Whether you're new to the church or new to faith in Jesus Christ, the following points may help answer your questions.

To introduce you to All Saints' and to provide an opportunity to ask questions about our church and meet our clergy, staff and Vestry, we invite you to attend our Newcomer Luncheons. These fun and informative two-hour gatherings are planned on a regular basis for those who've visited or joined the church recently and want to learn more about All Saints'. Watch the newsletter for dates and times, or call our Newcomer Ministry Coordinator, Sharon Collins, at 670-0093. You may also email her at scollins@allsaintsdalecity.org. Childcare is provided for these luncheons.

Whenever you decide to join All Saints' Church, please complete the pink New Member Form. This allows us to record you (and the other members of your family) as members. (For more information about baptism, see below.) We do not re-baptize anyone who has previously been baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in any Christian denomination. Filling out this form also allows us to pray for you during Sunday morning worship at the time of your birthday and wedding anniversary.

To receive a copy of the pink New Member Form, please contact the church office (670-0093) or email your request to office@allsaintsdalecity.org

If you have previously been confirmed or received in a church of the Anglican Communion, we will send for your Letter of Transfer from your former parish.

If your previous church was of a different denomination, we cannot formally transfer your membership. We encourage you, however, to inform your former church that you now attend All Saints'.

We encourage every person who wishes to join All Saints' to do so by affirming his or her faith in Jesus Christ in worship on the Sunday our Bishop visits All Saints'. This is done in one of three ways, all of which include the Laying-on-of-Hands and prayer by the Bishop:

• Confirmation  is for those who have never before made a mature, public affirmation of faith in Christ;
• Reception  is for those who are being received into a Church of the Anglican Communion, having previously made a mature, public affirmation of faith in Christ in another denomination;
• Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows  is for those who have previously been Confirmed in or Received into a Church of the Anglican Communion

We make our profession of faith before the Bishop, who symbolizes the fact that, as Christians, we are part of God's universal church, and not only All Saints' Church. Preparation for the Bishop's visit is done at our All About Confirmation Class held on a Saturday morning a week or two before the visit. Watch your weekly newsletter for exact dates and times.

This public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ takes place during Sunday morning worship on or near five occasions each year: Pentecost, All Saints' Day, The Baptism of Our Lord (the Sunday after the Epiphany, January 6th), Easter Eve (a Saturday evening service). In addition, baptism usually takes place once during the summer months. Through either the pouring on of water, or immersion in water, we are cleansed of our sins, incorporated into the Body of Christ, and called to ministry in the Name of Jesus. If you or a member of your family desires to be baptized, please call the church office for more information (670-0093), or email the office at office@allsaintsdalecity.org