Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian journey of receiving and living surrounded by the compassion of God.

It traditionally happens in infancy, but is also joyfully celebrated in childhood years, teen years and adulthood. Baptism is a declaration and recognition by the parents and church that the one being baptized is a child of God and beloved by God. It is a communal act, with the family and church committing to continually remind the one baptized that they bear the image of the divine and they are irrevocably loved by God, and were born that way.