Elim Lutheran Church
  • Welcome to Elim!
    • A Brief History
    • Highlights and Calendar
    • Pastor & Staff
    • Church Council >
      • Council Officer Position Descriptions
    • Covid 19 Information
  • Worship
    • Livestreamed Services
    • Accessibility
    • Baptism
    • Funerals & Memorial Services
  • Music
    • 2024 Concert & Music Series
    • 2023 Concert & Music Series >
      • Vikarbyns Lilla Spelmanslag
    • Elim's M. P. Möller Pipe Organ
    • Elim Pipe Organ Project >
      • Pipe Organ Project - Reports and Resources
    • Instrumentalists
  • Ministries
    • Alcoholics Anonymous
    • Adult Bible Study
    • Cemetery >
      • North Cemetery Rules Updated 8/24
      • South Cemetery Rules update 8/24
      • Raised Pot Recommendations
      • Cemetery Information
      • Cemetery Bylaws
      • Columbarium Bylaws
      • Niche Size & Costs
      • Cemetery Maps >
        • North Cemetery Maps
        • South Cemetery Maps
      • Geneology Services
      • Elim's Anniversary Books
    • Children, Youth & Family >
      • VBS 2024!
      • Confirmation
      • Sunday School
      • Youth Group
    • Feed My Starving Children Moble Pack >
      • FMSC Videos
    • Food Shelf >
      • Backpack Program
    • Foundation >
      • Donating Stock
      • Donating from IRA
      • Designated Funds
      • 2024 Foundation Recipients
      • 2023 Foundation Recipients
      • 2022 Foundation Recipients
      • 2021 Foundation Recipients
      • 2020 Foundation Recipients
      • 2019 Foundation Recipients
    • Gammelgarden
    • God's Work, Our Hands
    • Library
    • Grief & Loss Support Group
    • Mental Health Awareness >
      • Suicide Prevention
    • Park Board
    • Preschool
    • Quilting
    • St. Andrew's Family Shelter
  • Giving
    • Giving via Recycling and Reusing
    • Fair Trade Items
  • Capital Campaign
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19

Baptism

Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran tradition. We understand it to be a sacrament because we're called by Christ to the activity, God's promise is proclaimed, and there's a physical element (in this case, water) to help hold on with assurance to God's promises.

Because we understand baptism to be God's gift to each of us, baptism can be at any age. When infants or young children are baptized, their parent(s) and sponsor(s) make promises on the child's behalf in this baptism covenant. As a young adult (usually around fall of 10th grade), one can then publicly affirm those baptismal promises (a.k.a. Confirmation), taking an active role in being a member of our faith community (versus a passive role as a child following a parent's instruction).

Affirmation of one's baptism also happens when a person transfers membership to a different congregation. But you don't need to transfer in order to affirm your baptismal promises. Any time in your life of discipleship that you would find it meaningful to make that affirmation, you can. Just speak with your pastor to make arrangements to do so.

What are the baptismal promises we make?

  • to live among God’s faithful people,
  • to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper,
  • to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
  • to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
  • and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

What are the baptismal promises that God makes?

  • We are freed from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of Jesus our Christ.
  • We are reborn children of God, members of the Church, the Body of Christ.
  • We will grown in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God as we live with Christ and in the communion of saints.

What if we break our promises?

Baptism is a covenant. Normally in a covenant, if one side breaks the agreement, the other side is no longer held to their part of the deal. So this is the amazing thing: though we break our promises, though we fall into sin each day, God keeps God's promises.

That means each day we are able to start over. As Martin Luther said, each day we die to sin and are reborn in the waters of baptism.

That's a pretty amazing gift!

Where in the world is elim lutheran church?

Elim Lutheran Church  |  20971 Olinda Trail N, Scandia, MN 55073

Contact Us!

(651) 433-2723
  • Welcome to Elim!
    • A Brief History
    • Highlights and Calendar
    • Pastor & Staff
    • Church Council >
      • Council Officer Position Descriptions
    • Covid 19 Information
  • Worship
    • Livestreamed Services
    • Accessibility
    • Baptism
    • Funerals & Memorial Services
  • Music
    • 2024 Concert & Music Series
    • 2023 Concert & Music Series >
      • Vikarbyns Lilla Spelmanslag
    • Elim's M. P. Möller Pipe Organ
    • Elim Pipe Organ Project >
      • Pipe Organ Project - Reports and Resources
    • Instrumentalists
  • Ministries
    • Alcoholics Anonymous
    • Adult Bible Study
    • Cemetery >
      • North Cemetery Rules Updated 8/24
      • South Cemetery Rules update 8/24
      • Raised Pot Recommendations
      • Cemetery Information
      • Cemetery Bylaws
      • Columbarium Bylaws
      • Niche Size & Costs
      • Cemetery Maps >
        • North Cemetery Maps
        • South Cemetery Maps
      • Geneology Services
      • Elim's Anniversary Books
    • Children, Youth & Family >
      • VBS 2024!
      • Confirmation
      • Sunday School
      • Youth Group
    • Feed My Starving Children Moble Pack >
      • FMSC Videos
    • Food Shelf >
      • Backpack Program
    • Foundation >
      • Donating Stock
      • Donating from IRA
      • Designated Funds
      • 2024 Foundation Recipients
      • 2023 Foundation Recipients
      • 2022 Foundation Recipients
      • 2021 Foundation Recipients
      • 2020 Foundation Recipients
      • 2019 Foundation Recipients
    • Gammelgarden
    • God's Work, Our Hands
    • Library
    • Grief & Loss Support Group
    • Mental Health Awareness >
      • Suicide Prevention
    • Park Board
    • Preschool
    • Quilting
    • St. Andrew's Family Shelter
  • Giving
    • Giving via Recycling and Reusing
    • Fair Trade Items
  • Capital Campaign