As part of our commitment to walk with people through all of life’s triumphs and challenges we take seriously the Church’s role in the major milestones of a person’s life, including Holy Baptism, Confirmation/Reception, Holy Matrimony, and Memorials & Funerals.


All major milestone events in the Christian Life that are treated with the utmost importance and preparation by our Church.

  • BAPTISM

    Baptism is the full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Realm of God. In baptism we are made sharers in the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the foundation for all future church participation and ministry. Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons.


    Sponsors (godparents) speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children and cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates. During the baptismal rite, the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant. The water of baptism may be administered by immersion or affusing (pouring) (BCP, p. 307). Candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and then marked on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Chrism may be used for this marking. The newly baptized is “sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” When all baptisms have been completed, the celebrant and congregation welcome the newly administered within the eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or another feast.


    The Catechism notes that “Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.” The baptismal promises are made for infants by their parents or sponsors, “who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him” (BCP, pp. 858-859). Baptism is not restricted to infants. All are welcome who are interested in affirming the baptismal promises and making a public profession of faith. They can reach out to church leadership to discuss what steps are necessary to proceed with baptism.


    Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saint’s Day or the Sunday following, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany)


    All children and adults are welcome for baptism at St. Stephen’s. Instruction is required for parents and godparents.

  • CONFIRMATION/RECEPTION/REAFFIRMATION

    Confirmation is the sacramental rite in which the candidates "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" (BCP, p. 860). Those who were baptized at an early age and those baptized as adults without laying on of hands by a bishop are expected to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, recommit themselves to the responsibilities of their baptism, and receive laying on of hands by a bishop.


    The Prayer Book rite for Confirmation includes forms for Reception and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. In some dioceses, those who have already made a mature Christian commitment in another denomination are recognized as members of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, and received into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. In other dioceses, those who have been sacramentally confirmed in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox churches are received and others are confirmed. Those who have returned from a time of religious inactivity to an active practice of faith may publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows. Others who have experienced a renewal of faith or desire to renew their Christian commitment may also reaffirm their baptismal vows. 


    The Episcopal Church's theology of Confirmation has continued to evolve along with its understanding of baptism. Confirmation is no longer seen as the completion of Christian initiation, nor is Confirmation a prerequisite for receiving communion. Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's body the church (BCP, p. 298). Accordingly, Confirmation has been increasingly understood in terms of a mature, public reaffirmation of the Christian faith and the baptismal promises.

  • HOLY MATRIMONY

    The sacramental rite of the church in which two persons “enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows.” The congregation witnesses the couple’s promises, and the members of the congregation promise to do all in their power to uphold the couple in their marriage. At the Marriage, the couple may pledge their lives to each other by the giving and receiving of rings as symbols of their vows. 


    In the Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the parties be a baptized Christian, that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses, and that the marriage conform to the laws of the state and the canons of the church. Our canons on marriage are fully inclusive of both same and opposite gender couples.


    Typically, preparation for weddings at St. Stephen’s takes from 3 to 6 months, allowing time for scheduling and planning as well as for pre-marital counseling for couples with the priest.

  • Memorials & funerals

    The loss of a loved one provides us with not only an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those close to us, but also to come together for consolation and comfort. St. Stephen’s  offers pastoral support, caring for families through the memorial/funeral planning process. 


    “Our assurance as Christians is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.” (BCP p. 862)


    St. Stephen’s has a Memorial Garden just outside of the Chapel where ashes may be placed in the ground with a memorial plaque placed on the wall.  


    Upon the death of a loved one please contact the parish office immediately. We hope it will be a comfort to know that St. Stephen’s will be at your side during this sacred time for you and your family and friends.

Each rite requires advance consultation with our Priest. 

For more information, contact the Parish office Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm:

Call (661) 259.7307 or Email office@st-stephens.org