Deciding to be baptized in adulthood
In church, Larissa shared some of her spiritual journey into baptism as an adult. Here's her story:
"Until I was an adult, the practice of baptism was foreign to me. The church I grew up in does not practice baptism, or Eucharist. Don’t tell anyone, but I was taking Eucharist at All Saints Beverly Hills for two years before I knew I was supposed to baptized first.
So, I’d been at All Saints for about two years and was feeling connected to the church and community of seekers and questioning believers when a baptism class was announced. I thought ‘hmm, maybe someday… I’ll consider it.’ But a friend grabbed me on the first day of class and planted me in a seat and said “just try the first day.”
And there was Reverend Katie, before she was a reverend, co-leading the class because they didn’t have enough priests go around! We shared our spiritual stories and what led us there that day. I was openly “just looking.”
I decided to go through with it. One, because Katie Cadigan was fantastic, she was enthusiastic, intelligent, and open about her own twisty turny journey. Two, it spoke to my desire to commit myself to God and to being with these people who also cared about God and Truth and following Christ.
For me it wasn’t about rules or church policies or thinking baptism would make me better than the next person. It was about the conscious declaration to myself and to God that yes, this is what I want my life to be about: getting closer to God, accepting that I am His, and that I am a lifelong follower of Christ.
Anyone can take Eucharist here at St. Augustine’s, which I love, so that’s not a ‘special privilege’ here. But, you would get Father Nate and Reverend Katie and this choice. If you’re even considering it, go to the first Inquirer’s class and it’s fine to tell them you’re “just looking.”
Tags: Baptisms / Adult Classes / Worship / Welcome
