Baptism

Our Book of Common Prayer describes Baptism as “the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” (BCP, 858). Baptism is both a serious and joyful occasion – in it, we are united with Jesus' death and his resurrection, and take up our part in the family of the Church (not just Holy Cross, but across the world throughout time!) Baptism is insoluble – that means once we are baptized, we are baptized forever. 


 In the Episcopal Church, Baptism is open to all people, of any age, with those who are able taking an active role in the liturgy through a series of renunciations and promises, and those who are younger or otherwise unable having a parent or sponsor make these promises for them. Baptism is a celebration for the whole community of our life together in Christ. For that reason, all Baptisms take place during a regularly scheduled service together on Sunday, where one of our priests will celebrate the baptism. 

Interested in Baptism?

If you are interested in having yourself or your child baptized, please contact us so we can reach out about Baptismal preparation and schedule a date. We would love to celebrate your membership in the Body of Christ!

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  • "In Jesus Christ our Lord you have received us as your sons and daughters, made us citizens of your kingdom, and given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth."

    — Book of Common Prayer, 381

  • "Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

    —Romans 6:3-5

  • "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?"

    — Acts 8:36

  • "We have received baptism for the remission of sins, in the name of God the Father, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was incarnate and died and rose again, and in the Holy Spirit of God. And that this baptism is the seal of eternal life."

    — Irenaeus of Lyons

  • "God takes you by the hand and leads you safely through the deep waters, in the silent depth of the sea you can lay the burden of your labor and failures, the light of God shows you the way to the surface, and the living Spirit will meet you on the other side, filling your lungs with a breath as wide as the new life in God, with God, and for God, from now on you are a living witness of the power of life in the midst of death."

    — Cláudio Carvalhaes, Liturgies from Below, 122

Frequently Asked Questions

  • (Usually) nope! When you are baptized, you are baptized for life. If you want to learn more about ways to publicly deepen your commitment to your faith, please reach out to one of our priests who would be happy to chat!

  • Godparents are people who commit at a baptism to help support a child who is being baptized as they grow into their Christian faith. The godparents themselves should already be baptized.

    Sponsors present those who are able to speak for themselves when taking the baptismal vows, and similarly are already baptized. When you reach out about baptism, we can discuss who would be a good fit for these roles in your or your child’s life!

  • Absolutely not! Baptism is an outflowing of God’s grace, freely offered.


  • This is up to your own discernment — just know that there is nothing needed to earn baptism, and that you are welcome to be baptized whenever you feel called! Please reach out to our clergy if you’d like to discuss more.

  • All baptisms at Holy Cross happen during a Sunday service. It is very typical for baptisms to be scheduled on feast day that is connected to baptism (including at Easter Vigil or on Easter), but any Sunday where the Body of Christ gathers together to worship can be a baptismal Sunday!