Sacraments
In accordance with the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, the Presbyterian Church in America observes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Shorter Catechism defines a sacrament as “a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.”
The times for the observance of both sacraments are determined by the Session.
Baptism
Baptism is to be administered by a minister of Christ, not privately, but in the presence of the congregation under the supervision of the Session. It is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is a seal of the Covenant of Grace, of our ingrafting into Christ, and of our union with Him, of remission of sins, regeneration, adoption, and life eternal.
The water represents and signifies both the blood of Christ, which takes away all guilt of sin, original and actual, and the sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ against the dominion of sin, and the corruption of our sinful nature.
The sprinkling and washing of water signify the cleansing from sin by the blood and for the merit of Christ, together with the mortification of sin, and rising from sin to newness of life, by virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ.
The promises made are to believers and their children. Their children have an interest in the covenant, and right to the seal of it, and to the outward privileges of the church, under the Gospel, no less than the children of Abraham in the time of the Old Testament; the Covenant of Grace, for substance, being the same; and the grace of God and the consolation of believers being more plentiful than before.
Jesus admitted little children into His presence, embracing and blessing them saying, “For such is the kingdom of God.”
Children, by baptism, are solemnly received into the bosom of the visible Church, distinguished from the world and united with believers. All who are baptized in the name of Christ, renounce and are bound to fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh.
They are federally holy before baptism and therefore are they baptized. The inward grace and virtue of baptism are not tied to the very moment of time when one is baptized—the fruit and power of it reach to the whole course of life, and outward baptism is not so necessary that without it an infant is in danger of damnation.
By virtue of being children of believing parents they are, because of God’s covenant ordinance, made members of the church, but this not sufficient to make them continue members of the Church. When they have reached the age of discretion, they become subject to obligations of the covenant: faith, repentance, and obedience. They then make a public confession of their faith in Christ, or become covenant breakers, and subject to the discipline of the Church.
All who are present during baptisms are to look to their own baptism and repent of their sins against their covenant with God, to stir up their faith, to improve and make right use of their baptism, and of the covenant sealed between God and their soul.
For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Him. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you. Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your house.
— Acts 2.39; Genesis 17.7; Acts 16.31
Contacts for Baptism
Adult and Older Kids Baptism
For more information, contact Debbie Blanton.
Infant Baptism
A class for parents on baptism is held at 4:30 p.m. in the church the Wednesday prior to baptism Sunday. Generally, baptisms are on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
- Contact Becky McCamey with your interest in having your child baptized.
- Please complete the form that Becky will e-mail to you and e-mail it back to her.
- Please have a high-resolution digital picture ready to e-mail to her.
For more information and to obtain a copy of Why Do We Baptize Infants? by Dr. Bryan Chappell, please contact Debbie Blanton.
The Lord’s Supper
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. - 1 Corinthians 11:26
The Lord’s Supper is central to the worship life of PCPC.
- Weekly at our 8:00 a.m. Sunday service
- Weekly at our 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Vespers Service
- Quarterly at our 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services
- On Maundy Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
The Lord’s Supper may be received by members of PCPC as well as by those who are baptized members in good standing of any evangelical church where the gospel of Jesus Christ is loved and proclaimed.
In accordance with Scripture, each person receiving the Lord’s Supper is asked to examine his or her heart in a solemn manner before taking the elements so as not to take the Supper in an unworthy manner and thereby incurring judgment upon themselves. We do not come to the table based on any merit of our own, but resting solely on the merit of Jesus Christ, who loved us and shed His Body and Blood on the cross for us and our salvation.