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 (we’ll explore below) + the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19. 

The sacraments help us to remember and celebrate the Story of God that we are a part of as 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.
Next Class Details
Claimed by God is an annual tradition at Good Shepherd, where we celebrate baptisms and for any believer to take the time to remember our baptisms.
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 together we will walk through what we believe about baptism and how we all fit into God's bigger story.

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.

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.

The best next step you can take is to reach out to Elisabeth Lectka, who leads our family ministry teams.
What about God Parents?
God parents 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. 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.

We would love to talk to you about your experiences. Please reach out to Elisabeth Lectka.