Guidelines for the Parents of Infants and Young Children

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is full initiation into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In it a person is joined mystically to Jesus and to his or her fellow Christians. Through it he or she is made a partaker of the grace and power of Christ’s resurrection out of death and of the new and transformed life which His resurrection brought into being for humankind. To use a metaphor from the lips of Jesus, Holy Baptism is like a planted seed. If it is not nurtured nothing comes of it. But if it is planted in good ground and cared for, it will “bring forth good fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20)

Therefore, Christ Church has the following requirements for the parents of infants and young children whom they wish to baptize:

• At least one of the parents must be a member of the Parish who has supported the life of Christ Church by regular Sunday attendance for at least six months and has made a financial commitment to the church in the form of an annual Stewardship Pledge.
• If the parents are not members of the Parish, then they must demonstrate comparable membership in another Parish. We ask that a member of the clergy of the home parish call Father Patrick in order to vouch for their membership in that parish.
• Parents and godparents must be able to affirm in all good faith and for themselves the promises made on behalf of the child and also the teaching of the Apostles’ Creed which is the substance of the baptismal affirmation and the Christian faith. (The Book of Common Prayer, pp. 302-305)

Scheduling a Baptism

Parents who meet these qualifications are asked to contact the Parish Administrator at 978-468-4461 or [email protected] to begin scheduling the baptism (Sundays only, during regular services) and any required meetings with Father Patrick.