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MEMBER SUPPORT SERVICE
WATER BAPTISM CEREMONY
“Connecting Believer’s to the Local Church”
OVERVIEW
Christian Baptism
Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the ordinance (Matthew 28:19) by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship.
Baptism signifies:
- A confession of faith in Christ;
- A cleansing or washing of the soul from sin;
- A death to sin and a new life in righteousness.
Baptism, is the burial of the old carnal life, to which immersion corresponds. "Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him by faith IN the operation of God who hath raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:11-12; Ephesians 1:19-20). Here, and in Romans 6:3-6, baptism is viewed as identifying us with Christ, by our union to His once crucified and now risen body, and as entailing in us also a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness, and as involving as the final issue our bodily sharing in the likeness of His resurrection, at the coming first resurrection, that of the saints.
All of the instances of baptism recorded in the book of Acts (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 22:12-16; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 16:32-34) suggests the idea that it was by dipping the person baptized, i.e. by immersion.
Believers were baptized in apostolic times, and they have been baptized in all time by all the branches of the church.
Moreover, every instance of “believers' baptism,” recorded in the New Testament (Acts 2:41; Acts 8:37; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 10:47; Acts 16:15; Acts 19:5, etc.) is just such as would be dealt with in precisely the same way by all branches of the Church, a profession of faith or of their being “believers” would be required from every one of them before baptism.
Water Baptism & Ceremony Information
Promptly arrive at 6:30 PM on day you plan on attending in the Overflow Room! There, attendance will be taken and you will receive important instructions about the ceremony’s procedures: where the changing area is, receiving your robe and the order in which you will be baptized, etc.
The baptistery area has separate changing rooms for men & women. Each room has stalls in which you can change with privacy. There are outlets for blow dryers for your convenience. Please bring with you:
- a towel,
- a plastic bag (for your wet items)
- and a change of clothes
We recommend you wear a bathing suit or shirt and shorts under the robe that we provide. Please leave valuables at home. Also note that you are responsible for your own seating arrangements when you return to the main sanctuary.
Once you have been baptized, your Water Baptism Form will be processed and you will be sent a Certificate of Baptism. If you are in the process of becoming a FFM Member and water baptism is the only requirement you have left to complete, please bring your completed Membership Application with you to be handed in the night of the ceremony.
If you have any questions, please call (732) 727-9500 x 1405.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Elder Carlene Scalamandre, CScala@ffmwoc.org
Head of FFMWOC Membership Services
(732) 727-9500 Extension 1405
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