The Sacraments
Our Protestant tradition celebrates two central rituals, called “sacraments,” baptism and eucharist (also called holy communion, or the Lord’s Supper). Both are “outward signs of inward grace.” These ancient practices of the Church stem from commandments attributed to Jesus in the Gospels. Both use elements of earth—water, bread, the fruit of the vine—as ways to express and grasp God’s acceptance of us in Christ. Both call us back to the things of earth in loving service.Baptism
Baptism is the “initiation rite” of the Church. We are immersed in or sprinkled with water in the name of the Trinity as a sign of new life in Christ. We promise to renounce evil and injustice. We are incorporated into Christ’s “body” and welcomed into the Church that follows him. The Spirit’s gifts are bestowed on us so that we can share his ministry. “Going down into the waters” of baptism signifies our dying and rising with Christ. It is the sacrament of discipleship.
At First Church, we baptize infants, young children and adults. If children are too young to affirm the promises of baptism, parents or other adults (sponsors, or godparents) may make them on their behalf. This act of “proxy” expresses our belief that God’s gift of new life is truly a gift—it does not depend on our understanding or will, but is offered freely, even when we do not know how to ask or receive.
Baptizing infants expresses the radical inclusion of Jesus, who turned no one away. It also commits the whole congregation to raise our children in the ways of Jesus, so that they may one day come to know, love and accept this gift of grace for themselves.
The baptism of older children and adults usually comes after a period of experience in the Church that leads to a desire for the sacrament. The meaning of the sacrament is the same for children and adults. The difference is awareness and decision—adult, or “believer” baptism stresses the human response to God’s offer of welcome into the life of Christ and the life of the Church.
The communal nature of the sacrament of baptism requires that it normally be celebrated during a service or worship, morning or evening. Private family baptisms are discouraged, although exceptional circumstances might permit them occasionally. Persons contemplating baptism for themselves or their children should contact a deacon or minister for information about preparation, and to schedule the celebration with plenty of advance notice.
Sometimes family members have different religious backgrounds, theological convictions, or other circumstances that make baptism difficult for them to celebrate with integrity. In these cases, families often wish instead to ”bless” or “dedicate” a child in the church. Although not to be confused with baptism, dedications and blessings are done at First Church as a way to celebrate God’s love and goodness to us in our children, to give thanks for a birth or adoption, and to welcome a child into the community of faith.
Eucharist, or Holy Communion
The sacrament of holy communion (also called eucharist, Greek for ‘thanksgiving’) originated in the last meal Jesus shared with his friends the night before he died. At supper, he took bread and wine, gave thanks, and shared them with his disciples. He likened the bread and wine to his soon-to-be broken body and poured-out blood. He also told his disciples to remember him whenever they shared such a meal together. Thus holy communion has come down to us as a memorial of Jesus’ death.
But the eucharist is more than a remembrance of the past. It also looks to the future. Jesus practiced a ministry of table fellowship throughout his life. He invited sinners and outcasts. He ate with rich and poor. A meal with Jesus was a sign that God was doing something new—breaking down barriers, restoring the kinship of all creation, extending radical hospitality in a world characterized by exclusions. Table fellowship with Jesus is a foretaste of the day when God will usher in the promised kingdom of justice, abundance and joy for all creatures. When we eat and drink at the communion tables, we pledge ourselves to wait and work for that day in all we say and do. Communion, therefore, has a strong dimension of justice and hope.
Holy communion is also a precious time of fellowship. The Lord’s Supper nourishes us not only as individuals, but also and primarily as a community. Steeped in an atmosphere of self-giving and unity, celebrating communion both expresses and strengthens “the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love.”
At First Church, the communion table is open to all baptized Christians. However, it is not our practice to inquire about whether one is baptized, or about one’s specific convictions regarding the eucharist. Although normally communion is fully meaningful only when celebrated in a Christian community by believers, we know that the gift of the sacrament is not ours, but God’s, and that therefore it is not up to us to restrict access to it unnecessarily. In short, we welcome to our table all who seek to know the mercy of Christ, the faithfulness of God, and the peace of the Spirit, and to walk in the ways of justice and compassion—even if they do not speak in precisely these terms.
Children of any age are always welcome at the table. Whether they participate is left to the discretion of their responsible adults, but we encourage the little ones to come to Jesus, just as the Gospels say he did.