Jesus calls us to be baptized. It is part of our Christian journey and an expression of our
faith in Christ. We currently offer baptisms on the 2nd Sunday of every month, which we
call “YES! Sundays” at Faith Church. A baptismal class or conversation is scheduled
with the pastor a week or two prior to the baptism to explain the meaning of baptism and
answer any questions the recipient or parents might have. You can request baptism by
calling or emailing the church office (651) 460-6110, talking with the Pastor, and filling
out the Baptism form here:

A few questions and answers that may help you understand Baptism better:

What is Baptism? Baptism is a ritual of water signifying entrance into the household of
faith. It is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin. It represents a “new
birth” and faith in Jesus; it is a mark of Christian discipleship. Baptism is an “outward
and visible sign of the inward spiritual grace” through and by which we share in His
righteousness and are heirs of life eternal. Those receiving the Sacrament are marked
as Christian disciples and welcomed into the community of Christ’s holy Church.
Three methods the Church has traditionally used to baptize people: Sprinkling is when
the pastor takes a handful of water typically from a bowl and sprinkles the water upon
the head of the person being baptized. Pouring is when the pastor takes a pitcher of
water and pours it over the person being baptized. Immersion is when the pastor fully
immerses the person being baptized in a pool of water. In each case the pastor shares
the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Most
often at Faith Church, we use sprinkling or pouring, though immersion is an option if an
outdoor worship service is planned (that would be attended by the congregation).

Can I request a private baptism? In the UMC, usually baptisms happen within our
public worship services because we are welcoming those being baptized into the
community of Christ’s holy Church. Only in emergency cases (such as health or inability
to participate in a service) do we offer more intimate private baptisms.

Can I (or should I) be baptized more than once? We discourage the practice of re-
baptism and instead offer an alternative called “re-affirmation.” People are given a
chance to re-affirm their baptismal vows by sprinkling, pouring or immersion and the
pastor often shares the words, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” A re-
affirmation service implies that while God remains faithful to God’s part of the Baptismal
covenant, we are not always faithful to our promises. Our part of the covenant is to
confess Christ as a Savior, trust in his grace, serve him as Lord in the church, and carry
out his mission against evil, injustice and oppression in the world.

Is it okay if I was baptized in another church or tradition? Absolutely. We recognize
the baptism of other churches and denominations, if those traditions baptize people with
water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as understood in historic
Christianity. We offer baptism to people of all ages who have not previously received
Christian baptism in any form.