Faith Journey

THE MEANING OF BAPTISM IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Directory for the Service of God, which is a part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), notes the following about the Sacrament of Baptism in the Presbyterian and Biblical tradition:

Baptism, as ordained by Christ, is the Word made visible. It sets forth the grace of God in Jesus Christ and affirms that believers and their children are heirs of the covenant of grace. It is a consecration to the new life in Christ, which means faithful service, obedience, and participation in the joy and victory of the resurrection. Baptism is both God’s act and the people’s response. In it God proclaims again the gospel and reassures the community of faith of the judging, forgiving, and redeeming love in Christ. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God marks as adopted children those who are baptized, enabling them to accept forgiveness through repentance, to affirm their new identity as members of Christ’s body, and to show themselves to be the Lord’s in ministry to others.

The Sacrament is a means of testifying to and receiving the reality of God’s grace, and also a means by which all faithful members of the church show forth publicly their own faith and trust in God. It heralds a new beginning of participation in the ministry of Christ for all who are baptized. Such participation initiated in Baptism then becomes an ever-expanding process, setting Christians on a journey which lasts the whole course of their lives. As the baptism of Jesus anticipated the whole course of His obedience, so the meaning of one’s own baptism becomes apparent only through the subsequent course of one’s life as one practices what it means to be the Lord’s in changing situations and in new relationships.

Baptism is a sign that we are part of the community of the universal church. Thus, no single tradition of the baptismal form can exhaust the great variety and depth of the meaning of Baptism. Baptism signals our membership in the universal church, and since its reality does not depend upon the tradition or form in which it was administered, it shall be administered only once to each person. A congregation is enriched by the administration of Baptism both to infants and to consenting believers upon public confession of faith. These complementary emphases of both practices exhibit the meaning of Baptism more fully and with less misunderstanding than if either is exclusively observed.

Baptism is an act of the whole church and a sign of entrance into it. Therefore, it regularly should be administered in the presence of the worshiping congregation. Since the Sacrament cannot be separated from the Word, it ordinarily is administered at a service at which the written Word has been expounded, setting forth the promises and benefits the Sacrament proclaims. All those present are to recall their dependence on God’s grace and the common need in which they all stand, praying that God will fulfill the promises sealed to the persons being baptized, that they will be enabled to walk in newness of life, exercise the gifts of the Spirit, and be drawn closer to one another through their common acknowledgement of the need in which they stand.

Christian parents have the right to present their infant children for baptism as a sign and seal of God’s promise to them as heirs of the covenant. In presenting a child for baptism parents affirm in public their duty to bring up the child to love and serve God. The congregation, too, promises to surround the child with their love and concern in Christ, that the child may continue in the community of the church, confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and live in God’s eternal Kingdom.

The Session ordinarily shall take appropriate action to authorize and approve the baptism of children. Ordinarily, the Session shall instruct and discuss with the parents, guardian, or others exercising parental responsibility, acquainting them with the significance of what God is doing in this act and with the responsibility it lays upon them. They should be instructed that baptism of infants is not to be practiced out of fear for the condition of the soul of an unbaptised child, and that the aim and goal of baptism includes the personal confession of faith and commitment to be the Lord’s and that baptism of infants places special responsibilities on parents and congregations for education and witness in the life of the church. The parents, or the persons rightly exercising parental authority, should be reminded of their obligation for the Christian nurture of the child, including instruction in the Bible, the church’s doctrine, the Christian life, and the church’s mission.

At CCUPC we believe that becoming an adult in the church is a big step – a time for a young person to profess what he or she believes. Confirmation is the time when a student makes their faith their own, acknowledges that they will follow Christ, and chooses to join our church. The Confirmation Class provides an opportunity for exploration of the Christian faith and a time of preparation for making a public declaration of those beliefs – all which lead to becoming an adult member of CCUPC.

Those in the class will follow a course that will lead to writing a Statement of Faith, meeting with the Session of the Church, and ultimately joining CCUPC. However, the choice to be confirmed is up to each student. We encourage all youth, even those who are unsure about taking this step, to attend the class. As the class progresses, the leaders will help each student to discern whether or not they are ready to make their Confirmation.

     Confirmation is appropriate for both students who have been baptized, and those who have not. For those who have not yet been baptized, they will be at the time they make their confirmation. Students who have been baptized will be affirming the promises that were made on their behalf.

The Confirmation Class meets during the Sunday School hour for the entire program year of the church – September through May. Meeting throughout the school year allows adequate time for instruction, and it also allows us to build strong relationships with the newest members of our church. Students who participate in the class are asked to sign a covenant detailing attendance, projects, and expectations.

At CCUPC, anyone going into 7^th grade through 12^th grade who has not yet been confirmed is invited to participate in this special Sunday School class. And although the class is primarily made of 7^th grader students, we welcome a variety of ages.

Our membership process requires one to engage in our ‘New Comers’ class. It is an 8 week class that meets on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour from 9:00-9:45 am. Throughout the class, you’ll learn more about the Presbyterian Church, our own congregation and what it means to grow as a disciple of Christ.  You’ll also have an opportunity to meet and connect with church leaders and other members.  The last two classes will actually be visits to our adult Sunday School classes.

Thank you for your interest in our membership page. We invite you to consider becoming a member of our church family.   The benefits of membership:

• Belonging to a church family for mutual nurture and care
• More opportunities to be involved in the life of the church
• Sharing of yourself in ways that deepen your faith and strengthen your relationship with Christ

There are typically three ways in which to become a member of Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church.

• LETTER OF TRANSFER: if you are currently an active member of another church.
• PROFESSION OF FAITH: if you were never a member of another church.
• REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH: if you were formerly a member of another church, but a letter of transfer is not available.

In uniting with this congregation, you must profess that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord of your life, understanding this to mean:

• You have received complete forgiveness by accepting His unmerited love and redeeming grace, purchased by His dying for you on the Cross.
• You live by faith in this Jesus Christ who has given you life through His indwelling presence.
• The Holy Spirit is a gift given to you to guide you in your daily life and through His presence with you, you are enabled to grow toward a consistent Christian life.
• You will seek to become mature in your faith through prayer and the study of His word, so that you can apply it to your life in your home, your work, your Church, your recreation and your citizenship in your community.

As the expression of your covenant in Jesus Christ and with this Church, you must affirm the following for yourself:

• Regular attendance at public worship and the sacraments.
• Proportionate and regular financial support of this congregation in its ministry for Christ here and throughout the world.
• A desire to share your faith in Christ with others.
• As you are guided by his Spirit, a willingness to assume any calling in the program of the Church as your labor is available and appropriate.

Those wishing to be a part of this church membership are required to attend our ‘New Comers’ class. If you wish to make arrangements to attend the next class, please contact the church office at 724-776-5310.

Communion, also known as  the Lord’s Supper is celebrated seven times yearly in worship.  We observe this sacrament at the beginning of Advent, Lent, World Communion Sunday, Maundy Thursday and three other times spaced out throughout the year.  We believe that the symbols of bread and juice are signs which point us to the reality of Christ’s sacrificial death for us and that when we commune He is spiritually present with us.  Our celebration is “open,” meaning that any person who embraces Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, irrespective of denominational affiliation or congregational membership is welcome to join us in this act.

Thank you for your interest in Cranberry Community U. P. Church (CCUPC) for your wedding ceremony.  CCUPC is conveniently located in southwestern Butler County, close to the major highway interchanges, hotels, and restaurants.  Our church building has all of the amenities needed to make your day as comfortable as possible such as a large air conditioned sanctuary with padded pews, a newly renovated bridal room for dressing and preparing, and ample parking.

Please click here to view/print our wedding handbook.  (requires Adobe Reader)