Baptism and Marriage
Baptism
Baptism is a cherished ritual within the community life of Orleans United Church. Baptism celebrates the gift of life. As a sacrament, baptism is a sign of what already exists, the gracious life-giving love that God has for all of creation and for individual parts of that creation.
The United Church offers baptism to all ages. We believe the gift of God’s love doesn’t depend on our ability to understand it, so we baptize people as infants right up through adulthood. In infant and child baptism, parents or sponsors make promises on behalf of the children. During the ceremony, which usually takes place as part of a regular worship service, everyone in the congregation pledges support for the child and their parents.
While baptism is always a time of celebration, we feel that it is important for you to know that in the United Church, baptism is not a requirement for God’s love, nor for welcome and participation within our faith community. We believe that all children are precious gifts from God, beloved and cherished, and we seek to treat them as such in the ways we care for the infants, children and youth in our midst.
If you are seeking baptism for yourself or your child, please contact our church office.
We will send you some basic information about baptism at Orleans United Church, and put you in touch with one of our ministers. The minister will arrange to meet with you by phone, video, or in-person to gather more information, and answer questions including any special requests or needs your family might have. Then we can arrange a date that would work for everyone involved.
Marriage
Photo by JEMMAN Photography
At Orleans United Church (OUC), we believe that marriage is part of God’s good creation and that it is not just a social institution governed by the laws of the land.
We understand a wedding to be an opportunity for a couple to express their love to each other, surrounded and supported by the love of their families and friends and by God’s love. At OUC, love is love; so same-sex/gendered marriages are welcome and celebrated.
Our ministers are able to offer weddings both at the church as well as off site depending upon their availability.
We believe that each ceremony is a unique celebration, and so couples will meet with the minister to create a ceremony that is personal and meaningful.
Weddings held at OUC have the possibility of having the services of our Music Director, wedding hostess, audio & video, and live-streaming abilities.
If you would like to have your wedding at Orleans United Church, please contact the church office.