Baptism is a sacred moment in which we are welcomed into God’s family—the Church—and begin our lifelong journey of faith. Through the water of baptism, we are reminded that we belong to God and that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. It marks the beginning of our participation in the life and ministry of the Church.

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At Calvary, we baptize both children and adults. Most often, we baptize infants and young children, with parents and godparents making promises on their behalf. But we also joyfully welcome adults who come to be baptized as part of their own faith journey.

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Every person being baptized is sponsored by at least one baptized Christian. For infants and young children, sponsors—often called godparents—make promises of faith and commitment on the child’s behalf. The entire congregation also takes part, pledging to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ. Together, we reaffirm our own baptismal vows and celebrate the newest members of our church family.

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At Calvary, we baptize by pouring water over the candidate’s head, using the traditional Trinitarian formula: “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The newly baptized are then marked with the sign of the cross on the forehead—sometimes using holy oil, called chrism—as a sign that they belong to Christ forever.

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Baptism is always celebrated within the context of the Eucharist, typically on a Sunday or major feast day, so that the entire congregation can take part in the welcome and celebration. The congregation plays a vital role, promising to support the newly baptized and to welcome them into the life of our church family.