Getting Baptized
At Holy Trinity we celebrate adult and child baptisms by “pouring”. As Christians, we celebrate what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, what He has done for us, and how this is our personal gift in Baptism!
In order for the church to welcome people who are being baptized into the church community, the pastors request that all baptisms be held during the Saturday or Sunday worship service.
You will be asked to provide the following information for your baptism certificate:
- First, middle and last name of the person being baptized
- Date of Birth
- City and State of Birth
- Current address and phone number
- If this is a child’s baptism, parents’ names, address & phone number
- Sponsor names (if applicable)
You will be asked to meet with the pastor several days or weeks before the baptism.
On the day of baptism, we suggest you and any guests arrive 10 minutes before the service to allow enough seating for your entire party. During the worship service, you will be called forward, along with sponsors, for the baptism. Sponsors are people who promise to help the baptized person to grow in faith (some churches call them godparents).
As we spend time together in the days ahead, please know that we want to help you in every way possible to have a treasured and meaningful experience. If you have any questions or want to register for baptism, please call 215/659-2642.
Why Baptize?
Jesus said; “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
We baptize because Jesus tells us to!
And Jesus said: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16)
In baptism God personally delivers to us everything Jesus has won for us: forgiveness, a place in God’s family, eternity!
Understanding our Situation
Humanity, and this world of ours, face the problem of being outside of God’s good plan for us. The situation is – people have turned away from God. The Bible teaches that what has resulted in our world is death: a broken world, unfulfilling relationships, empty hearts.
The Good News is …
God loves people so much! Enough to do whatever it takes to save us from sin, and to give us a growing relationship with Him. This is what God has done:
God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17
… Jesus Christ!
God’s Son, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem, put to death on a cross, and raised from the dead on the third day – all this for our sakes, so that we receive life and relationship with God through Him. Jesus Christ did it all by Himself! He alone deserves the credit for what God now gives us as a gift.
Baptism is All About …
God giving to us what Jesus won for us. It is a personal gift of God’s love to us which we welcome by faith. The Bible says that through the waters of baptism our old life apart from God is ended, just as Jesus died in our place. And a new REAL LIFE with God is given to us in baptism, just as Jesus was raised never to die again:
Don’t you know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6: 3-4)
… Love … God’s gift.
Who Can Be Baptized?
- Anyone who needs what Jesus Christ offers (this means you)
- Anyone who believes Jesus is God’s Son, their Savior
- Anyone who wants to bring his/her entire household into a relationship with God (see Acts 2:37-39; 16:15; 61:31-33
Why Baptize Children?
Jesus sends the Gospel to all people and invites them to be baptized, without regard for race, gender, or age. He taught that all people have need of God’s grace given in baptism (John 3:5-6)
Jesus invited little children to be brought to Him, saying that His kingdom is made up of ones such as these (Luke 18:16; Mark 10:14-15).
As Acts 16:33 and other verses show, the apostles baptized children.
To Parents & Sponsors of a Baptized Child:
To all of us, God’s forgiveness and acceptance come as gifts from Him. The birth and growth of a child’s faith happens as it does for all of us: through hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
Parents and sponsors commit to pray for and in every way make possible, such development of a baptized child’s faith through worship.
What Does It Mean That You Have Been Baptized?
Acts 2:37-39 is part of the very first sermon Peter gave. This message calls people to be baptized, and also indicates what baptism involves”
“repent” – means to turn away from a life separated from God: you now live in relationship with Jesus Christ.
“so that your sins may be forgiven” – Baptism is a visible gift of God’s cleansing and unconditional love which has nothing to do with our behavior. This is “amazing grace!” It’s all about what Jesus Christ has already done for us, and then how God gives that to us in the wonderful moment of baptism.
“you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” – In a very real and personal way, God’s Spirit comes into our lives to give us faith and encourage our growing relationship to God. In baptism God’s Spirit makes a home in our hearts, and we begin a new and unending friendship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
After Baptism, Then What?
Now that Jesus has given His life for you, and God has made it personally yours in baptism – discover this relationship to God, and make a commitment to grow in it!
Talk to God (pray!), get to know Him through the Bible’s good news, grow through gathering with Christians at church. Being baptized into God’s family, discover that this is the very best that life – and God – have to offer!
When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared in His death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the wonderful power of the Father, we also can have a new life. (Romans 6:4)