The Rev. Guy Fouts, Priest-in-Charge
Office: 301-590-0959

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 216
1914 Ballenger Creek Pike
Point of Rocks, Maryland 21777-0216
Parish Hall: 301-874-2995

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

SUNDAY SERVICES


CONNECTIONS

St. Paul's Church belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, which has its offices in Baltimore. The Episcopal "Mother Church" of Frederick County is All Saints, in the City of Frederick. Not far from Point of Rocks is the diocesan conference facility, The Bishop Claggett Conference Center, at Buckeystown. And right adjacent to Claggett is the new continuing care retirement community, Buckingham's Choice, sponsored by Episcopal Ministries to the Aging, Inc.

Information about the town of Point of Rocks can be found on the municipal web site.  See also the Frederick County web site for general information on the region.

BAPTISM

In the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, as in the New Testament, Baptism is the complete rite of entrance into the life of the Christian community, including both water as a sign of repentance and prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit; that is, every baptized person, of whatever age, is a communicant member of the Church.  The norm is adult baptism, although infants and young children may be baptized if parents and other sponsors make the baptismal vows on behalf of the child.  In this case, the sponsors are expected to undertake the same process of preparation as they would if they themselves were to be baptized.

CONFIRMATION

The sacrament of Confirmation, prayer for the empowering of the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands by the bishop, is an act of  reaffirmation of baptismal vows.  It is an appropriate act of  faith when an individual wishes publicly  to renew his or her baptismal vows, such as upon beginning a new ministry or stage of life, or upon becoming a member of the Episcopal Church.

Please contact the Priest-in-Charge if you are considering asking for Baptism or Confirmation.  It is his responsibility to see that each candidate is spiritually ready and has had adequate preparation. Various options for preparation are available, including the Alpha Course, mentioned above.  The orders for Baptism or Confirmation can be found in the Book of Common Prayer, pages 298-314, and pages 412-419.  They are also available online at:  http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/formatted_1979.htm

  MAPS    [click here]


  ST. PAUL'S MISSION STATEMENT   [click here]


  PARISH BY-LAWS   [click here] AND ROLE OF THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE [click here]

Updated: March 25, 2001