Baptism - According to the Book of Common Prayer, "Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble." At Grace, baptism is incorporated into regular worship services on specified Sundays during the year and occasionally at other times. Because baptism is the outward and visible action that connects a person to God in a covenant relationship, it belongs in public worship, rather than private ceremony.

As a primary sacrament of the church, baptism takes preparation. Parents and godparents take a baptismal preparation class.

Weddings - While it's not uncommon to refer to the priest or minister at a wedding as the person "who married us," that's not what really happens. Two people marry each other. The priest is officiant, and the people gathered witness and pray for the couple exchanging vows.

The church is much more than a nice place to hold a wedding. We take the sacrament of marriage seriously. Every couple preparing to be married at Grace receives counseling from a member of the clergy, who helps shift the premarital focus from wedding logistics to the deep, long-view questions that need to be asked and explored.

Couples contemplating marriage at Grace should first get in touch with one of the clergy and, at the same time, with our wedding coordinator who will help things go smoothly at the rehearsal and the ceremony. Fees charged for weddings cover the use of the church, organist, service bulletin, wedding guild, and clergy honorarium.

Burials - One of the privileges of life in the church is to stand with people at points in their lives where there is sorrow and loss, and in each encounter to meet and honor the particularity of life and death. We do that within the context of scripture and The Book of Common Prayer, relying on the rich and reassuring language of the tradition to help us express what can be so difficult.

At Grace we try to meet the needs of those who have experienced the death of a friend or family member in a variety of ways. We are always ready to offer prayers for someone who has died. A small gathering of friends to read scripture, say prayers, and give thanks for a life is as much a possibility as a large, formal funeral. Funerals, whether large or small, often include the Eucharist, and there is frequently music. There are no fees for funerals.

We also offer space for family and friends to receive people before and after a funeral. Often this takes the form of a period of visitation during the evening before the funeral. It gives people the opportunity to greet family members and friends, to share food and to offer a prayer before the coffin or urn in the church.

If you are interested in having ashes interred in our columbarium contact the church office.