Worship

“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.” – Book of Common Prayer

Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which a person–infant, child or adult–becomes a member of the Body of Christ. Baptism in any tradition or denomination is recognized as long as one has been baptized with water and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All baptized Christians are invited to receive communion, including children.

Frequently Asked Questions about Baptism

Q: When should we call to arrange to have our infant baptized?
A: Not until the child is born. Please do let us know when you are expecting as we would like to join you in prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for the health of the mother and the child.

Q: When will the baptism take place?
A: Usually in the midst of an 11:00 am Holy Eucharist service. There are four times a year when it is particularly appropriate to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Baptism: the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, All Saints’, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. At Incarnation, baptisms are performed on these feasts, the dates of which change year to year, as well as one Sunday a month.

Q: What is required of sponsors or godparents?
A: “Each candidate for Holy Baptism is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. Sponsors of adults and older children present their candidates and thereby signify their endorsement of the candidates and their intention to support them by prayer and example in their Christian life. Sponsors of infants, commonly called godparents, present their candidates, make promises in their own names, and also take vows on behalf of their candidates. It is fitting that parents be included among the godparents of their own children.” – Book of Common Prayer

Confirmation is a mature, public affirmation of one’s faith and one’s commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism. When an infant or young child is baptized, the baptismal vows are made by adults on the child’s behalf. Confirmation is an opportunity for those baptized – having reached maturity – to confirm their baptismal vows and to receive the laying on of hands by a bishop.

To prepare for Confirmation, adults are asked to participate in our Inquirers’/Confirmation class and examine the Bible, church history, theology, liturgy, ethics, and prayer in the Anglican tradition.

There are many ways to define membership within an Episcopal Church. A central teaching of the faith is that Baptism is full initiation and inclusion in the Body of Christ. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, a person becomes a member of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. This bond is indissoluble (Book of Common Prayer, page 298).

In confirmation, the baptized makes a mature and public commitment to his or her baptismal vows after having received instruction about the Christian faith as it is expressed in the Anglican (i.e. English; the Episcopal Church has its roots in the Church of England) tradition. A confirmed member of a parish is expected to be involved in the ministries of the congregation.

According to the Canons of the Church, a confirmed communicant in good standing (one who receives Holy Communion at least three times a year and makes contributions to the church, see Stewardship) can vote at the parish’s annual meeting.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the members of the parish normally occurs on the second Sunday of January. Vestry members and delegates and alternates to Diocesan Convention are elected and reports are given by the Rector and other parish leaders orally or in written form.

Congratulations on your betrothal, and thank you for considering the Church of the Incarnation for your wedding ceremony. Weddings at Incarnation are open to both opposite and same gender couples.

In the Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the individuals desiring to be married be a baptized Christian. Clergy are required to meet with the couple for a minimum of three premarital counseling sessions and must know about any previous marriages. Permission of the Bishop of New York is required if either of the persons has been married before.

Below is general fee information for the various provisions of a typical wedding at the church. (Members of Incarnation receive a discount.)

This list should only serve as a guide. Please contact the clergy for detailed and final information.

Funerals and memorial services (the latter describes a service where the remains of the deceased are not present) may be held for non-members as well as members, subject to the approval of a member of the clergy staff. Liturgies normally follow the Book of Common Prayer and cannot be scheduled on Sundays.

Below is general fee information for the various provisions of a typical funeral at the church.

This list should only serve as a guide. Please contact the clergy for detailed and final information.

A columbarium located in the sacristy holds ashes of departed members of the church and others who have wished for their remains to be interred permanently in the church. Single and double niches are available for the ashes of non-members as well as members, subject to the approval of the Priest in Charge.

The church also has burial plots available in Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, New York.

Contact the Church Office for more information, including costs associated with columbarium niches and burial plots.