Baptism is water connected with God’s command and his promise of new life. 

It is Trinitarian, in that it is celebrated in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is communal, in that it is celebrated among the community of faithful people who gather at worship.

It involves pastoral instruction.

It is intended to be the beginning of a life active in faith.

It involves daily dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ Jesus.

It is for all ages.  The baptismal vows are made on behalf of children by parents, sponsors and the community of faithful people who gather for worship.  Adults make these vows on their own behalf, however their sponsors and the community of faithful people who gather for worship also vow before God to support and nurture the faith of the baptized. 

It involves vows and a profession of faith.  Parents of children vow to:

·        live with their children among God’s faithful people,

·        regularly worship with their children,

·        teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed and the Ten Commandments,

·        to open the scriptures with them, to nurture them in prayer, and to help them grow in Christian faith and life. 

Sponsors vow to nurture their godchildren in faith.  The entire community vows to support and pray for the faith of the baptized.  The community of believers who gather around the font then renounce the forces of evil that defy God before confessing faith in the Trinity by confessing the Apostles’ Creed. 

In order to honor these accepted Lutheran practices, the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church must:

·        be celebrated in the Trinitarian name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

·        be celebrated within the context of a regularly scheduled worship,

·        be part of an active life of faith (i.e. A parent or parents of a child, or an adult candidate for baptism, must be actively engaged in the life of this community of faith.),

·        complete pastoral pre-baptismal counseling,

·        be celebrated with the understanding that baptism is the beginning of an active life of faith among God’s people known as the church, and

·        abide by Lutheran liturgical and musical traditions.

The pastor under call to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church will preside at all baptisms celebrated on congregational property.  Parents of children or candidates for baptism may, with the pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church’s permission, invite other clergy to assist with the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

If you would like to speak with Pastor Schneider about the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, please contact him by e-mail at pastorschneider@comcast.net or by telephone at 717.235.2315.