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Sacraments

The Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are together referred to as the Rites of Christain Initiation. A person desiring to make a mature commitment to Jesus Christ must complete both Sacraments in the Anglican Church.

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BAPTISM

The Sacrament of Baptism is administered by the pouring of water over the candidate as the words “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (the name of the Triune God to whom the candidate is being committed) are spoken (1 Peter 3:21; Matthew 28:19). In baptism the grace of God puts a person’s sin to death and brings about a new birth to righteousness, through union with Christ in his death and resurrection. All people are born sinners by nature, separated from God, but in baptism, rightly received, a person is made God’s child by grace through faith in Christ (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:1-11; Ephesians 2:12; Galatians 3:27-29). All that is required of a person to be baptized is repentance, in which they turn away from sin; and faith, in which they turn to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and embrace the promises that God makes to them in this sacrament (Acts 2:38).

 

The Sacrament of Baptism is generally made available only to those persons who regularly attend Emmanuel Anglican Church. For those interested in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism read the EAC Baptismal Customary and complete the application for Baptism (Infant or Adult)   
 

CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation follows a mature commitment to, and a public profession of, a person's baptismal covenant with God. The confirmand receives the laying on of the bishop’s hands with prayer (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6). In Confirmation, God strengthens the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian for His daily increase in their life and ministry (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6).

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The Sacrament of Confirmation is made available for baptized members of Emmanuel Anglican Church who are in regular attendance and support the work of the church. Those desiring to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation must compete the yearlong catechism class that begins each Fall semester. Candidates are confirmed at the bishop's annual visitation on the Feast of Pentecost.  For those interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation please read the EAC Confirmation Customary and complete the Confirmation Application & Spanish Application.

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Additional Customs

Emmanuel Anglican Church also celebrates significant moments in the lives of our members in ways that are distinct from the Sacraments of the Church:

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  • Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child: The birth or adoption of a child is always an occasion for thanksgiving and prayer in family and community. The Book of Common Prayer (2019) provides this liturgy and may be used in a hospital or home, during public worship, or in some other appropriate place.  Ideally, this liturgy should take place during the principle Sunday Eucharist as soon as the mother and child are well enough to return to public worship following the birth of the child. This liturgy does not replace the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and children are expected to be baptized at the next available date. Once a child has been born, please notify the church office so that this liturgy can offered.

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  • Presentation: At the age of three years old a child, having been baptized, and their parents come to the church to receive prayers and blessings to strengthen their commitment to honor the vows that were made at the child’s baptism. The source of this tradition is a combination of our Lord’s presentation in the Temple at forty days old (Luke 2:22-40) and the Virgin Mary’s presentation in the Temple at the age of three years old (this comes from extra-biblical sources long held by both the Eastern and Western branches of the Church). Once a child has turned three, parents should complete the Application for Presentation

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  • First Communion: In the Anglican Church any baptized Christian may receive Holy Communion, including infants. The Anglican Church also allows the practice of First Communion where a baptized infant fasts from the Eucharist until the child is able to recognize and articulate, in an age appropriate way, the doctrine of Real Presence (usually, around the second grade). After a period of catechetical instruction, including preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the child receives the Holy Eucharist for the first time. Parents who are desire to have their child participate in First Communion please complete the Application for First Communion

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  • Quinceañera: A quinceañera is the celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday, marking her passage from childhood to womanhood. It follows the completion of catechism and the Sacrament of Confirmation. This custom is linked to ancient Aztecs rites of passage from around 500 B.C. At fifteen, Aztec boys were inducted as warriors, while girls were honored for their capacity to give new warriors to the community through childbirth. An Aztec woman who happened to die in childbirth received the same honors at her funeral as a male warrior who had fallen in battle. In the Church, a quinceañera is a celebration of two things. First, it is an act of thanksgiving for a young woman's professed Christian faith and her vocation as successor to Eve, the Mother of All Living. Secondly, and more wonderfully, it is an act of thanksgiving for a young woman's vocation, and celebration of her great dignity, as successor to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, our Great High Priest. Just as Saint Mary gave us the one true Priest, each Christian woman has the vocation and dignity of being the mother of men who, when given in service to Jesus and His Church, become His priests. The call of Christian discipleship for women is never limited to this but it always includes the possibility for it.  As a young woman embraces her vocation and dignity as woman, special prayers of self-dedication are offered to Jesus and requests for the intercessions of the whole Church, and especially the patronage of Our Lady Mary, are made to support the young woman.  For young women who would like to have a quinceañera please complete the Application for a Quinceañera

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  • Recommitment: Many followers of Jesus, at one time or another in their faith journey, feel the need to actively, openly, and outwardly recommit their lives to Jesus after repenting of some grave or notorious sin, having left the Christian Faith, or just going through the motions when they received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. This impulse is very real and genuine. Many believers in this situation will look for a way to express the inner grace of renewal they’ve experienced, and baptism is often the first thing that comes to mind. As Anglicans we do not re-baptize Christians. The Church teaches that the Sacrament of Baptism is efficacious and is the sure and certain means of regeneration (being born again) because of the Holy Spirit indwelling a person. A person's repentance and desire to recommit themselves to Jesus is evidence of the Sacrament of Baptism working in their life. So, the question comes for disciples of Jesus in these situations, how does the Church recognize these moments of grace and support people in their desire to follow Jesus anew? At Emmanuel Anglican Church we invite anyone who would like to recommit their lives to Jesus, in a public way, to renew their baptismal vows and share their testimony of God's grace with the Church. If you desire to recommit your life to Jesus, please complete the Recommitment Application

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