A sacrament is a "visible sign of an inward grace." In infant baptism, we see water being sprinkled on the child's head. That's the "visible sign." But the invisible grace that is the real action of baptism is a powerful, life-shaping process. In baptism, the child is marked and named forever as a child of God, whose life comes from God's hand, and whose life and destiny belong to God. In baptism, the parents promise to bring up their child in the Christian faith, so that in due time the child will confirm, or freely claim as his or her own, the baptismal covenant which the parents and church once entered on the child's behalf. Finally, in baptism, the congregation pledges their resources, time, and care for the continual Christian nurture of the child.

The heart of the sacrament, then, is a covenant, a solemn agreement: the parents, church, and God will work together to plant, water, and nurture the seeds of Christian faith, love, and service.

What is the meaning of the water in baptism?

The water links us with Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John, as part of Jesus' preparation to undertake his mission as God's Chosen Son.

Water is a symbol of cleansing--being washed clean of our sin by the forgiving grace of God.

Water also signifies death by drowning. This meaning is more obvious in baptism by immersion, where the person is fully plunged into the water. Entering the water of baptism signifies dying to our selfish, sinful self, and being reborn by the renewing power of God as a child of God for all eternity.

Water is also a symbol of birth. With the breaking of the water of the womb, the child is brought into the world. By the water of baptism, the child is brought into the church, symbolizing his or her spiritual birth.

What other symbols are present during baptism?

A child who is baptized is often clothed in white, or has a white bonnet or article of clothing. This symbolizes that God "clothes us in right-eousness" as we die to ourselves and our sin.

The baptismal candle is a symbol for the spark of God's Spirit that is put in each human soul, and that is now entrusted to your care as the parents of your child. We encourage you to light this candle on each anniversary of your child's baptism, to remind yourselves and your child of the eternal flame of God's love that shines on your family through each stage of the child's life.

How should we prepare for our child's baptism?

The first step is to thoughtfully read this information with your spouse or other family members and prayerfully consider when you will be ready, with God's help, to enter into the covenant of baptism. It is something like making a decision to enter the covenant of marriage. Although you know you may never have the fullness of love and patience that a perfect marriage requires, you reach a point where you are ready to commit your life, your will, and your heart to the promises you will make. The right time for your child's baptism really has nothing to do with the age of the child. It has more to do with your readiness as a parent to commit yourself to raising your child as a child of God in partnership with the church.

You might consider if you would like to have godparents or sponsors to share this commitment with you. They may be family members or close friends that will have an ongoing relationship with you and your child, providing love, care, prayers, and support as your child grows towards Christian maturity. Godparents, sponsors, and/or siblings can all be included in the baptismal service.

Part of the preparation will include actually planning the service with the Pastor. The promises you make and the covenant you enter will be adapted to reflect your thoughts, your faith, and your hopes for the child. Here are some of the questions you and the Pastor will think about together as the basis of planning the service:

1. What qualities and personal gifts do you pledge to bring to your child as you parent him or her in a Christian home?
2. How will you help your child learn that God is his or her creator, redeemer, and friend?
3. How will you continue growing in your faith, so that you can help your child's faith grow, and so that God's grace and love can continually help shape your child and your family?
4. What would you like the church to pledge and provide for your child's spiritual growth and nurture?
5. If you have godparent(s), sponsor(s), or other children, what part would you want them to play in your child's care and growth?

The baptism service will be scheduled to take place during a Sunday morning worship service. The child is baptized into the Church Universal, with this congregation, gathered in worship, as the representative. Exceptions are occasionally made in unusual circumstances, but a representative of the Board of Deacons of this church must be present.

What happens after the baptism?

When the visible part, the sprinkling, is over, its invisible power to shape your life and the life of your child is available. Its power does not lie in the ritual, but in the relationship to which you have committed yourself as a Christian parent--your relationship with God, your child, and the church. If the covenant you have entered is neglected, its power will be lost to you and your child. But if you take the sacrament as the foundation on which to build, it will become a life-changing force in your life, the life of your child, and the life of your family. We pray that God will continually help make this so!

Sample Infant Baptism

Pastor	In Christian baptism, we enter a new relationship with God. The waters of baptism symbolize dying to our old self and being reborn into a new life, in which live in active partnership with God and with the community of faith. In infant baptism, we plant the seeds of Christian faith, love, and service. The parents and faith community covenant together to water and nurture these seeds as the child grows towards maturity as a child of God. (Parents), do you wish to enter this covenant with God and with this church of Jesus Christ, on behalf of your daughter, (child)?
Parents:	We do.
Pastor:	Every child is created by God in God's image, and is entrusted to its parents to faithfully, lovingly nurture its body, mind, and spirit. (Parents), what do you pledge to bring to (child) as the parents of this precious creation of God?
Parents:	As God gives us grace and strength, we will seek to surround (child) with unconditional love, so that she may trust us and confide in us with her concerns, problems, and mistakes. We will listen to her with understanding, and provide both physical and emotional security so that her needs are a part of our decisions. We will teach her the values of fairness and faith as we live them out in our family.
Pastor:	How will you help (child) grow in the Christian faith, and know God as her Creator, Jesus Christ as her Savior, and the Holy Spirit as her Strength?
Parents:	We will bring her to church for worship, Christian education, and the Christian nurture of this family of faith. We will show her by our example what it means to have a living faith that guides our lives. We will teach her our highest values, help her learn to live by the Golden Rule, and model gratitude, and show her the connection between these values and our Christian faith.
Pastor:	Being a godfather or god mother to a child of God is an important, lifelong responsibility. Tony and Debbie, do you promise to watch (child) as she grows, help celebrate her milestones, and support (Parents) as they seek to grow as (child)'s parents? Will you help (child) learn the ways of Jesus through your words and actions, and seek to reflect God's love to her as she grows in faith and maturity?
Godparents:	We so promise.
Pastor:	As (child)'s church and family of faith, what part do you pledge to play in nurturing (child)'s faith, that she may one day confirm her baptism?
Congregation:	We support you in the great and joyful responsibility God has entrusted to you as (child)'s parents. We pray that as you grow in Christ together, you may bear the fruits of Christian love and wisdom day by day. As your church, we promise to fulfill our responsibility to (child) in teaching, serving, guiding, and loving her, that from her earliest days of memory, she may see the face of Jesus mirrored in us. We gladly promise this in the name of Jesus, who said, "Let the little children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

The Baptism

Prayer (unison): Loving God, send your grace and peace to (child) and her family. As you have ignited the spark of life within her, so let us help to kindle that spark into a dancing flame, that (child)'s young life may grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who became a child that we all might become your children. Amen.

Baptism Remembrances

Baptism Song