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Liturgies Marking Your Membership in the Church
HOLY BAPTISM 
In the Episcopal tradition Holy Baptism is a rite of initiation into the life of the church, as well as the principal sacrament that the church celebrates to remind us that we are all "Christ's own forever" (The Book of Common Prayer [BCP] page 308).

What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an outward visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace (BCP 857). 

It is important to note that this definition of sacrament is just a starting point in our understanding of the many ways that God uses the material world, including our own 
bodies and lives, to reach out to us. (BCP 861).

How old do I have to be in order to get baptized? In the Episcopal Church, a person of any age is invited to be baptized. Baptism is not based on age or intellectual understanding. 

Are there certain days that the church does Baptism? Yes. Baptism is the sacrament that the church celebrates on four of the major feast days during the church year, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints', and the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism can also take place on the Transfiguration and during the Visitation of the Bishop. Our focus of baptizing on these days helps remind the community as well as the baptized that we all belong to a long and venerable tradition of celebrating that we are all "Christ's own forever."

What do I need to do to be baptized? First you should contact one of the priests at the church and arrange a time to meet in order to discuss your interest in baptism. We ask that parents and godparents of children under 12 attend a baptism seminar the Saturday before the baptism.
Adults will need to design a program of study and preparation with the clergy of the parish. This season of preparation should include a time to reflect on your spiritual journey, your images of God, and your commitment to and understanding of the role of the church in your life.

When can I receive communion? Ironically, this question is greatly debated in the church particularly as it relates to baptism. Our tradition teaches that only the baptized should be admitted to communion. However, at the Church of the Epiphany we believe that baptism is not a requirement to receive. We want to affirm our belief that all are welcome at God's table-baptized or not!
 
BAPTISMAL DATES FOR 2010-2011
Holy Baptism is offered for adults, infants and children during the morning services on the following dates:
November 7, 2010
All Saints' Sunday
January 9, 2011
The Sunday following the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord

April 24, 2011
The Easter Vigil 6:00 a.m. sunrise service

May 1, 2011
The Sunday following Easter

June 12, 2011
The Sunday of Pentecost

August 7, 2011
The Sunday following the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

November 6, 2011
All Saints' Sunday
 
CONFIRMATION 
The Book of Common Prayer teaches that, "Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop." Confirmation is an "adult" affirmation of baptismal vows. The service of confirmation is done at the time of the Bishop's visitation or periodically at the Cathedral of St. Philip. 

At Epiphany, youth are normally confirmed around the age of sixteen, after having been part of the two-year Christian formation program Journey to Adulthood. Through confirmation, teenagers reaffirm the baptismal vows that their parents made on their behalf when they were baptized as children or infants. 
Adults who wish to be confirmed are required to attend our annual class on "Being an Episcopalian". This class is taught by the Rector in the fall or spring. Adults who are baptized by the bishop are then considered to be both baptized and confirmed at the same time. 

RECEPTION
The service of reception is for those who have been both baptized and confirmed in another Christian denomination recognized by the Episcopal Church, but who wish to become Episcopalians. These persons would be "received" into the Episcopal Church at the Bishop's visitation and are required to attend our annual class on "Being an Episcopalian". This class is taught by the Rector in the fall or spring. 
REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISMAL VOWS 
Reaffirmation is for those persons who have already been confirmed, but who wish, for whatever reason, to reaffirm their baptismal vows. These persons are required to attend our annual class on "Being an Episcopalian" and would reaffirm their vows at the Bishop's visitation. 

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER? 
There are two answers to this questions. First, if you want to become a member of Epiphany, you can do so by being an active participant in the life of this community. If you are a member of another Episcopal church or another faith community and have been baptized, click here for a Transfer Request Form.

As stated above, to become a member of the Episcopal Church, you must either be baptized on record in an Episcopal Church, Confirmed in the Episcopal Church or Received in the Episcopal Church.
 

 
Founded in 1898, Epiphany is a parish in
          the Episcopal
          Diocese of Atlanta, The Right Reverend J. Neil Alexander,
          Bishop.

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