Congratulations for wanting to bring your child into God's family! Because of the sacred nature of baptism and dedication, we of the First Congregational Church of Fair Haven, U.C.C., want to be faithful to God in carrying out these rites. We have prepared this pamphlet to help you understand the traditions and meanings of baptism and dedication as we see them. We hope this will guide you in planning with our minister.

BAPTISM is a sacrament, a sacred action instituted by our Lord Jesus, bonding parents, children, Christ and our church together in love & support.

DEDICATION is like baptism, except that we reserve the blessing with water until the child is older and can decide for him or herself about accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Q: WHERE DO WE START?
A: Read this pamphlet thoroughly. It should answer many of your questions. Then phone our minister to make an appointment to talk with him about the baptism or dedication. At that time you can plan the date for the ceremony. Setting a date before this could disappoint you if that date isn't possible. We encourage you to come to worship at least a couple of times before the baptism or dedication. If we are going to work together in nurturing faith in your child, you will want to get to know us, and we want to get acquainted with you!

Q: MUST A CHILD BE BAPTIZED TO BE SAVED?
A: No. We don't believe that our loving God condemns unbaptized children. We do believe that God loves and wants to save all people. Baptism and Dedication are ways to claim a deeper relationship with God and His church for you and your child(ren).

Q: WHY BAPTIZE or DEDICATE MY CHILD?
A: Dedication and Baptism are signs pointing to God’s deep love and care for us and our children. This rite/sacrament welcomes them into our church family and into the entire Christian faith. In the ceremony we ask the church family to commit ourselves to help nurture faith in your child all through their life, and to support you as parents. Further, we ask you to publicly profess your commitment to God and His church to nurture the Christian faith in your child.

Q: SHOULD A PERSON BE BAPTIZED AS A CHILD OR AS AN ADULT?
A: In the Bible, people received baptism as a symbol of their faith. They were totally immersed (under water) and then brought up out of the water. This symbolized their death to sin and their old ways of living, and their birth into a new life of faith. Adults became church members by baptism. Children were dedicated to God, just as Jesus was dedicated at the temple when he was a child.
Baptizing infants grew out of later church tradition. It points to Jesus’ love of little children, and God’s care for us even before we know how to ask. Both infant and adult baptism have great meaning for us.
When you decide to initiate your child into the church, we urge you to make a thoughtful choice between baptism and dedication. Both rituals affirm the commitment of God, the church and parents to work together to nurture faith in your child. The rite of dedication pays special respect to the Biblical tradition of reserving the blessing with water until the child is old enough to make his or her own decision about Christ, and to remember the event.
Once a person is baptized into the church, we do not repeat it. To repeat baptism questions the validity of the sacrament. Some people do wish to experience immersion or blessing with water, and renew the promises made at their baptism. We are happy to celebrate a renewal of baptism for adults. We do not re-baptize.
If you choose to dedicate your child, we will save the blessing with water until they make their decision of faith and will remember the event of their baptism. Often this is done when they join the church

Q: HOW IS BAPTISM DONE?
A: In our church we leave the choice about the form of baptism to the individual. The blessing with water may be done by sprinkling, pouring or immersion.

Q: WHAT IS ANOINTING?
A. In the Bible we read that God's people anointed persons with oil when they were chosen to play a special role in God's kingdom. We believe that God has chosen your child for a unique role in creation, although we do not know what that role will be. In the New Testament church people also were anointed with oil to claim God's gift of wholeness for a person's body, mind and spirit. If you choose to have your child anointed with oil, we seal them as special to God, and claim the blessings of health and wholeness for them as well. Anointing with oil is not required, but is available to all.

Q: WHY ARE BAPTISMS & DEDICATIONS DONE IN PUBLIC CEREMONIES?
A: Because we ask the church family to commit themselves to support you and your child, we want the people to make those promises publicly to you and to God. We also want them to be able to enjoy this happy event! Usually we celebrate these rituals during worship. Occasionally exceptions can be made.

Q: WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE CEREMONY?
A: We ask that at least one parent presenting the child for baptism/dedication be a member in full communion of a Christian church. If not, we suggest that sponsors, persons who are members in full communion of a Christian church, join in making the pledges of baptism/dedication. At least one Deacon and the minister shall participate in baptisms or dedications that are held during worship services. At least two Deacons shall be present with the minister at other times to represent the church. If you do not live in our area, but want your child baptized or dedicated in our church, we ask you to choose a church where the child will be raised before we plan the service. Then we can ask that church if they will support you parents and nurture your child's faith on our behalf.

Q: WHAT DO SPONSORS DO?
A: A sponsor is a member in full communion of a Christian church. He/she covenants that if the parent is unable or unwilling to nurture faith in the child, then he or she will fulfill the vows. During the ceremony, the sponsor makes the same vows as the parent. Because this is a major responsibility, we ask sponsors to review the vows with the minister before making those promises.

Q: WHAT ABOUT GODPARENTS?
A: Our church does not get involved in any commitments that others may make to you about caring for your child in the case of your death or disability (godparents). That is a private matter. However, you may invite anyone (including godparents) to stand with you during the ceremony. Just tell the minister if you want to invite people forward.

Q: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OF PARENTS and/or SPONSORS?
A: You will be asked the following questions during the baptism or dedication of your child. We expect a lot from parents or sponsors. One’s faith is the most central concern of his or her life. Faith is like a seed. When planted, nurtured, pruned, and cared for, it can grow strong and fruitful. If ignored, it may dry up and die. The church believes that the following are central elements of planting and nurturing the seeds of faith in your child:

1. That it is your desire that your child be baptized or dedicated into the Christian faith. One Statement of Faith is printed on this brochure.

2. That you accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life.

3. That you accept as your duty, and privilege, to live your life before your child in accord with the Bible, so that your child experiences the way of Jesus through you.

4. That you nurture your child within a community of Christian faith, such as our church, until they have grown up and can decide for themselves about accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

5. That you teach the Bible to your child.

6. That you teach your child to participate in private and public worship of God by your own example.

These policies were adopted as a guide to the minister, and in cases of emergency could be altered.
Adopted by the Deacons. Revised: May 1990