A United Methodist Understanding
Baptism & Holy Communion
Baptism & Communion are the two Sacraments recognized by the United Methodist Church. The word "sacrament" derives from the Latin word sacramentum, originally meaning a oath or allegiance. We observe these to be outward, visible signs instituted by Jesus Christ to confer God's inward divine grace toward us.
Baptism at FBGUMC
Baptism at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Marks Entry into the Covenant Community Baptism is one of two sacraments recognized by the United Methodist Church, the other being Holy Communion. At Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, baptism is understood as an act of grace. It is not contingent on readiness, achievement, or timing. It is the church's way of saying, through water and the words of scripture, that God's love is already present and at work in a person's life. Whether you are bringing an infant to be baptized, preparing your older child, or coming to baptism as an adult, FUMC welcomes you into this sacred practice. The doors, as the Methodist tradition has long affirmed, are open. Baptism Serves as a Sacrament of Initiation in the United Methodist Tradition The United Methodist Church teaches that baptism is a means of grace, a practice through which God's presence and grace are made real and available. It is not symbolic in a superficial sense. The act of baptism with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit marks a person's formal entry into the covenant community of the church. Baptism is grounded in scripture and shaped by centuries of Methodist and broader Christian practice. It follows the Trinitarian formula drawn from Matthew 28:19, and it is administered according to the guidelines set out in the UMC's Book of Worship. At FUMC, the pastoral staff walks families and individuals through what baptism means and what comes next. The UMC Welcomes Infants, Children, and Adults to Baptism One of the distinctives of Methodist practice is that baptism is available to people at any stage of life. FUMC offers baptism to infants, children, and adults, and the theological grounding for each is the same: God's grace comes first. For infants and young children, parents and the congregation make commitments on behalf of the child, promising to nurture their faith as they grow. For adults who were not baptized as children, baptism marks a conscious decision to enter the faith community. For those who were baptized in another Christian tradition, the UMC recognizes that prior baptism as valid; re-baptism is not practiced. Three Modes of Baptism Reflect an Inclusive Practice The UMC allows three modes of baptism: sprinkling, pouring, and immersion. No single mode is required. FUMC follows this same flexibility, allowing families and individuals to choose the form that is most meaningful to them. What matters is the water, the Trinitarian words of blessing, and the intention of the act. This openness reflects the broader Methodist commitment to holding the essentials of faith firmly while allowing space within the community for different expressions of those essentials. Prevenient Grace Forms the Wesleyan Theological Foundation for Baptism The theological concept that most directly shapes the Methodist understanding of baptism is prevenient grace. John Wesley taught that God's grace operates in every person before they are aware of it, before any decision is made, before any step of faith is taken. That grace arrives before any decision is made, and it is not earned. Infant baptism in the Methodist tradition is grounded in this idea. God is already at work in a child's life before that child can articulate belief. Baptism marks and honors that prior work of grace. It initiates the child into the covenant community, where the ongoing practices of worship, scripture, prayer, and fellowship continue to shape their faith. For adults, baptism acknowledges that God's prevenient grace has already been drawing them toward this moment. Baptism Connects Directly to Confirmation and Church Membership at FUMC Baptism opens a pathway rather than closing one. For children baptized as infants, confirmation is the next formal step. FUMC offers confirmation preparation, typically for students in 7th or 8th grade, through a multi-month pastor-led process that includes mentor pairing and culminates in a public profession of faith. At that point, the individual affirms for themselves the covenant made at their baptism. For adults, baptism is accompanied by the opportunity for full membership in the congregation. FUMC's professing membership stands at approximately 468 members, all of whom have made a commitment through baptism, profession of faith, or transfer. Church membership at FUMC carries five commitments: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Scheduling a Baptism at Fredericksburg UMC Baptisms at FUMC are typically celebrated during a Sunday worship service, making the moment a communal one rather than a private ceremony. The congregation plays an active role in welcoming those being baptized. To schedule a baptism or to ask questions about what the process involves, contact the FUMC pastoral staff directly. The team is available to walk you through the preparation, answer theological questions, and help you choose the right timing. Fredericksburg United Methodist Church is located at 1800 N Llano St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Worship services are held on Sundays at 9:00 AM (contemporary) and 11:10 AM (traditional). More information is available at fredumc.org
Interested in being Baptized?
Holy Communion at FBGUMC
We celebrate Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month, as well as our special services.
Holy Communion at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Extends an Open Invitation to the Table Holy Communion is one of two sacraments the United Methodist Church recognizes, alongside baptism. At Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, the table is open. That open welcome is both the starting point and the defining characteristic of how the UMC practices this sacrament. The UMC does not require church membership, a particular denomination, or a formal profession of faith before a person receives communion. Any person who seeks Christ is welcome. This practice reflects a theological conviction that runs through the entire Wesleyan tradition: God's grace moves first, and the church's role is to make room for it. Holy Communion Stands as a Sacrament and a Means of Grace in Methodist Teaching The United Methodist Church defines Holy Communion as a sacrament instituted by Christ, one of two acts the church understands as a formal means of grace. A means of grace, in Wesleyan theology, is a channel through which God's grace becomes available to people in a tangible way. Communion is not merely a memorial or a symbol. It is a practice through which something real is conveyed. John Wesley treated communion as central to Methodist life. He received it frequently and encouraged his followers to do the same, viewing it as one of the instituted means of grace alongside scripture, prayer, fasting, and Christian fellowship. That emphasis carries forward in how the UMC and local congregations like FUMC approach the table today. The Open Table Policy Reflects the Wesleyan Understanding of Prevenient Grace The UMC's open table is grounded in the same theological principle that shapes its approach to baptism: prevenient grace. Wesley taught that God's grace is already present in every person before any conscious response to the gospel. The open table puts that teaching into practice. Because grace precedes human decision, the table is not reserved for those who have already arrived at a particular point of belief or membership. At FUMC, all persons who seek Christ are invited to receive communion. There is no denominational gate and no membership requirement. The UMC's own study document, "This Holy Mystery," frames the open table as an expression of radical hospitality rooted in Wesleyan theology, The document frames the open table as a deepening of Wesleyan standards, grounded in the theology of grace. Bread and Juice Serve as the Elements of Communion at FUMC The elements used in United Methodist communion are bread and grape juice. Wesley's theological descendants in the Methodist movement in America moved toward unfermented grape juice in the 19th century, a practice the UMC maintains today. The bread and juice are understood as the body and blood of Christ in a way that is real and spiritually present, though the UMC does not adopt the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. Both elements are offered to all who come to the table. FUMC follows UMC practice in distributing communion in a manner that is accessible to the congregation, whether by coming forward to receive or through intinction, where the bread is dipped into the juice. Holy Communion Shapes the Liturgical Calendar Throughout the Year Communion at FUMC is celebrated on a regular basis throughout the year, with frequency tied to the liturgical calendar and the rhythms of congregational worship. The Christian year, as practiced in the United Methodist tradition, moves through seasons including Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Communion often marks the transitions between these seasons and the high points within them. Christmas Eve services, Holy Week observances, and Easter Sunday are among the times when communion takes on particular weight. The act of gathering at the table in those moments connects the congregation to both the historic church and to the community seated around them. Receiving Communion at Fredericksburg UMC Holy Communion is celebrated during regular Sunday worship services at FUMC. Both the 9:00 AM contemporary service and the 11:10 AM traditional service include communion when it is scheduled on the first Sunday of each month. The pastoral staff announces communion Sundays in advance through the church newsletter and weekly communications. No preparation or prior registration is required to receive communion. Visitors and guests are welcome at the table alongside members. If you have questions about communion practice at FUMC or about the theological tradition behind it, the pastoral staff is available to talk through them.
