Baptism
Baptism is both God's gift and our human response to that gift. Baptism by water and the Spirit, as recorded in the Scriptures, shall be a sign of the faithful dedication of each life to God and God’s service. Through the words and acts of this sacrament, the recipient is identified as God’s own beloved child, who participates in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus those baptized are pardoned, cleansed and sanctified by Christ, and are given as part of their baptismal experience a new ethical orientation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Administered in obedience to our Lord, baptism is a sign and seal of our common discipleship. Through baptism, Christians are brought into union with Christ, with each other and with the Church of every time and place.
The sacrament of Baptism is available to all persons who desire to be fully initiated into the life of the church universal and into the body of Christ.
An adult person may be baptized by their own choice, or an infant or young person may be baptized as a sign of sponsors/parents’ intention to mentor their child in and according to the Christian faith. Sponsors or parents normally must be active members of Divine Peace MCC, but the Pastor may grant exceptions under unusual circumstances.
At Divine Peace MCC, baptism is offered in one of three ways, depending on the desire of the person who is being baptized or that person’s sponsors/parents. During the course of an ordinary worship service, baptized persons may be lightly sprinkled with water from a basin, or may have water poured upon their heads from a pitcher. A person may also choose immersion, the brief submersion of her or his entire body under water. Because our sanctuary does not have a baptismal pool, this means of baptism requires special planning and does not usually happen during the course of an ordinary worship service. An immersion baptism may be performed in any suitable natural body of water or swimming pool at an appropriate time of the year.
If a person has already been baptized, we do not baptize that person again. However, the pastor offers a “remembrance of Baptism/confirmation” ritual that allows persons to renew their baptismal vows or confirm for themselves vows made on their behalf by someone else.The pastor will gladly meet with those who desire baptism to plan a thoughtful and meaningful baptismal ritual.
The sacrament of Baptism is available to all persons who desire to be fully initiated into the life of the church universal and into the body of Christ.
An adult person may be baptized by their own choice, or an infant or young person may be baptized as a sign of sponsors/parents’ intention to mentor their child in and according to the Christian faith. Sponsors or parents normally must be active members of Divine Peace MCC, but the Pastor may grant exceptions under unusual circumstances.
At Divine Peace MCC, baptism is offered in one of three ways, depending on the desire of the person who is being baptized or that person’s sponsors/parents. During the course of an ordinary worship service, baptized persons may be lightly sprinkled with water from a basin, or may have water poured upon their heads from a pitcher. A person may also choose immersion, the brief submersion of her or his entire body under water. Because our sanctuary does not have a baptismal pool, this means of baptism requires special planning and does not usually happen during the course of an ordinary worship service. An immersion baptism may be performed in any suitable natural body of water or swimming pool at an appropriate time of the year.
If a person has already been baptized, we do not baptize that person again. However, the pastor offers a “remembrance of Baptism/confirmation” ritual that allows persons to renew their baptismal vows or confirm for themselves vows made on their behalf by someone else.The pastor will gladly meet with those who desire baptism to plan a thoughtful and meaningful baptismal ritual.