To register to have your child baptized,

please fill out this card and send in the mail to:

Trinity Wall Street

Pastoral Care and Community Dept.

120 Broadway, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10271

You will be contacted with more information

about starting the baptism process.

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CHILD BAPTISM & CLASS SCHEDULE 2015-2016All classes and baptisms are held at Trinity Church, unless otherwise noted.

ALL SAINTS’ DAY BAPTISM 2015 Sunday, November 1, 2015 (11:15am) Classes: Sundays, October 11, 18, and 25 (1:30-2:30pm) Rehearsal: Sunday, October 25 (2:30-3:30pm) Registration deadline: Monday, October 5

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD Sunday, January 10, 2016 (11:15am) Classes: Saturday, January 2 (10am-2:00pm) and

Sunday, January 3 (1:30-2:30pm)

Rehearsal: Sunday, January 3 (2:30-3:30pm) Registration deadline: Monday, December 28

EASTER VIGIL BAPTISM Saturday, March 26, 2016, St. Paul’s Chapel (8pm) Classes: Sundays, March 6, 13, and 20 (1:30-2:30pm) Rehearsal: Sunday, March 20 (2:30-3:30pm) Registration deadline: Monday, February 29

PENTECOST BAPTISM Sunday, May 15, 2016 (11:15am) Classes: Sundays, April 24, May 1, and 8 (1:30-2:30pm) Rehearsal: Sunday, May 8 (2:30-3:30pm) Registration deadline: Monday, April 18

ALL SAINTS’ DAY BAPTISM 2016 Sunday, November 6, 2016 (11:15am) Classes: Sundays, October 16, 23, and 30 (1:30-2:30pm) Rehearsal: Sunday, October 30 (2:30-3:30pm) Registration deadline: Monday, October 10

Free nursery care is available during these times to serve you and your child (6 months to 4 years old). Trinity’s nursery is staffed by licensed childcare professionals.

holy baptism

Trinity Wall Street120 Broadway, 38th FloorNew York, NY 10271 212.602.0800for a world of good

WELCOME!Trinity Wall Street is an Episcopal parish where we

strive to live the values of Jesus Christ by loving our

neighbors near and far for a world of good. As an active

and open community, we continuously invite others

to be part of our Christian family. In the sacrament of

baptism, children and adults are invited to begin and

go deeper into the Christian life through this ancient

Christian rite, the official entry into the life of the

Christian community. The Trinity Wall Street family

promises to support you and/or your child on this

journey as we live more fully as Christ’s presence in

the world.

—The Rev. Phillip A. Jackson

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

God’s promise to us

Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us

as his children and makes us members of Christ’s body,

the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God (The

Book of Common Prayer, p. 858). The sacrament marks

the beginning of a new life in which we are promised

a new relationship with God—opening us to new

possibilities and hope through Jesus Christ.

Our promise to God and one anotherAt baptism, the person being baptized vows to accept

Jesus Christ as Savior, to trust in his grace and love, and

to follow and obey him as Lord (BCP, pp. 302-303). In

the case of infants and young children, who are unable

to answer for themselves, these vows are made by their

parents and sponsors or godparents who promise to

raise the child in the Christian faith and support him

or her through their prayers and example.

For in the one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body

—I Corinthians 12:133941

CHILD BAPTISM

At Trinity Wall Street, having a child baptized includes

a meeting with clergy, a series of baptism classes for

parents, and a period of congregational prayer prior

to baptism. To begin, choose a date for baptism and

preparation classes (see other side for schedule), and

then contact us by the registration deadline. You may

contact Keisha Joseph at kjoseph@trinitywallstreet.org

or 212.602.0755, or fill out and mail the attached card.

Attending preparation classesParents are required to attend baptism classes, not only

to learn more about baptism, but also to reflect on their

own faith journey and hopes for their child’s life of faith.

Classes also provide an opportunity to build community

with other parents in the parish.

GodparentsThe role of godparents is a special one. In the case of

infants and young children, they make a vow on behalf

of the baptized to support him or her in the Christian

faith and life. A godparent should be someone with

whom you share your faith and whose life is one that

you hope your child will emulate. The Book of Common

Prayer requires that there be at least one baptized

godparent present for the baptism.

If a godparent cannot be present at the baptism, it is

recommended that you choose another baptismal date

when she or he can be present. If this is not possible,

someone else should stand in for that person and the

godparent should make an appointment to talk with the

Associate for Faith Inspiration to discuss his or her role.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones, Priest for Pastoral Care & Community

For more information, please contact: Keisha Joseph, Program Coordinator for Pastoral Care & Community kjoseph@trinitywallstreet.org or 212.602.0755

trinitywallstreet.org/baptism

THE BACKGROUND OF HOLY BAPTISM

RitualIn the sacrament of baptism, we recall earlier rituals in

the Jewish faith. Baptism has its origins in the purity

rituals of our Jewish forbearers. Jesus himself was

baptized by John in the Jordan River. The three Gospel

accounts of Jesus’ baptism by John are integral to our

understanding of baptism (see Matthew 3:13-17, Mark

1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22). All of these scripture passages

include both the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus and

the voice of God saying, “You are my son, the Beloved;

with you I am well pleased.” Baptism, then, marks the

beginning of a new and more abundant life as we turn

from that which keeps us separated from God and accept

our true identity as beloved children of God.

WaterIn continuity with the purity rituals and early baptisms,

water serves as a symbol of cleansing and new birth.

Baptism means all this and more because of the

coming of Jesus, the Christ. John the Baptist said to his

followers, “I have baptized you with water, but he will

baptize you with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This gift of

the Holy Spirit means that all we vow to do in baptism

is done with God’s help. The Holy Spirit empowers us

to live this new life promised in baptism.

RelationshipsBaptism is the outward and visible action that connects a

person to God in a covenant relationship. The congregation

not only witnesses the vows of the baptized, the parents,

and the sponsors or godparents, but also reaffirms their

own baptismal vows and pledges to uphold the newly

baptized in his or her Christian life and faith.

ADULT BAPTISM

The Book of Common Prayer states, “Holy Baptism is

full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s

body, the Church. The bond which God establishes

at Baptism is indissoluble” (p. 298). Whether this

sacrament is performed early in life or as an adult,

baptism in the Episcopal Church is the foundation

for a commitment to new life through Christ. Baptism

for adults (and older children) is distinct from infants

and young children in that candidates are asked to answer

for themselves at the baptism. They are also invited to

prepare for the sacrament through self-examination,

prayer, and inquiry with the support of the congregation.

As with infants and their godparents, adults are required

to choose at least one sponsor who has already been

baptized and who will vow to support the baptismal

candidate in his or her faith within the wider

faith community.

If you are interested in becoming baptized,

please contact the Vicar’s office at

baptism@trinitywallstreet.org or 212.602.0863.

FOLLOWING BAPTISM

Baptism is a transformational moment for the entire

faith community, as the congregation welcomes its newest

members and vows to support them. For the church to

fulfill its vow to the baptized, however, the baptized needs

to be present! It is only through the gift of community

that the baptized can truly receive all the gifts promised

at baptism. During baptismal preparation and after the

baptism, every attempt should be made to attend worship

services regularly (see Psalm 23, Matthew 5-7, John 14,

1 Corinthians 13, John 3, and Hebrews 11). The day of

one’s baptism is just the beginning of the new life that

Christ has promised.

For more information, please contact the Vicar’s office:

The Rev. Phillip A. Jackson, Vicar Susan Suliman, Executive Assistant baptism@trinitywallstreet.org or 212.602.0863

trinitywallstreet.org/baptism