Baptism, the water for which we draw from the Konkapot River (pictured above) flowing through Monterey, is a visible sign of an invisible reality.  The one baptized has died to death and risen to life; is strengthened now to live in God's promised realm of justice, forgiveness and peace; and is incorporated into the universal church as a member of the body of the living Christ.  In this congregation, we celebrate baptism when we gather for worship on any given Sunday morning.  We do not offer "private" baptism because it is our belief that the congregation is the conveyance of the Holy Spirit by which one is baptized.  We offer baptism for people at any age and from any walk of life, asking only that the one seeking baptism (on one's own behalf or on the behalf of an infant) participate in a Sunday service of worship and then meet with the pastor to discuss the call to baptism in this place among this people.  

A baptism co-officiated with Rev. Bill McConnell.

Weddings, though not a sacrament of the church, are a wonderful occasion for celebrating God's manifest love in our lives.   As per our tradition, the pastor and the sanctuary are a "package deal," the pastor being the one the congregation has called to officiate at all services of worship in the sanctuary.  If you are interested in getting married here by our pastor, we ask that you sit as a couple for three sessions, roughly an hour each, to think and talk about both the wedding and moreover the marriage as you hope them to be.  

A country wedding has its particular blessings!

Last modified: March 18, 2010

Monterey United Church of Christ, 449 Main Road, Monterey, Massachusetts 01245  (413) 528-5850