Since we moved to Blacksburg, we have been going to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (GCPC). We have come to really love the sermons, pastors, and church family. Over the summer, we went to an Inquirers Class and learned more about the church's history and the Presbyterian church as a whole.
Bryce grew up going to a Baptist church and then a Church of God. After college, he went to Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Our first year of marriage, we went to Reston Bible Church in the DC area. I grew up going to mostly nondenominational churches.
We decided to become members of GCPC, and met with the elders over the summer. This past Sunday, we were welcomed into the church along with some of our friends.
AND I was baptized! When I was a baby, I was dedicated, and may have been baptized as an infant, but we were unsure. I was excited to be baptized.
It was special to be baptized by our friend and Associate Pastor, Brian, and hear the meaning of baptism again.
Baptism signifies the faithfulness of God, the washing away of sin, rebirth, putting on the fresh garment of Christ, being sealed by God's Spirit, adoption into the covenant family of the Church, resurrection in Christ. The sacrament of baptism is a sign of God's reaching out to us-it's not about what we do, but what God has done for us. All we need to do is receive the gift. Baptism is a public display of our faith in Christ and a representation of the promises of forgiveness, freedom, and new life offered in the gospel. In Baptism we are reminded especially of God’s promise: “I will be your God and you shall be my people.” Baptism is NOT what saves us and takes our sins away, but it is Jesus Christ and FAITH in Him.
Bryce grew up going to a Baptist church and then a Church of God. After college, he went to Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda. Our first year of marriage, we went to Reston Bible Church in the DC area. I grew up going to mostly nondenominational churches.
We decided to become members of GCPC, and met with the elders over the summer. This past Sunday, we were welcomed into the church along with some of our friends.
AND I was baptized! When I was a baby, I was dedicated, and may have been baptized as an infant, but we were unsure. I was excited to be baptized.
It was special to be baptized by our friend and Associate Pastor, Brian, and hear the meaning of baptism again.
Baptism signifies the faithfulness of God, the washing away of sin, rebirth, putting on the fresh garment of Christ, being sealed by God's Spirit, adoption into the covenant family of the Church, resurrection in Christ. The sacrament of baptism is a sign of God's reaching out to us-it's not about what we do, but what God has done for us. All we need to do is receive the gift. Baptism is a public display of our faith in Christ and a representation of the promises of forgiveness, freedom, and new life offered in the gospel. In Baptism we are reminded especially of God’s promise: “I will be your God and you shall be my people.” Baptism is NOT what saves us and takes our sins away, but it is Jesus Christ and FAITH in Him.
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