Life Events

“We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.”

The Sacrament of Baptism is the initiation into Christ’s Body, the church. It is administered with water “in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In baptism, individuals are adopted by God the Father, united to Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. As adopted children, the new Christian becomes a member of the church as a co-heir with Christ. We celebrate Holy Baptism on designated feast days and other scheduled Sundays throughout the year. We do not do private baptisms, unless for emergency.

Whether you are an adult wanting to be baptized or a parent hoping to baptize your child, please email baptism@cecsa.org for more information and to begin the baptism preparation process.

Holy Communion is the gift of Christ’s sustaining presence for his pilgrim people. Each week we receive bread and wine and hear the words, “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.”  We believe these words and receive them in faith. These words connect Jesus with Israel in the desert – the manna from heaven. Jesus sets a table for his people in the wilderness and sustains us with his very life.

All who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into the body of Christ are invited to receive the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.  2nd grade marks a significant year for children at Christ Church, as we provide a catechesis of the Eucharist – sometimes referred to as “First Communion.” Whether your child waits to receive Communion or has received since their baptism, we encourage them to attend this important education on Christian worship to prepare them to participate in the full Sunday services.

For more information about “First Communion,” contact Catherine de Marigny (catherined@cecsa.org).

“Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at their Baptism. Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before them.”

Confirmation is about strengthening the life of the baptized by the gifts of the Holy Spirit; it is the completion of the initiation begun in Baptism. The bishop of the diocese administers Confirmation by the laying on of hands (and often anointing with chrism), and an invocation of the Holy Spirit for strengthening and the gifts of grace. If Baptism is the beginning of life in Christ, Confirmation strengthens us by the Holy Spirit, by incorporating us more deeply into Christ and more closely into his Body the Church.

Adult Confirmation: For those who are new to the Episcopal church, we offer adult confirmation classes every Lent. If you have been confirmed within one of the apostolic traditions, then you should not be confirmed again but simply “received” into the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church recognizes the apostolic succession of the Roman Catholic Church, The Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church (ELCA).

6th Grad Confirmation: Our typical age that we offer confirmation is 6th grade. Like the adults, this class begins each year during Lent and will culminate in a retreat. If, for whatever reason, your child needs to be confirmed before or after 6th grade, please contact the Director of Family ministry, Carol Sobey (carols@cecsa.org).

“The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.”

We are happy you are interested in celebrating your wedding at Christ Church. Please read and review our wedding policies. To inquire about possible dates, you must meet with the rector first. Please contact the Executive Assistant, Jennifer Frazer (jenniferf@cecsa.org).

• Marriage dates: Determined after signing letter of agreement and a conference with the Rector.
• Pre-marital counseling is required.
• Some fees are necessary for musicians and maintenance support.

On Ash Wednesday, our foreheads are marked with an ashy cross and we are told: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” In a culture avoidant of death, these haunting words hit us as a sober reminder that we cannot escape this future; death comes for us all.  The foremost important Christian conviction, however, is that Jesus Christ has defeated death in his resurrection. Jesus spoke to Martha at her brother, Lazarus’s funeral, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” At Christian Funerals, we proclaim with the great poet, John Donne, “Death, be not proud,” for death is no longer ultimate for God’s people. We believe that in death, life is changed and not ended. Jesus has gone on to prepare a place for us with Him in the heavens and promises to resurrect even our dusty bones upon His return. Alleluia!

Last Rites:

If someone you know is near death and would like a priest to officiate “Last Rites,” please contact the church, a specific clergy or the Karen Von Der Bruegge (karenv@cecsa.org).

Burial Plans:

To prepare for your own burial or someone you love, please read and review our burial plans. To discuss funeral plans or to let Christ Church know that someone died, please contact the church.

In the Anglican tradition, it’s oft said about confession, “All may, none must, some should.” The Rite of Reconciliation is an invitation to experience the gift of God’s grace. It is found on page 447 in the Book of Common Prayer.

To prepare, consider using the “Self-Examination” from St. Augustine’s prayer book.

The church offers times for confession every Holy Week or you can reach out to a priest directly to schedule a confession at your own convenience.