Baptism is an outward and a visible sign of an inward
and spiritual grace, demonstrating to the world God’s love for us and our
adoption into God’s family. Like marriage, it is a sacred agreement, a holy
covenant. Baptism is God’s gift to us, proclaiming through the church to the
world our adoption by grace. It is also our promise to God of our continuing
faith, love, and service. Those who are baptized make up the community we call
“the church,” which is why baptism is conducted within a service of public
worship, except in very unusual circumstances.
God loves infants and children as well as adults.
That’s why we at Sugar Creek offer baptism to people of all ages. Jesus said,
“Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs
the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14) He also said, “Unless you become as a
little child, you shall never see the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 18:3) Infants,
children, and others not able to take the vows for themselves are presented by
parents and sponsors (sometimes called “Godparents”). There may also be
sponsors when candidates can speak for themselves. Parents or sponsors should be
members of Christ’s holy church, but do not have to be United Methodist or
members of the Sugar Creek congregation.
In emergencies, the essential acts in baptism are the
vows and the baptism with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. A candidate baptized outside of a congregational worship
service should, if possible, be presented at a later time to the congregation.
Those who are baptized before they are old enough to
take the baptismal vows for themselves will later be given an opportunity to
make their personal profession of faith in a service we call “Confirmation.”
Those able to take vows for themselves at baptism are not confirmed, for they
have made their public profession of faith at the font.
After confirmation, or after baptism when candidates
take the vows for themselves, Christians are encouraged to reaffirm their
Baptismal Covenant from time to time. This reaffirmation is not be understood as
re-baptism, however. The Sacrament of Baptism is not administered to anyone more
than once for, while our faithfulness in fulfilling our baptismal vows may be
less than reliable, God’s promise to us through the sacrament remains
steadfast.
Reaffirmation of the Baptismal
Covenant is particularly appropriate at Easter, which recalls our death and
resurrection in Jesus Christ. It is also appropriate for persons transferring
into our congregation from another church. We do not require rebaptism of those
transferring to Sugar Creek from another Christian denomination or another
congregation of the United Methodist Church, however, for we recognize their
baptism within any Christian congregation as an initiation into God’s family,
regardless of denominational label.
The
Baptism Service
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