Baptism at Good Shepherd

In the Lutheran tradition, we celebrate baptism as one of two sacraments. Baptism is the sacrament we celebrate one time and Communion is the sacrament we celebrate every Sunday in worship.

What is a sacrament? A sacrament is something that is a sacred practice in the church. It is a means through which we receive and participate in God’s love and grace. We believe a sacrament is an Element (physical thing) + the Word of God + Command of Jesus. Baptism comes from the “Great Commission”, the command from Jesus that we see in Matthew 28:19- "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The parts of the sacrament of baptism are water + the many promises of God in scripture + the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19.

The sacraments help us to remember the Story of God and celebrate that we are his children!

How Do I Get Baptized at Good Shepherd?

Baptism Preparation

Infant Baptism

Claimed by God

Are you curious about baptism for you or for your child? No matter where you're at in your faith journey, we would love to connect with you! Reach out to Elisabeth Lectka who leads our family ministry teams. 
Connect with Elisabeth
We regularly offer classes to help new parents understand the joy and significance of baptism. You can see the details for our next class, and sign your family up to learn more by using the link below.
Check out our upcoming baptism class for parents
Claimed by God is an annual tradition at Good Shepherd where the whole church celebrates the gift of baptism. At Claimed by God we welcome new baptisms and invite everyone to affirm their baptismal promises.
Stay Tuned for the Next Claimed by God Celebration

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get baptized at Good Shepherd?
Everyone! 
How do I go about getting my infant baptized?
We offer regular opportunities, where you'll also meet other families with newborns and young children, and together we will walk through what we believe about baptism and how we all fit into God's bigger story. See the link above for upcoming baptism classes.

Not sure where to start? Reach out to our team.
What does baptism look like at Good Shepherd?
We have two different opportunities for baptism. After some preparation through either a class or meeting with one of our ministry leaders, baptisms are celebrated with our Good Shepherd community.

Sunday Morning
  • When you walk into 1310 Shepherd Drive you'll be greeted by a member of our team who will make sure you're introduced to the children's ministry staff as well as the pastoral staff that will help make your baptism happen.
  • Typically near the beginning of service, we will welcome a family that is celebrating the baptism to the front of the worship space.
  • After a brief liturgy, the person being baptized will have some water poured on their forehead in the sign of the cross.
  • Afterwards we will welcome the person being baptized to the family of God!
Claimed by God
  • Each spring we host a celebration of baptism, Claimed by God. This event is typically held outside and offers all believers an opportunity to remember their baptism.
  • Every year we get to celebrate baptisms at Claimed by God. 
If you're want to know more about Claimed by God, reach out to Elisabeth Lectka, who leads our family ministry teams.
How does baptism work for someone who isn't an infant?
We celebrate the baptism of all believers! If you or someone in your life is interested in baptism, no matter their age, we would be honored to walk with you through that decision.

While each situation is unique, we've hosted baptisms for older children, teens, and adults on Sunday mornings and during Claimed by God. Parents of infants and small children can take a scheduled class and anyone else can meet with one of our ministry leaders to prepare for the sacrament of baptism.

The best next step you can take is to reach out to Elisabeth Lectka, who leads our family ministry teams.
What about Godparents?
Godparents are a welcome, but not required part of our process! 
What if I've already been baptized?
As part of our Lutheran tradition, we believe that someone is baptized into the family of God once, and that baptism is sufficient for all time. However we recognize that there are lots of instances where someone may have experienced baptism as an infant or a child, but might feel like they want to make their own choice to get baptized. As a Lutheran church, we do not "re-baptize" someone but rather invite you to affirm your baptism at Claimed by God or other affirmation moments.

We would love to talk to you about your experiences. Please reach out to Elisabeth Lectka.
What about Confirmation?
Confirmation at Good Shepherd is designed for students in 9th grade and older to affirm their baptismal promises. Our Confirmation program is a year long experience that starts in September and ends with a service during church services in April. If you want to know more about what our Confirmation program is like, click here to visit our family events page.

If you want to talk more about Confirmation, contact our High School Minister, Collin Puckett