In the Reformed Church, we have two acts of worship which we call "sacraments," which are Baptism and Communion, or the Lord's Supper.

Baptism is the prayerful ritual washing with water, which symbolizes our cleansing from the flaws, shortcomings, and misdeeds arising from our human nature, indeed a dying to that old nature and a birth into a new life as God's child. The rite itself has power as a visible sign and seal or what God has already performed for us as an invisible gift.

Because we believe that this gift can be imparted in some respect to our children through our own keeping of the faith, we offer it to our children as well as to believing adults.

Baptism is celebrated in worship by request, with approval by our board of elders. For a child to be baptized, at least one parent must be an active member of the congregation.

Communion is the prayerful ritual sharing of bread and wine (we use unfermented grape juice) following Jesus' example, set when he shared the Passover meal with his disciples before his death, telling them, "This bread is my body. This cup is God's new covenant made through the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me."

In the Reformed tradition we believe that God is present in the sacrament not in the bread or cup, but in the shared act itself of eating and drinking. But what truly matters is that the communicant has a sense of Christ's dwelling in and among us, however that may happen. Communion is celebrated in worship the first Sunday of the month, with occasional exceptions, and during Holy Week on Maundy Thursday. It is also celebrated in the home with persons who are unable to come to church. Children may receive communion following confirmation, or earlier if requested by their parents, if they show sufficient understanding, and if approved by the board of elders. When a child has already received communion in another church, he or she is welcome to take the sacrament here.

Our church also practices ordination, visitation of the sick, confirmation, and a form of confession and absolution, which are called sacraments in other traditions. But we reserve the word sacrament for those two rituals instituted by Jesus in the Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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