Welcome to Faith Lutheran Church!
That's what God says to us in baptism... He welcomes us into his family of faith! The family in which all are welcome, all are celebrated and love and compassion are the rule. This is a gift of grace, that is a gift that we didn't earn or deserve. Freely given to us by the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ. We are Christians who start our pilgrimage of faith with this wonderful down to earth act of God.
Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran tradition of faith. Baptism and Holy Communion are ways in which God comes to us, God affirms his love and mercy and God forgives and sets free. They are the foundation of our faith. Even when we don't feel like we love God, God is faithful and loves us. God word is a lively, life-giving word and opens up the future all the way through eternity. It is a promise, not based on how we respond, but a promise based upon God's Word which has guided the people of faith for nearly 4,000 years of human history.
Baptism is sheer gift, undeserved and unmerited. Which is why we love to baptize infants. When we can't respond and when we can't decide, God's promise still reigns over his creation! It's not about our actions, it's about God's one act in Jesus Christ that saved the world.
We have a gift in the catechism, or teaching book, of Martin Luther. Martin Luther started the Protestant church movement, a reforming movement in the Roman Catholic church. While we now enjoy Christian fellowship with many groups, including our Roman Catholic neighbors, Luther's insights still prove very useful for us in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Below is the Catechism which we teach to our young adults, on the subject of baptism:
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is water used according to
God's command and connected with God's word.
Which
is that word of God?
What benefits does Baptism give?
Which are these words and promises of God?
How can water do such great things? Clearly the water does not do it, but the word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts in this Word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is true."
What does such baptizing with water indicate?
Where is this written?
That's wonderful... now what do I do?
Just give us a call at 425-885-1810 and we will be happy to set up a time for baptism. Our normal rule is to baptize during our Sunday worship. This is because baptism always connects us with the family of God, the church. It's not just an individual sacrament. It's a sacrament of the beloved community of Christ! So, find a Sunday where you can celebrate with your family and friends and call us to see if that would work!
The form we use for baptism information can be downloaded below, so you can fill it out at home:
Click here to download our Baptismal Information.doc
Thanks and Blessings to you!
Pastor Mark
