Baptisms and Confirmations at St. James United Church
Baptisms
We are pleased to consider requests
from parents, grandparents and guardians for the baptism of children.
Normally Rev. Smith meets with those interested in having
children baptized to discuss the meaning and importance of baptism in
our tradition as a celebration of God's love and the action by which we
commit ourselves to being part of God's family. Please call the
church office for more information.
Adult Baptisms
We are pleased as well to consider
the requests from adults to be baptized. While the meaning of baptism
is the same no matter what age the person is, when individuals are
baptized as adults they answer for themselves the promises of baptism
and are made members of the church through their profession of faith.
For those familiar with the Christian faith and the United Church the
preparation for adult baptism normally is a series of meetings
with Rev. Smith or attendance at a Confirmation class.
Confirmation (Reaffirmation of Baptismal Faith)
When those baptized as children reach
the age to decide for themselves the questions of faith they are
invited to come before the church to own for themselves the promises
made for them as children. The Confirmation process usually involves
classes where issues of faith are discussed and explored. These groups
usually run in the the spring. Please contact the church office for
more information.
Transfer of Membership
We welcome members from other United Church congregations who are
living and worshiping among us into the membership of the congregation
through transfer of membership. Members from other Christian churches
are also often received into our fellowship in this way. Again please
contact Rev. Smith or the church office for more information.
Profession of Faith
For different reasons, sometimes it is not possible to receive a member
of another church into our membership through a transfer. At those
times individuals are invited to make a profession of faith during the
Sunday service as a public witness to their beliefs and desire to
be a member of our congregation. Rev. Smith or the church office
can advise those interested in becoming members in this way.
