Holy Baptism

We administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism several times throughout the year at St. Thomas! One of these is in the Fall each year (near the Feast of All Saints) and one is in the Spring (near the Feast of Pentecost or Trinity Sunday). These are part of our principal Sunday services and a joy for our congregation! Each time we celebrate Baptisms there is usually a mix of infants / small children, older children, and new adult believers. There is a preparation process for being baptized at St. Thomas. Parents who wish to have their children baptized need to attend a Baptism Prep class or meet individually with our clergy. New adult believers should meet with our clergy to talk about an appropriate preparation process.

The Next Baptisms at St. Thomas will be on the Feast of all saints, 11/1/26

Baptism Preparation Class - Sunday, October 18th | This short class will be meeting after the 11 am service in the Sanctuary. We will go over our theology of Baptism, service logistics for 11/1, and provide a list of recommended resources for parents. To begin this process, send an e-mail to Fr. Daniel. This class is specifically for parents interested in having their children baptized. Older children and adults interested in Baptism should also e-mail Fr. Daniel, but there will be a different preparation process than this one-time class.

Baptism in the Anglican Church

Just as we are born into a biological family, we are born again into God’s family (John 3:3). Christians experience this rebirth through baptism, which is a sacrament. It is the outward and visible sign of our unity with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4) and our membership in his Body, the Church.

This is both a local and universal reality: Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is recognized by all churches everywhere (Ephesians 4:5) but it is also experienced in the context of a local congregation. At every baptism, the community vows to “do all in our power to support these persons in their life in Christ” (BCP 165). This means we’ll support you as you follow Jesus with us. And if you’re baptizing your children, we’ll be here with you as you raise them to know Jesus personally.

Baptisms are done publicly, usually during Sunday worship when the whole church is gathered by pouring at the baptismal font. This illustrates that our personal faith exists in community. To belong to Christ is to belong to His people. For this reason, baptized Christians gather regularly for corporate worship that culminates in Table Fellowship (Acts 2:42).  At St. Thomas, baptized children are encouraged to participate in Sunday worship and are welcome to receive communion at their parents’ discretion.

From the Anglican 39 Articles of Religion - Article XXVII. OF BAPTISM

Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.