Community Baptisms Offered At Faith

“Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” -- from the Lutheran Book of Worship.

Do you know someone who would like to be baptized or would like to have their child or grandchild baptized but doesn’t know where to go or how to go about it?

Maybe they’re not strongly attached to a Christian community or maybe they’ve been told baptism is for members only.

In celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter, Faith Lutheran Church is offering baptism to all people who want to be baptized or want their child baptized. The community baptisms will be offered on Saturday, April 4, as part of an Easter Vigil focused on celebrating new life offered in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Offering the promise of God’s grace through the act of baptism is at the core of the Christian faith. It is an action that binds people to Christ, to God, forever. The Lutheran understanding is that baptism is God’s work and not dependent on the actions, qualifications or worthiness of the person being baptized. That’s why Lutherans baptize infants.

The baptism rite includes statements of faith in the triune God --Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and commitments by those being baptized or their parents or loved ones, as well as commitments by the Christians gathered for the service.

The community baptism service will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about 45 minutes to an hour, with scripture, simple songs and the baptisms. A celebration with desserts and refreshments will follow. All are welcome to attend and participate in worship.

People who would like to be baptized or would like their children baptized, should contact Pastor Mark Rollenhagen in advance by calling Faith at 216-226-6500 or e-mailing him at pastor@faithlakewood.org.

Faith is located at 16511 Hilliard Road (across from Harding Middle School) in Lakewood and online at faithlakewood.org.