Sacraments & Life Events
Baptism
Baptism is initiation into Christian life and one of the primary sacraments of our faith.
A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace. The outward and visible sign in baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The inward and spiritual grace of baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family the Church, forgiveness of sin and new life in the Holy Spirit.
Parents who baptize their infants promise to raise and nurture their child’s faith life. As a community of the baptized we promise to nurture faith in each other.
Adults interested in being baptized are asked to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) during the six weeks of Lent (late winter/early spring).
Baptisms are traditionally held on four meaningful feasts: the Easter Vigil (April), on the Day of Pentecost (June), All Saint’s Day (November) and on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which is the first Sunday after Epiphany (January). To schedule a baptism and to learn more about baptism, contact our church office.
A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace. The outward and visible sign in baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The inward and spiritual grace of baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family the Church, forgiveness of sin and new life in the Holy Spirit.
Parents who baptize their infants promise to raise and nurture their child’s faith life. As a community of the baptized we promise to nurture faith in each other.
Adults interested in being baptized are asked to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) during the six weeks of Lent (late winter/early spring).
Baptisms are traditionally held on four meaningful feasts: the Easter Vigil (April), on the Day of Pentecost (June), All Saint’s Day (November) and on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which is the first Sunday after Epiphany (January). To schedule a baptism and to learn more about baptism, contact our church office.
Confirmation
It is hard to be and remain a Christian alone. Faith grows best in community. Community nurtures, nourishes and nudges faith. Confirmation is a time when our teens make a commitment to nurture their faith and the community makes a commitment to support their faith lives. As a community we lift up our youth in celebration of their decision to make a mature commitment to Christ. In this time of blossoming of faith, our young people receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by our bishop.
Teens seeking to be confirmed must be baptized and attend a confirmation formation class during the six weeks of Lent. To learn more about confirmation, contact our church office.
Adults seeking confirmation are asked to participate in an adult program for those seeking, exploring, and claiming their faith, held during the six weeks of Lent (late winter/early spring).
Teens seeking to be confirmed must be baptized and attend a confirmation formation class during the six weeks of Lent. To learn more about confirmation, contact our church office.
Adults seeking confirmation are asked to participate in an adult program for those seeking, exploring, and claiming their faith, held during the six weeks of Lent (late winter/early spring).
Marriage
Marriage in the Episcopal Church is when two people choose to make a marriage covenant in the presence God and a faith community. In Christian marriage, a couple receives the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows. At least one person in the couple must be a baptized Christian. The Episcopal Church accepts the baptism of any Christian tradition which baptizes in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do marry and bless the unions of same-sex couples.
To help prepare for the journey of marriage, the couple will need to meet with the Rector over the course of several months for premarital counseling. If the couple are not members of St. John’s, they are encouraged to begin worshiping and sharing life in our community or be connected to life in a Christian community.
To find out more about weddings at St. John’s contact our church office.
To help prepare for the journey of marriage, the couple will need to meet with the Rector over the course of several months for premarital counseling. If the couple are not members of St. John’s, they are encouraged to begin worshiping and sharing life in our community or be connected to life in a Christian community.
To find out more about weddings at St. John’s contact our church office.
The Rev. Vincent and Loris Coletta renewing their wedding vows on their 70th. wedding anniversary – June 25, 2011
St. John’s is also a place to renew wedding vows.
Memorial Service
The death of a loved one is an emotional and difficult time. The clergy at St. John’s consider it a privilege to walk with those who mourn and grieve through the days before and after the death of a family member.
At the Time of Death
Our clergy are available to provide the rituals and sacraments of the church for those who are dying. They can provide Holy Communion for those who are still able to receive it, anointing for those who are dying and prayers of commendation for those who have died.
The Litany at the Time of Death (The Book of Common Prayer, pages 462-467) is an order of prayers and blessings that can be adapted to different situations and even repeated when a situation, for the sake of family peace or individual comfort, warrants it.
Burial
The death of a member of the church should be reported as soon as possible and arrangements for the funeral made in consultation with our clergy. They may be reached by calling the church office. One of our clergy will meet with the family to plan a service that honors and celebrates the life of the individual, respects the family and friends while remaining true to the understanding of death and dying that arises out of our Christian tradition.
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.
The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
The Order for Burial is in the Book of Common Prayer, page 507.
Advance Preparation
We encourage our members to prepare in advance to make their death as easy as possible for those who remain and those who have responsibility for carrying out their wishes.
Such planning includes:
At the Time of Death
Our clergy are available to provide the rituals and sacraments of the church for those who are dying. They can provide Holy Communion for those who are still able to receive it, anointing for those who are dying and prayers of commendation for those who have died.
The Litany at the Time of Death (The Book of Common Prayer, pages 462-467) is an order of prayers and blessings that can be adapted to different situations and even repeated when a situation, for the sake of family peace or individual comfort, warrants it.
Burial
The death of a member of the church should be reported as soon as possible and arrangements for the funeral made in consultation with our clergy. They may be reached by calling the church office. One of our clergy will meet with the family to plan a service that honors and celebrates the life of the individual, respects the family and friends while remaining true to the understanding of death and dying that arises out of our Christian tradition.
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.
The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
The Order for Burial is in the Book of Common Prayer, page 507.
Advance Preparation
We encourage our members to prepare in advance to make their death as easy as possible for those who remain and those who have responsibility for carrying out their wishes.
Such planning includes:
- Reviewing one’s financial position and consulting an attorney about any estate planning distribution options. Create and/or update your will.
- Review the Burial Rite in the Book of Common Prayer (pages 468-489 for Rite I and pages 490-505 for Rite II) and meet with clergy to plan a service to celebrate your life.
- Have a conversation with one’s family about end of life decisions and desires.