house, teach him/her the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments; you should place in his/her hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for his/her instruction in the Christian faith, that living in the covenant of his/her baptism, s/he may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ. Do you promise to fulfill these obligations?
-- Baptismal liturgy, Lutheran Book of Worship, page 121

6. We baptize privately only in an emergency.
Since we are baptized into the body of Christ by public profession of faith, with a commitment of parents to raise the child in the Christian faith, we usually do so in public worship. Baptism is a public act. It is much like marriage. Two people can simply agree to live together if they wish. But there is something powerful in a public commitment made before a group of friends and family.

7. Baptism is normally done in the community in which the adult or child will be nurtured spiritually.
When a child is baptized, the parents commit to raise the child in the Christian faith. The church also commits to be a part of that discipleship. The families present will likely be Sunday school teachers, fellow worshippers, Bible study leaders, Confirmation leaders, youth group leaders for the child as s/he grows in years. Adults too are baptized before the community in which they will grow spiritually, serve others and worship weekly. To be baptized in front of a group of strangers who do not know the child, and will not be a part of raising him/her in the Christian faith may be efficacious, but it is incongruous and not the best case scenario.

8. Baptism can be either by immersion or sprinkling.
Some church bodies teach that baptism is not effective unless the person being baptized is completely immersed under the water. We certainly appreciate the symbolism of immersion (drowning the old self, and rising out of the water/grace into new life), but find no foundation in Scripture for such a rigid practice. We normally practice pouring water over the head three times, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We have done several immersions, at the church next door, which has a baptistery.

How to baptize a child
Congratulations. If you are considering baptizing a child, it may be that you are new parents, or that you are baptizing children in early childhood because you have had a renewal of your own faith. Here are some things to do to prepare.

1. Pray. It is likely the work of the Holy Spirit in you that has led you to this point. Pray for the Spirit to continue working, and that you might not hinder that Spirit working in your life.

2. Commit to your own faith. Baptizing a child means becoming a mentor. You cannot mentor another in the faith if you are not committed to your own. You don't have to be a spiritual giant, just on the journey. Commit to weekly worship, serving others in the name of Christ, finding a group of Christians to whom you will be accountable, and giving generously, by tithing or working towards a tithe (10% of income) to God's work in the world.

3. If you're not a member, take the new member class. We strongly encourage you to baptize the child in the faith community where that child will be nurtured through worship, Sunday school, fellowship and service.

4. Meet with the pastor. Pastor Mike will meet with you to go over the basics of baptism and set a date on the calendar.

5. Choose some sponsors or godparents. This is not required. Many couple choose a sponsor or godparent who will support them in raising the child in the Christian faith. Sponsors/godparents can fulfill this job by committing to praying for the child weekly until the child is confirmed, or for the rest of their life, by remembering the child's baptism day each year, by providing Bibles or devotional materials, by walking alongside the child through various milestones (first Bible, first Communion, Confirmation, etc.).

6. Come to a baptism rehearsal. The Saturday before the baptism, there will normally be a short rehearsal at 10 a.m. (20 minutes) to help everyone know where to go and what to do.

7. Throw a party. This is a big day, whether the child knows it or not. Celebrate! Invite friends and family to be a part of the event. Have brunch or lunch together afterwards. Pop the cork. You have infused your child with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and started him/her on a path of righteousness that they will always sense is "home."

How to get baptized

1. Pray. If you're asking these kinds of questions, clearly something is happening in your life. The Holy Spirit is at work already! Pray for God to work strongly in your life. Confess your sins, past, present and future. Know that God loves you with an everlasting love.

2. If you're not a member, take the new member class. This is a great place to learn a little bit about the Christian faith and to get plugged in to a group. Your faith will grow if you feed it, through worship, learning, service and fellowship. Come find out more. It is through baptism that you become a member of the church.

3. Commit to your faith. Commit to weekly worship, serving others in the name of Christ, finding a group of Christians to whom you will be accountable, and giving generously, by tithing or working towards a tithe (10% of income) to God's work in the world.

4. Meet with the pastor. Pastor Mike will meet with you to talk with you about your faith, go over the basics of baptism and set a date on the calendar.

5. Choose or receive some sponsors or godparents. Everyone who joins Grace usually has a new member sponsor, whether or not they are new to the faith, whether or not they are being baptized. This is an automatic friend in the congregation to whom you may turn for help in finding your way into the church, and into ministry.

6. Come to a baptism rehearsal. The Saturday before the baptism, there will normally be a short rehearsal at 10 a.m. (20 minutes) to help everyone know where to go and what to do.

7. Throw a party. This is a big day. Tell everyone you know what you are doing. This will be a way of sharing what God is doing in your life, and also a means of accountability. Know that the angels in heaven are rejoicing!