Baptisms
Welcomed into the family of God.
Infants, children and adults are all baptized here, in the sanctuary with a bowl older than the church itself, or in the Housatonic River that runs behind it.
No membership. No fee. Everyone welcome.
You don't have to belong to this church, or any church. We believe everyone should feel welcome here and be able to deepen their relationship with God through the sacraments. Pastor Hal takes no fee whatsoever. Families simply give whatever they wish to the church, and every dollar goes to the upkeep of this beloved 1919 building.
The bowl
Baptized with water from a bowl that was lost for forty years.
Every baptism at Riverside uses the silver bowl from the original Pleasant Vale church of 1810. When the Stevenson Dam flooded the old valley, the bowl was lost. In 1956 the lake was drained for work on the dam, and Vivant and Myrtle Stowe walked the mud where the church had stood and found it. Myrtle returned it to the church before she died. It is the only object known to survive from the first church, and baptisms in the sanctuary use it to this day.
The river
Or be baptized in the Housatonic, just down the hill.
The river that once flooded the old church runs right behind this one. Pastor Hal baptizes there too, for adults, teens and families who want the baptism of the Gospels, outdoors, with the congregation gathered on the bank. Weather permitting, it is one of the most memorable mornings this church knows. Talk with Pastor Hal about whether the sanctuary or the river is right for you.
Who is baptized here
Infants and children, and adults too
Infants and children
- Parents and godparents make the promises on the child's behalf
- No requirement that parents be members or baptized themselves
- Grandparents bringing a grandchild are welcome
- Older children who can answer for themselves are invited to
- A certificate is given and the baptism is entered in the register
Adults and teens
- You make the promises yourself, in your own voice
- Pastor Hal meets with you beforehand to talk about faith and what baptism means
- No prior church background needed
- Choose the sanctuary and the historic bowl, or the river behind the church
- Baptized once before? Talk with Pastor Hal about a reaffirmation instead
- Often the most moving moment of the year for the whole congregation
What is said
The promises
People want to know what they'll be asked. These are the heart of it, in plain words. Pastor Hal will go over them with you beforehand.
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and put your trust in him? Will you, with God's help, live as his follower? Will you raise this child in the faith, bring them to worship, and teach them to pray?
Will you support this child and this family, pray for them, and help them grow in faith? We will.
I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Lord bless you and keep you.
How it works
From the first conversation to the font
- 1
Talk with Pastor Hal
He'll meet with the parents, or with the adult being baptized, usually once or twice. It's a relaxed conversation about what baptism means and what your family hopes for.
- 2
Choose a Sunday, and a place
Baptisms happen during Sunday worship so the congregation can make its promises too. Pick a date that works for the relatives you'd like there, and decide with Pastor Hal whether it will be at the font in the sanctuary or down at the river.
- 3
The baptism
In the sanctuary, the family comes forward near the beginning of the service, the promises are made, and the child or adult is baptized with water from the bowl. Pastor Hal often walks a baby down the aisle to meet the congregation. At the river, the congregation walks down together and gathers on the bank.
- 4
Afterward
Coffee and fellowship downstairs, where your family will meet the people who just promised to help. The hall is always available if you'd like to host a small celebration there.
Good to know
The small questions
Godparents
Choose people who will actually be in the child's life. They don't need to be members here, or of any particular church.
What to wear
In the sanctuary, whatever feels special to you. A christening gown is lovely and so is a clean onesie. For a river baptism, bring clothes you don't mind getting wet, a towel, and something dry to change into.
Photos
Welcome. A family member can stand near the front, and Pastor Hal will pause for a picture at the end.
Private baptisms
Normally part of Sunday worship, because the congregation makes promises too. In special circumstances, such as illness, Pastor Hal will arrange a private baptism.
Questions
Things families ask
Do we need to be members to have our child baptized?
No. Families don't need to belong to Riverside or any church.
Is there a fee for a baptism?
No. Pastor Hal does not charge. Families give whatever they wish to the church.
Can an adult be baptized?
Yes. Adults and older children who choose baptism for themselves are welcomed with great joy, in the sanctuary or in the river.
Can we be baptized in the river?
Yes. Pastor Hal baptizes in the Housatonic River behind the church, weather permitting. Talk with him about timing and what to bring.
Do the parents or godparents have to be baptized?
Talk with Pastor Hal. He welcomes families of every background and will help you think through the promises being made.
What if I was baptized as a baby and want to make the promises myself now?
Baptism isn't repeated, but Pastor Hal can lead a reaffirmation of baptism where you make the promises in your own voice before the congregation.
Is the baptism recorded?
Yes. A certificate is given to the family and the baptism is entered in the church register.
Get in touch
Talk with Pastor Hal
Reach out to Pastor Hal and he'll walk you through it. There's nothing to prepare.