Religious Programs
Baptism
Confirmation
Christian Witness and Burial
Religious Education
Bible Study for Adults
Baptism
- Call 908 464-4875 for more information.
Baptism is the sacrament of the Christian
Church by which God adopts us as children of God and makes
us members of Christ's body, the Church. While people of
all ages are welcome to receive this sacrament, many people
in the Episcopal Church present their infants or small children
for baptism. In presenting a child for the sacrament, the
parent(s) are promising to raise their child in the Christian
faith and life and that by their example to help their child
grow into the full stature of Christ.
By affirming their intention to raise
their child to know and follow Christ, they are making a
commitment to be actively involved in the faith community.
Baptism is not a sacrament whereby God miraculously or mysteriously
loves the child by protecting him/her from all evil forces.
One does not need Baptism to receive God's love. That love
is already given, and it is unconditional.
Baptism is administered within the context
of our worship services on designated Sundays. Periodically
throughout the year, the rector meets with the parents of
children being baptized for instruction and as part of church
ministries. We believe instruction is key to understanding
the sacrament and we encourage parents to sign up for one
of the rector's classes well before the date of the scheduled
baptism.
If you would like to be baptized or have
your child baptized, please download and submit the following
form to the rector.
HONORARIA. In lieu of an honorarium for
the clergy, the rector suggests parents make a contribution
to St. Andrew's Discretionary Fund in thanksgiving for the
birth of their child and his/her new life in Christ and
in the Christian community.
Confirmation
What is Confirmation? Confirmation is
making the mature, public affirmation of one’s faith and
commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism and receiving
the laying on of hands by the bishop. (See page 413 in the
Book of Common Prayer for the service.)
Confirmation Class is offered
annually to both adults and teenagers who have previously
been baptized. The next service of
Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation is scheduled for Sunday
morning, April 27, 2008 with the Rt. Rev. George
Councell presiding.
Teens: The next scheduled
Confirmation Class for teenagers will be led by the Rector
and held on Sunday evenings beginning March 2nd through
April 13, 2008.
Our middle school and high school youth
are encouraged to enroll in our Sunday classes in the Rite
13 and Journey to Adulthood program. This program segues
into confirmation class, usually by age 14 or 15. Our desire
is to delay confirmation until high school, thereby
strengthening the education and community we are able to
offer our youth.
Adults: An Adult Inquirer’s
Class/Confirmation Class will be offered as well in the
new year (dates to be announced), for adults wishing to be
confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church from
another Christian denomination, and for those who desire to
simply learn more about the Episcopal faith traditions. One
also may choose to reaffirm his or her baptismal vows
at the confirmation service.
Confirmation and Inquirer’s classes
focus on the history of the Church, the history of St.
Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the Bible, the Prayer Book, the
Catechism, the Creeds, the Sacraments, the Hymnal, the
Church Seasons, and Church Symbols.
If you are interested in the rite of
Confirmation, or if you are interested in being confirmed or
received into the Episcopal faith or you would like to
provide your knowledge and experience with the program,
please contact the St. Andrew’s Church office for more
information: 908-464-4875.
Christian
Witness and Burial - Call 908 464-4875 for more information.
When Death Occurs. Our
clergy, staff, and congregation are here to assist you and
your family during the trying times when death occurs. Our
rector, the Rev. Peggy Hodgkins, is available twenty-four
hours a day and requests that when death appears likely or
immediately following the death of a church member she be
called. She would like to gather the family at the bedside
of their loved one for prayer as soon after death occurs as
possible. She can assist the family in making the necessary
service and burial arrangements, including going with the
family to meet with the Funeral Director.
It is often helpful in preparing for
death and in making the final arrangements that the living
know the final wishes of the deceased. For that reason, we
provide the following form — Christian Witness and Burial at
the Time of Death — which we strongly encourage every adult
communicant to complete. This form was prepared for this use
by the Episcopal Church Foundation. After completing it, we
encourage you to file a copy with the Church Office as well
as keeping one with your important papers and perhaps with
other members of the immediate family. The form may be
updated at any time. Completing it will be a wonderful gift
to your loved ones as they seek to carry out your last
wishes in the midst of their grief.
St. Francis Memorial Garden.
St. Andrew's was one of the first congregations in the
United States to open a Memorial Garden on its grounds for
the burial of cremated remains. People of all faiths are
welcome to have their loved ones interred in the garden.
A suggested donation/fee sheet is
available from the parish office: tel. 908-464-4875 or email
info@standrewschurch.org. Fees include the cost of providing
a wall-mounted plaque and cover the preparation of the
memorial garden site for graveside services
Religious
Education - Call 908 464-4875 for more information.
Our desire at St. Andrew's is to challenge
all age groups to see their lives as an ongoing educational
opportunity. Our desire is to encourage one and all alike
to be inquisitive about their relationship with God and
to explore what God has in store for them. Education is
the doorway to realizing one's potential as a disciple and
what God is calling us to be/do both individually and collectively
as a Christian community.
Bible
Study for Adults - Call 908 464-4875 for more information.
St. Andrew's offers several opportunities
for adults to grow in faith. They include:
- Our Partners-in-Ministry program encourages lay leaders
to create a study group on a topic of their choosing.
Currently we have a small group Bible Study that meets
biweekly in the Parish Library to study the lectionary.
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