The Sacraments

+ Holy Baptism

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. - The Book of Common Prayer, 1979

Saint Paul loved to speak and write about the people of the early churches as members of the Body of Christ. He used the metaphor to emphasize the importance of the diversity of parts as well as their unity. He (and those he taught) was very clear about how to become a part of that body: by the gift of Baptism.

Baptism is a Sacrament of the church, which means that it is a ritual act, using a specific, outward and visible sign to show us the inward, invisible gift of God's love, which we call "grace." We use this special word to describe God's love because we know that, especially in the world today, we can confuse "love" with romance, responsibility, fascination and a lot of other things. But God's grace is perfect, unconditional love, which is poured out on us whether we deserve it or not, whether we earn it or not, just because "God is love." We believe that God calls all people, by his grace, to love him and to love one another. In Baptism, we are initiated into the household of that love, so that we never have to wonder whether or not we are a part of the Body of Christ. If we have been baptized, the answer is, Yes.

Baptism is also the sign of new life that is given to members of the Body. It is the assurance that our tendency to make mistakes, to hurt one another, and to fall short of God's highest hopes for us - all of which the church has traditionally called "sin" - will not prevent God from loving us and bringing us to the promise of salvation and the hope of new life in the world to come. We don't know what happens to us after death, we believe that life is not ended at the grave, it is changed. At the other side of the mysterious and frightening chasm of death God waits with promises of good things we cannot even imagine in this life. Baptism is a seal of assurance that these promises are meant for us.

When we have been baptized we recognize that we have entered into a covenant with God: a special relationship in which God makes promises to us (to love us and to give us the gift of new life) and we make promises to him (to be faithful by doing our best to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves).

Infant Baptism At St. Martin’s we welcome infants (and children of any age) to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. We don't hesitate to baptize infants and children too young to make the vows for themselves because we recognize that the Sacrament is first and foremost a gift from God. A child is no less able to receive that gift than an adult. In these cases, parents and godparents make the vows on behalf of the child. It's expected that when a child reaches an appropriate age, he or she will make a public affirmation of those vows in the service of Confirmation.

Adult Baptism Baptism is always available to adults who have not previously been baptized and whose growing faith has led them to a desire to share in the life of the Body of Christ. The church always rejoices when new members are added to the Body of Christ.

Anyone wishing to be baptized or to have their children baptized should contact one of the parish clergy. Christians believe that the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are the decisive acts of God's love that show us God's promise of hope. What Jesus did to bring us new life he did once and for all - Baptism is the beginning of our participation in that new life. All mainstream Christian denominations recognize the validity of baptism with water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And if one has been baptized it is never necessary to be baptized again.

When children or adults are baptized, this makes them Christians, not a particular brand or kind of Christian: an Episcopalian or Roman Catholic or Presbyterian, etc. It is in Confirmation, that we ally ourselves with a particular denomination. While some people may decide to change denominations, this is done by Confirmation or Reception into the church. Re-baptism is never required or appropriate. Those baptized at any age in Eastern Orthodox churches have received the ancient, unified rite of Christian initiation, which includes the anointing and laying-on-of-hands that constitutes Confirmation, and are therefore considered members of the Orthodox church.

Baptism and Eucharist In Baptism we are made full members of Christ's Body, the church. As full members, all baptized Christians (regardless of age) are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. Instruction about the eucharist is regularly a part of Christian Education at St. Martin’s, since we can never exhaust the rewards to be found in inquiring about the mystery of God's love. Children and adults are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to deepen their understanding of the faith of the church and the Sacraments.

Public and Private Baptisms The church welcomes the inclusion of Holy Baptism as part of her public rites and Baptisms occasionally take place during the Sunday liturgies at Christ Church. Public Baptism is always appropriate at the Great Vigil of Easter, the beautiful night-time service that users in the greatest feast of the church year, when the whole church renews the vows made in Baptism. Certain other times of the year also present especially appropriate times to include Baptism as part of the Mass and the clergy are happy to discuss this possibility with those inquiring about the Sacrament.

Private baptisms - i.e. those that take place outside of the regular schedule of services - may also be arranged when there is a pastoral need. Whenever possible we try to schedule such baptism to take place before or after a normally scheduled celebration of the Eucharist, the other great Sacrament of God's grace.

Godparents Godparents are sponsors of a child who is presented for Baptism. They make the vows on the child's behalf, along with the parents, and must, therefore, be baptized themselves. Parents often ask special friends or family members to serve as godparents.

To find out more about Baptism at St. Martin’s, please contact one of the parish clergy.

There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:4-6

+ Holy Eucharist

The Prayer Book (1979) instructs us that the Holy Eucharist is to be "the principal act of worship on the Lord's Day and other major Feasts." It is the practice that most clearly defines who we are as a Christian community. In the Holy Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion and the Mass, we are first and foremost worshiping God - entering into God’s holy Presence, since our Lord promised that wherever two or three are gathered together God would be in the midst of us - and offering our prayers and praises. Holy Eucharist is always an act of thanksgiving (this is what the word "eucharist" means), and we rejoice to define our lives by this weekly act of thanksgiving. In the Mass we also have the opportunity to hear Holy Scripture, to pray for the needs of the church, the world, ourselves, and those we love, to experience God's forgiveness and healing, and to enjoy communion with the living Lord as we receive the Blessed Sacrament of his Body and Blood. We believe that the risen and glorified Christ is really present with us in the sacramental forms of Bread and Wine, which are mysteriously transformed into his Body and Blood. The significance of the mystery is that Jesus makes his self-giving love known to us and to the world - and has for centuries - by being among us in this way.

We are a community of faith that aspires to be open to the mysteries of God. We find that God chooses to reveal himself to his people - but does so shrouded in mystery. Our worship acknowledges that God remains mysterious to us even in God’s love for us. At the heart of the Mass is the mystery of how and why Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection have brought God's people into a new, restored relationship with God, and have given us hope for grace and blessings in this life, and in the life that is to come beyond the grave. All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion at any celebration of Holy Eucharist at Christ Church, and persons of any faith or no faith at all are always welcome to participate with us, and to come to the altar rail for a blessing as they feel God urge them on their way.

Worship Notes Receiving / Communion or a Blessing

We believe that our Risen and Glorified Lord is truly present to us in the sacramental forms of bread and wine. All Baptized Christians are welcome to receive this sacramental gift at any celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. Martin's. Additionally, persons of faith or those who are seeking faith but are not yet prepared to receive the sacrament, are always welcome to worship with us and to come to the altar for a blessing as they feel God’s urging. If your growing faith is awakening a desire for Baptism, please speak to one of the clergy. The Church always rejoices when new members are added to the Body of Christ.

A Prayer before Worship

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.