Holy Baptism

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving over the Water in Holy Baptism
From The Book of Common Prayer

We believe we must be reborn of water and the Spirit.

Holy Baptism opens the door to receiving Holy Communion. All baptized persons are welcome to receive the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ at our altar.

Saint Bernard’s Church offers the sacrament of Holy Baptism to children of all ages and to adults who have not been previously baptized. For the Baptism of children it is required that one parent be an Episcopalian.

The rite of Baptism takes place in services of Holy Eucharist in all seasons of the Church Year except Advent and Lent. The most desirable occasions for Baptism are at The Great Vigil of Easter, on Pentecost Sunday, on All Saints’ Sunday, and on The First Sunday after the Epiphany. The Sundays of late spring, summer and autumn (through November) are often most convenient for families and can be scheduled.

Parents of children to be baptized should plan to meet with the clergy for a preparation session some weeks in advance of the service of Baptism and to arrive early on the Sunday of. Godparents and sponsors must be gathered, as well as arrangements made for the keeping of formal records.

To read more about Holy Baptism, we suggest:

• Kathy Coffey, Baptism and Beyond: Preparing for Baptism (Parent Booklet) (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2003)

• John H. Westerhoff, Holy Baptism: A Guide for Parents and Godparents (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1996)

To inquire about the sacrament of Holy Baptism, please contact Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

Weddings at Saint Bernard's

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.

Celebrant's Address in The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage
From The Book of Common Prayer

When restored to its former glory, the Parish Church of Saint Bernard will indeed be an attractive venue for weddings. The addition of air conditioning in the current rebuild will enhance its attractiveness even more for summer weddings.

Appropriate applicants for weddings at Saint Bernard’s include members of the parish and family members of parishioners.

Marriage by a priest of the Episcopal Church requires several months of advance preparation, including canonically mandated pre-marital counseling. For couples of which at least one is a divorcee, permission to officiate must be sought from the diocesan bishop by the clergy, also a process that takes time.

Fees for the use of the church and Parish House have been set by the Vestry.

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To inquire about a wedding in Saint Bernard’s Church, please contact Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).