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Baptism:
The sacrament that celebrates a person's joining of the Church. At our baptisms we are cleansed from sin, adopted by God as His children and as members of Christ's Body, and made heirs of His eternal Kingdom. Since we can only be adopted once, baptism is a final, non-repeatable act. The Episcopal Church recognizes baptism in other Christian bodies, done with water in the name of the Trinity.
The church recognizes both adult and infant baptism and offers both. In the Episcopal Church, one can be baptized by being immersed, by being sprinkled (as with an aspergillum), or by having water poured on the head; a Baptismal Font is often used for this.
Except in emergencies, Baptism is administered in a church, increasingly with the congregation present. Nearly always, baptism is administered by a member of the clergy, though any baptized lay person may administer the sacrament in an emergency.
Baptism and Holy Communion are the two great sacraments of the
Episcopal Church (BCP, pp. 299ff.)
Blessing: The blessing is God's blessing upon those gathered for worship and it is administered by the celebrant at the conclusion of the Holy Eucharist.
Benediction: Any blessing by a bishop or priest; or, a service of devotion to Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Breviary: For Anglicans, the breviary consists of Morning and Evening Prayer, etc. and is found in the BCP "The Daily Office," pp. 35-146.
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