What’s in a Faith Chest?

At each service of Holy Baptism at St. Stephen's the newly baptized person is presented with a Faith Chest near the conclusion of the Baptism.  Have you ever wondered what’s in a faith chest and why it is given?

Faith Chests are a long-standing tradition here at St. Stephen’s.  In Holy Baptism one receives good gifts from God through the Holy Spirit – gifts of forgiveness of sin, healing, and everlasting life.  Through Holy Baptism a person is adopted into Christ’s family, the Body of Christ, known as the Church.  It is especially fitting, therefore that the person who is baptized be given welcoming gifts from his or her new family.

The Faith Chest contains these gifts from our church family.

In the Faith Chest there will be a Bible, signed by members of the St. Stephen’s vestry.  If the newly baptized is an infant or child this may be the very first Bible the child receives.  There will be a shell or sand dollar given by the rector and a book given by the assistant rector.  The Faith Chest may also contain a bib or cross from the Nursery Families and a CD from the St. Stephen’s Choir.  Another Faith Chest gift will be a remembrance from the St. Stephen’s Sunday School along with an invitation to attend Sunday School at age 3.

The parents and God parents of the newly baptized are counseled to frame the baptismal certificate and to place it on the wall where the growing child will be reminded of his or her baptism day each year.   We suggest that each year on the anniversary of the child’s baptism the family light the baptismal candle and share memories of the special ceremony.  The clergy suggest to parents and Godparents that the Faith Chest be set in a place of honor and that its gifts from the child’s new church family be treasured.

If a St. Stephen's group or organization would like to add a gift to the Faith Chests we prepare for those who are baptized here, please contact Reverend Jo-Ann Murphy, Assistant Rector, or Krisan Lamberti who purchases the chests themselves and lovingly fills them with the gifts parish groups bring to be included.

Thanks be to God for the hands and hearts who prepare our Faith Chests, a meaningful St. Stephen’s tradition.  Thanks be to God for all those who receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism at St. Stephen’s.  May they be richly blessed and continue forever in the faith of our Risen Lord.