- Adults who have never been baptized
- An increasing number of people are exploring Christian faith for the first time as
adults. We welcome such seekers at St. Paul. In response to their growing numbers we have
been reintroducing an ancient pattern of welcome into the church's life and faith.
- There is an initial period of inquiry which may include conversation with a
Christian friend, attendance as a guest at our services of worship, participation in our
"Come and Grow with Us" classes which we offer twice a year, or our
"Bible Basics" class, and exploration of the basics of Christian faith with the
pastor or lay teachers. Inquirers are invited to participate in the fellowship of the
congregation and to begin getting to know what life is like in a Christian congregation.
There is no set period of time for this period of inquiry. For those who have some
knowledge of Christian faith this period may be brief. For others this period of
exploration and "testing the waters" may be quite a bit longer. We invite people
to take whatever time they need.
- When a person feels the time is right, he or she can be received as a hearer, or
in the language of the ancient church, a catechumen. Now the emphasis shifts from
"inquiry" to "formation" as a more intentional process begins of
growing into the church's love for Christ and the grace he brings us. A beautiful rite of
welcome signals the beginning of this stage. The congregation gives each
"hearer" a Bible which is God's Word for us. During this time, especially
focused on hearing and becoming familiar with God's Word, the "hearer" is
encourage to participate in the Sunday morning worship service and adult Bible Study
Class, or the Tuesday evening "One Year Bible" Study Class, or if he or she has
not already done so, the "Bible Basics Class." This is again a flexible period
of time, and persons are invited to take whatever amount of time seems right to them until
they and the church feel God is leading them to take the next step.
- Since early times in the church's life Lent and Easter have been special times for
receiving people into the Christian church. On the first Sunday in Lent a person may enroll
as a candidate for baptism at Easter. Once again, a beautiful rite signals the
entrance into this time of preparation for baptism. Each candidate receives a copy of
Martin Luther's Small Catechism, a brief but remarkably rich summary of the Christian
faith. During the Sundays of Lent special prayers are offered for the candidates, and the
Sunday morning adult class focuses on the Bible readings from the Sunday morning service,
which during Lent are wonderfully helpful in understanding what God has revealed to us
about his presence and grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. On the second Sunday in Lent
candidates for baptism receive a copy of the Lutheran Book of Worship as a gift
from the congregation.
- On the eve of Easter, at a beautiful liturgy called the "Paschal Vigil" or the
"Easter Vigil," candidates are baptized. This vigil begins with a
"service of light" in which the Paschal Candle, a symbol of Christ, is lighted
from a great outdoor fire and carried into a darkened church. A beautiful song, called the
Exsultet, tells in marvelous way the story of God's grace. A service of readings follows,
recounting many of the stories of God's presence in the Old Testament, and yet which help
us understand the meaning of Baptism. It is then that candidates are baptized, and receive
a candle signifying their identification with Christ and his way of life as a servant in
the world. This service concludes with the Eucharist, and those who have been baptized
share for the first time in the congregation's celebration of Holy Communion.
- The newly baptized were sometimes called "neophytes" or "infants" in
the faith, and the Easter season became a special time for continued growth. During the
Easter season we offer classes which focus on the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion
and which invite the newly baptized to a deeper understanding of the gifts God gives in
these means of grace.
- On the Sunday of Pentecost, the newly baptized person is invited to enjoy the prayers of
the church in a rite called the "Affirmation of Vocation in the World" which
affirms the Christian's work and presence in the world as a vocation or 'calling' of God
in which God's love for the world may be expressed.
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- Children who have never been
baptized - We baptize the infants and young children of parents who are active members
of our congregation. In preparation for a child's baptism, the pastor meets with the
parents and reflects on the meaning of the baptism liturgy, and the promises parents and
sponsors will make to teach the faith to their child and to bring the child up in the life
of the church. Children are ordinarily baptized during the Sunday morning liturgy. Our
Sunday School program is provided to support parents in their responsibility for Christian
nurture. When baptized children reach the fifth grade we offer a class during Lent which
prepares them to receive their first communion during the Paschal vigil on the eve of
Easter. When baptized children reach the eighth grade, they being a special two year
period of preparation for Confirmation. Confirmation usually takes place on All Saints
Sunday.
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- Baptized adults who come from
non-Lutheran backgrounds - We do not baptize again persons who have already been
baptized with water in the Triune Name of God, but acknowledge that God has already made
these persons a part of the Christian Church. Persons coming from other churches
participate in a six week course called "Come and Grow with Us" which
describes the central teachings of the Lutheran Church. This class is ordinarily offered
twice a year, and class participants who wish to be received into membership in the church
are received into membership during a Sunday Service with a rite called the
"Affirmation of Baptism." With this rite we celebrate the fact that the person
being received is already a part of Christ's Church through baptism, but will now give
expression to that membership in belonging to our congregation.
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- Persons who are members of other Lutheran
Churches - Persons who hold already hold membership in another Lutheran congregation
are ordinarily received by a Letter of Transfer. Pastor may request a letter
of transfer, or people can do so themselves.
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For more information please e-mail
Pastor Hawksley