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.