The Sacrament of Baptism

A sacrament is an outward way in which we show what is happening to us inwardly. It is a drama that acts out the story of what cannot be easily described in words. Among the seven sacraments of the Episcopal Church, the two most important are Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist.

Baptism is the doorway into the Christian community. Think of your Baptism as signing adoption papers so that you become the permanent member of a family. Because Jesus was baptized, we too are baptized; and in this way, we become a part of Jesus' life. We share in Jesus' death and resurection, and we have God's spirit active in us. It is a way in which we dramatize our acceptance of Jesus Christ, but it is more than simply a drama. Baptism has a way of changing us so that we become more fully God's person. (On page 858 of The Book of Common Prayer, you can learn more about what the Episcopal Church says about baptism.)

Some groups immerse, that is, plunge the candidate underneath water. Others pour water over the candidate's head. Episcopalians may do both (BCP: 307), but all methods of Baptism use water. Water recalls the Hebrews scriptural accounts of the Flood and the passage through the Red Sea. We are also reminded of the way in which we ourselves use water to clean away the dirt so that we are refreshed and renewed. Water is cleansing.

In an Episcopal Church building, one often sees a pedestal called a font placed close to the front entrance of the sanctuary. Each time you pass it and enter the community of worship, you can be reminded of your own entrance into the Christian Church. Likewise, each time you see a person being joined to the community of faith through their Baptism, you can recall your own or remember those persons who stood by you at the time. We will take the Eucharistic mean many times, just as we regularly eat other meals, but we are baptized only once. On that one occasion, we "pu on Christ" and become a part of the community which is also in Christ.