Baptism
Before we take our first breath, we belong to God. When we are born, we come into the world already bathed in God’s love. It’s as if God shows up first with the perfect gift for the new baby! This gift of grace comes to us even before we are aware of our need for God’s grace. Grace is simply gifted to us, offered to us without price.
Baptism is also a reminder that God’s gift of forgiveness comes to us. In baptism we use the symbol of water to remind of us the powerful ways that water makes us clean, replenishes and refreshes us. In baptism, God gives us a nurturing and new beginning. Baptism is a powerful gift of the Spirit!
In our United Methodist tradition, a person can be baptized by immersion, pouring or sprinkling of water. In each of the three mediums, the pastor prays a blessing of Thanksgiving over the water, invoking the power of God’s presence and Spirit. Because we understand Baptism as something God does, we do not re-baptize a person. We do sometimes celebrate and remember our Baptism in special ways. These occasions are important reminders of the importance of being a part of a community of faith; a community that exists to encourage, support one another, and do good for others.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, often referred to the sacrament of Baptism as one the “means of grace” whereby God’s people experience an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Baptism at whatever age is a celebration! Thoughtful planning should go into this significant event so that it is personal and memorable in every way. Far from a somber ritual, baptism is a time for celebrating the life of the one who comes to be Baptized!
Please email office@walkerchapel.org or call 703.538.5200 for more information.
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