City Church practices Infant Baptism and First Communion.
We offer parents the freedom to decide when their children participate in both of these ancient Christian sacraments.
Baptism and Communion are two meaningful sacraments we practice today, and the history behind them is filled with beauty and mystery. Take a deep dive as Lead Pastor, Leo Schuster leads a discussion on these ancient, grace-filled practices.
Infant Baptism and First Communion
We offer baptism and first communion for any City Church member.
Infant baptism is an ancient Christian practice in which an infant or young child is baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Parents make a vow to God to raise their child in the Christian faith and guide them in their journey to know and love Jesus. The water is symbolic of the cleansing power of Christ’s blood and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit. Not all Christian traditions practice infant baptism and at City Church, there is freedom for parents to decide whether to baptize their child as an infant or wait until they are older.
First Communion is a public celebration in our worship service that marks the first time a young person takes Holy Communion (also called The Eucharist or Lord’s Supper). It is a recognition of God’s grace in their life and their faith in Christ. Communion is a central part of worship in which bread and wine are served to those who participate by faith. It is a remembrance of all that Jesus has done for us, an opportunity to commune with him and be spiritually nourished, and it is a joyful anticipation of our future celebration with him in eternity.
FAQ
Why does City Church baptize infants?
We believe it is a sign of God’s grace appropriately extended to those who believe and their children. In the New Testament book of Acts, the baptism of entire families, rather than just individuals, was the normative pattern. Similarly, the Old Testament sign of circumcision, which is closely tied to baptism in the New Testament, was administered to infants of those who believed. If you want to learn more, our sacraments video explores this topic in more detail.
What if I wait to baptize my child?
If you prefer to wait to baptize your child when they are older, more of a “believer baptism”- that is ok! Families should feel empowered to make their own decision.
Does baptism mean my child is now saved?
While Baptism is a significant milestone in one’s spiritual journey, we do not think of it as marking the moment of salvation. Instead, we see it as the beginning of a person’s spiritual journey–a sign pointing to Christ in whom our salvation is found.
You can read more about why City Church practices infant baptism above.
Why doesn’t City Church have confirmation classes at a certain age?
City Church appreciates that all those who believe, including children, come to faith at different times, as the Spirit of God enables them. While we understand why some churches have confirmation classes when children reach a particular age, we never want a child to feel like there is a “correct” moment when their faith becomes their own. We have decided instead to lean on families to gauge when a child is ready for their first communion.
Is infant baptism the same as child dedication?
While very similar, infant baptism and child dedication are not exactly the same thing. While both emphasize the responsibilities of parents to raise a child in the Christian faith, infant baptism appreciates the mystery of God’s grace at work from the earliest days of a child’s life.
How do I know if my child is ready for first communion?
When a child has developed an age-appropriate grasp of the gospel and basic understanding of Holy Communion, they can take their first communion. This is a parent-guided decision and there is no specific age for this. We do have a Parent handout that provides parents with questions and answers to help them discern whether or not a child is ready. This same handout will help parents prepare their child for a meeting with someone from our staff team.
What happens when our church staff representative meets with my child about First Communion?
Someone from our staff team will visit with your child in a comfortable setting and will use the First Communion Parent handout to direct the conversation. The meeting is designed to be fun and encouraging. It is not to determine a “pass or fail”, but to create a space for the child to express their faith, who Jesus is in their experience, as well as some minimal understanding of the significance of the sacrament of Holy Communion–all in their own words.
What if my child has not been baptized but would like to take their First Communion?
That is totally fine. If your child has not been baptized, he or she would be baptized at the time of their first communion.