The
Sacraments
What is a sacrament in the United Church
of Christ?
Sacraments are ritual actions in worship
which, according to Scripture, were instituted by Jesus. In the
sacraments of baptism and communion we ask the Holy Spirit to
use water, bread and wine to make visible the grace, forgiveness
and presence of God in Christ.
The Sacrament
of Baptism
What does baptism signify?
The sacrament of baptism is an outward
and visible sign of the grace of God. Through baptism a person
is joined with the universal church, the body of Christ. In baptism,
God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the spirit,
and the knowledge of the call to be God's people always.
How does baptism take place?
Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit
is the sign and seal of our common discipleship. Since baptism
is God's gift, the Holy Spirit is called to be upon the water
and those being baptised. The act of baptism also marks the beginning
of new life of discipleship with Christ, the human response to
that gift.
Why is water used?
Water is an essential element of baptism.
Water is a prominent symbol of cleansing and life in the Bible
- the water of creation, the great flood, the liberation of Israel
through the sea, the water of Mary's womb, the baptism of Jesus
in the Jordan River, the woman at the well, and Jesus' washing
of the feet of the disciples. That is why water is visibly present
in the service. In the United Church of Christ, the mode of baptism
is a matter of choice. Some traditions use sprinkling, some pouring
and some immersion.
Who is baptised in the United Church
of Christ?
Infants, children, youth and adults.
For infants and children, as well as for youth and adults who
have never been baptised before, baptism marks their acceptance
into the care of Christ's church, the sign and seal of God's grace
and forgiveness, and the beginning of their Christian faith and
life.
Is re-baptism necessary?
The United Church of Christ recognizes
the validity of all baptisms, therefore there is no need for re-baptism.
If there is a question about whether baptism has taken place,
a conditional phrase may be added as a person is baptized, such
as "if you are not already baptized." It is a well-accepted
practice, however, for people to renew their baptismal vows in
a service of baptismal renewal, such as the Order for Renewal
of Baptismin the UCC Book of Worship.
Is there a special time for baptism?
Baptism is a personal celebration in
the lives of the individual candidates and their families. It
is also a celebration within the local church family and a recognition
of its commitment. For this reason, baptism is celebrated in the
presence of the community gathered for worship. If circumstances
require baptism to take place outside of corporate worship, members
of the local church, if possible, may participate in the ceremony
with the pastor. In urgent circumstances, such as imminent death,
any Christian may perform the baptism.
When should a person be baptized?
Baptism may take place at any worship
service where the community is gathered. In the early Christian
church, the season of Lent was used as the final period for the
preparation of candidates. In the scriptures that are read during
the seasons from Advent up to Easter, thee are many texts that
teach the faith and point toward baptism. In the early church,
the candidates were baptized together at the Vigil of Easter (the
pre-dawn Easter service). Some local churches still perform baptisms
at this service, or on Pentecost Sunday, and also baptize throughout
the year.
Are sponsors present?
Parents, in consultation with the pastor,
may choose sponsors or Godparents for infants and young children
who are to be baptized. Other candidates for baptism may also
be given this opportunity to have sponsors. At the time of the
baptismal service, the sponsors, who accompany the candidates
and present them for baptism, may make promises identical to the
promises of the parents concerning their role.
What words are used?
The Book of Worship of the United Church
of Christ has an Order for Baptism and orders for Affirmation
of Baptism. The recognition of our baptism by the ecumenical church
is important to us, and The UCC Book of Worship encourages the
use of language recognized in most Christian churches, "I
baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Feminine images for God may surround these words to enrich understandings
and offer balance.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
The origin of communion
The communion meal recalls the table
fellowship Jesus shared with his disciples, and in particular
the Last Supper on the night before his death as well as his appearances
to the disciples during meals following his resurrection. Throughout
its history these Biblical events have been central to the Church's
worship life.
The meaning of communion
In the sacrament of Holy Communion,
also called the Lord's Supper or eucharist, meaning "thanksgiving",
Christians hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed
through Jesus Christ in a unique way. Communion is:
- a joyous act of thanksgiving
for all God has done, is doing, and will do for the redeeming
of creation;
- a sacred memorial of the
crucified and risen Christ, a living and effective sign of Christ's
sacrifice in which Christ is truly and rightly present to those
who eat and drink;
- an earnest prayer for
the presence of the Holy Spirit to unite those who partake with
the Risen Christ and with each other, and to restore creation,
making all things new;
- an intimate experience
of fellowship in which the whole church in every time and place
is present and divisions are overcome;
- a hopeful sign of the
promised Realm of God marked by justice, love and peace.
The United Church of Christ Book of
Worship reminds us that "the invitation and the call [to
the supper] celebrate not only the memory of a meal that is past,
but an actual meal with the risen Christ that is a foretaste of
the heavenly banquet at which Christ will preside at the end of
history."
What elements are used? What do they
mean?
The broken bread and poured wine represent
- present anew - the crucified and risen Christ. The wheat gathered
to bake one loaf and the grapes pressed to make one cup remind
participants that they are one body in Christ, while the breaking
and pouring announce the costliness of Christ's sacrifice for
the forgiveness of sin. First Congregational Church provides non-alcoholic
grape juice. As we grow increasingly aware of the rich cultural
diversity of the church, the use of elements other than bread
and wine is becoming an issue for global ecumenical reflection.
What words are used?
The Book of Worship and The New Century
Hymnal contain several liturgies for the celebration of Holy Communion.
In addition, many liturgies from ecumenical and global sources
are frequently used. At the heart of the service are Jesus' words
about the bread and the cup from the Biblical account of the Last
Supper.
How is communion served?
A variety of practices are found in
the United Church of Christ, including the sharing of a common
loaf or the use of individual wafers or cubes of bread and the
sharing of a comon cup or of individual cups either at the Table
or in the pews. Intinction (dipping the bread in the wine) is
also an acceptable practice. Care should be taken to ensure that
the full meaning of the sacrament is communicated by the way the
elements are used and served. The minister presides at the Table,
normally assisted by the deacons.
Who may receive communion?
In our church the communion table is
"open to all Christians who wish to know the presence of
Christ and to share in the community of God's people" (Book
of Worship).
What about children?
In many Christian churches baptized
children and even infants are able to receive communion. Practice
in the United Church of Christ varies, but increasingly children
are welcomed to the Table at their parents' discretion following
a period of instruction about the sacraments meaning.
Information on the sacraments
is from United Church of Christ publications.
First Congregational Church
1009 Main Street Branford Connecticut
203-488-7201