Emmanuel Episcopal Church
660 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Baptism & Confirmation
This is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Kingdom of God
(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 298, 858)
Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons, or godparents, who speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children who cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates.
During the baptismal rite the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They then join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant.
The water of baptism may be administered by immersion or affusin or pouring the water over the candidates head (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 307).
Candidates are baptized "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" and then marked on the forehad with the sign of the cross.
The newly baptized is "sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever."
Once all baptisms have been completed, the celebrant and congregation welcome the newly administered within the eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or another feast.
For infants, they are "baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God". The baptismal promises are made for infants by their parents or sponsors, "who guarantee that the ifnants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him" (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 858-859).
Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saint's Day or the Sunday following, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany).
The sacramental rite in which the candidates "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop"
(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 860)
Those who are baptized at an early age and those baptized as adults without laying on of hands by a bishop are expected to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive laying on of hands by a bishop (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 412).
If you have already made a mature Christian commitment in another denomination you are recognized as members of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, and are received into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.
If you have returned from a time of religious inactivity to an active practice of faith or you've experienced a renewal of faith or desire to renew their Christian commitment may publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows.
We offer a confirmation class that spans a several weeks that help the candidates discover the meaning of Christian commitment in their lives, and explores ways that their Christian commitment can be lived.
Confirmation may be done at the service of Holy Baptism or at the Easter Vigi when a Bishop is present.
Candidates reaffirm their renunciation of evil, and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ. They reaffirm their promises made by them or for them at the time of baptism. Those present in the congregation promise to do all in their power to support the candidates in their life in Christ.
The bishop leads the congregation in renewing the baptismal covenant. The Prays for the Candidates from the baptismal liturgy may be used as the Prayers for the Candidates for Confirmation.
The bishop lays hands on each candidate for Confirmation. The bishop may shake hands with those who are being received to welcome them into this communion, and the bishop may lay hands on them in blessing. The bishop may also bless those who reaffirm their baptismal vows.
The Episcopal Church's theology of Confirmation has continued to evolve along with its understanding of baptism. Confirmation is no longer seen as the completion of Christian initiation, nor is Confirmation a prerequisite for eceiving communion. Confirmation has been increasingly understood in terms of a mature, public reaffirmation of the Christian faith and the baptismal promises.