In Christianity, baptism is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. The ceremony is usually accompanied by the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the doctrine originated by St. Paul, it signifies the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. Judaism practiced ritual purification by immersion, and the Gospels report that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism was an important ritual in the early church by the first century ce, and infant baptism appeared c. 200 ce. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches practice infant baptism. The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith; modern Baptists and the Disciples of Christ also practice adult baptism.
There were over 100 baptisms at our church last year. He received the sacrament of baptism as an infant.
Recent Examples on the WebWaves between windows symbolize baptism, sets of 12 steps call back to the 12 tribes of Israel and a golden arch inside the sanctuary honors the rainbow God presented as a covenant after the great flood depicted in Genesis in the Bible. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Aug. 2022 Bethel Church will have an annual lake baptism service 6 p.m. July 31 at Lake Street Beach in the Miller neighborhood of Gary.Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2022 The cover photo of Mr. Wilkins evokes the rituals of Southern baptism. Larry Blumenfeld, WSJ, 22 Jan. 2022 As an article on The Bump explains, not every baptism occasion calls for gifts. Annie O’sullivan, Woman's Day, 6 May 2022 The designation is critical because the priest is thought to be speaking directly for Christ during baptism ceremonies. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2022 The baptism error could present other problems for those affected, the diocese said. Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 15 Feb. 2022 Among the keepsakes are her baptism water, a tiny pink-and-white knit beanie, final photos, and a card listing Everleigh’s birth details, ink-stamped with her miniature footprints. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2022 And one of the references was, in fact, that baptism scene from The Godfather. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 1 June 2022 See More