Becoming a Member of Saint Bernard's Church

The Episcopal Church welcomes you. And we welcome you.

We greet with open arms all those who wish to join with us in the worship of Jesus Christ, in the fellowship of his communion, and in the discipleship and servanthood he offers to the world.

Worship with us. Serve with us. Come grow with us.

The path to membership in the Episcopal Church depends upon the point from which you start out. If you are a confirmed member of the Roman Catholic Church, or of any one of the churches of Eastern Orthodoxy, you can be received into the full communion of the Episcopal Church at one of our services of Confirmation, after attending an Inquirers’ Class.

If you have not been confirmed in one of the ancient branches of the Christian Church, then the path will need to include Confirmation by our bishop. Coming from any one of the Protestant denominations, including the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Independent Churches, will require participation in an official ceremony of Confirmation, after attending our Inquirers’ Class.

In brief, confirmation by an Episcopal bishop is the gateway to membership, unless you were previously confirmed by a bishop of one of the ancient and ecumenical churches. In the case of prior confirmation, you will be recognized with a simple welcome in a Eucharistic service.

For the membership of children via Confirmation, please read on.

Children's Confirmation

Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you have overcome sin and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at their Baptism. Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before them…

Prayers for the Candidates
From The Book of Common Prayer

We believe in spiritually strengthening our children to walk in the fullness of the faith as it has been received by this Church.

The Episcopal Church confirms into full communion children who have been instructed in the Christian tradition. Confirmation takes place in a Eucharistic service presided over by our bishop, either in Trinity Cathedral Church in Trenton, New Jersey, or in one of the Episcopal churches of the Watchung Convocation. Rarely is it offered in our parish church.

For children of appropriate age, Saint Bernard’s offers a Confirmation Class, a prerequisite before the bishop will confirm. This two year program for sixth and seventh graders is an adaptation of Rite 13/Journey to Adulthood, a curriculum developed by the National Church.

For the confirmation of children and youth older than middle school age, the clergy and staff will see to their instruction individually or in smaller groups.

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Our Confirmation process is supervised by our clergy and organized by Amy Byrnes, our Church School Director. For details about up-coming classes, please see Amy, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

Adult Confirmation & Reception from Faith Traditions Other than the Episcopal Church

We welcome adults who seek to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church.

The best place to start with questions about Adult Confirmation and Reception is with the clergy. An educational series called an Inquirers’ Class is offered annually, often in the late winter or spring of each year. Led by the clergy, this class shares information and perspectives on membership in the Episcopal Church and in Saint Bernard’s.

Adult Confirmation is entering into full communion with the Church, a strengthening and renewal of the vows made in Holy Baptism. It is not a necessary prerequisite to receiving Holy Eucharist in the Episcopal Church. Baptism alone confers that privilege. But it does represent full participation.

Reception is our way of bringing into full communion with us those who have been previously fully confirmed in another faith tradition. It is a recognition and acknowledgement that the confirmed person was a full member in another church under another bishop and a welcoming of that person into the fold of the Episcopal Church.

For more details, please speak with our clergy, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).