ABOUT US > Holy Baptism
HOLY BAPTISMS AT ST. MATTHEW’S
Holy Baptism is entrance into the Kingdom of God through that new birth from above by water and the Spirit which Jesus described to Nicodemus in John 3:5.At the conclusion of St. Matthew’s gospel, the Lord Jesus commands His disciples to make new disciples of all ethnic groups by baptizing them with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and then teaching them to observe all that He commanded them (28:16-20). In the concluding verses of St. Mark’s gospel, the Lord Jesus declares: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (16:16). Baptism is entrance into Christ’s Church. It assumes both participation in the Church and the actual keeping of the Christian faith. It is not a cultural naming ritual, magic, or a service one purchases.
Using the human hands of a pastor (in all but emergency situations), God the Holy Spirit does the baptizing, joining the newly baptized to the death and resurrection of God’s beloved Son Jesus. In all but the most extraordinary and life-and-death situations, Holy Baptism takes place within the Church’s worship. The parents or grandparents of infants and children will be members of that particular community of faith and will make promises to raise the child in the Christian faith and active in the life of a particular community of faith within Christ’s Church on earth. An older youth or adult will make promises to keep the faith within the local community of Christ’s Church. This local community of faith will make promises to be sisters and brothers, the family of God, for and with that child, youth, or adult.
Occasionally, due to the presence of grandparents or other relatives active in the local church, Holy Baptism may be celebrated locally with the extended family, and then the child’s membership will be immediately transferred to the parish where the child and her or his parents regularly worship.
Those wishing to schedule a Baptism at St. Matthew’s will be active and faithful participants in our life together and will be committed to an ongoing worshiping relationship with St. Matthew’s church. To schedule a baptismal conference with the Senior Pastor, please phone 910-791-4582 x200.