“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38
If you are considering baptism for yourself or a child, we are thrilled that you are thinking about this important step in Christian life. We are committed to helping you prepare for baptism and equipping you along the way so that the waters of baptism are the beginning of a life-long friendship with God in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is one of the Church’s sacred mysteries. It is a sign of being born into something new, of a fresh start in Jesus. God is the primary actor in baptism, joining us to his Son and sharing his very life with us. But baptism is also the way that we say “yes” to that invitation to live anew.
At the Church of St. Mary and Martha, you’ll find that we understand baptism to be a significant Christian commitment. When we present ourselves for baptism we are committing to be a faithful follower of Jesus. And when we bring our children forward to be baptized, we promise to introduce them to God’s love and care from the very beginning of their lives and to raise them to know and love God in return. That can seem a little bit overwhelming, we know. That’s why in baptism we make a commitment too, to support you and journey with you every step of the way.
Journey to the Font
Like any significant journey, baptism takes time. You’ll want to plan ahead as best you can in order to allow the following steps to unfold:
- Start the conversation:
The first step is to book an appointment to meet with one of our priests to begin the conversation. You can reach them by phone or email. We look forward to meeting with you.
Connect with a priest »
- Find a rhythm of worship:
Because baptism involves the whole community of faith, when you join us for weekly worship you will get a clearer sense of who we are. You will also strengthen and encourage your own faith so that you are equipped and empowered to model for your child what it looks like to love and follow Jesus. Worshiping with us regularly for a period of at least 3 months will help form a solid base for the promises you will make at baptism.
Find out more about our worship services » - Meet with the priest:
Part of our commitment to help you prepare for baptism is to sit down with you for a handful of sessions together in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere so that we can talk about what baptism means and why we bring people forward for baptism, and have a closer look at the baptismal liturgy. - Be presented to the congregation:
Leading up to the date of baptism, we will introduce you and your child to the congregation, along with others who are preparing for baptism. We will ask for the church to pray for you and support you as you prepare to take this exciting and important step in faith. - Rehearse:
The rehearsal will provide you with a clearer sense of what to expect on the day of baptism and give you a great opportunity to ask any remaining questions. It is expected that the immediate family will be there, and we strongly encourage any sponsors or godparents to attend as well. This generally happens in the week prior to baptism.
Adult Baptism
Are you an adult seeking baptism?
We’d love to meet with you, hear your story, and explore baptism further with you. Please connect with us by speaking to the clergy on Sunday morning, or leave a message with our Parish Administrator at 416-766-1887 or send us an email.
