Baptisms, Weddings, & Memorial Services

Baptisms

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is the point of entry into the Christian community. Because the Augustana community makes a promise to support members of the body of Christ in fellowship and love, baptisms are normally done during a worship service. Baptisms can be scheduled on most Sundays during the year; please contact the pastor you would like to perform the baptism to schedule a date.

For parents of infants and small children, as well as parents-to-be, we offer baptism classes several times during the year. In these classes, a member of the Pastoral Team discusses the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and how this gift of new life affects your child. Christian parenting and the theological and practical aspects of the baptism service are also covered.

For older children and adults, we like to meet with the individual and their parents or sponsors to discuss the meaning of baptism at a level appropriate to the individual. Contact Barb Rolfes for more information and to register for a baptism class.

Weddings

We want to help make this a day of joy and celebration for you and the people who will share in this special occasion. We believe that a solid foundation for a Christian marriage is to have a wedding service where Christ is the center and every part of the service focuses on two individuals coming together in Christ. We encourage all who are married at Augustana to plan a wedding consistent with the Christian understanding of marriage.

Weddings are scheduled on a first-come, first served basis for members of the congregation. To schedule a wedding, call the church office and ask to speak to the pastoral team member you wish to have officiate your wedding. The pastoral team will guide you in planning your ceremony, and organist Andy Jacob will help you select your music.

Funerals and Memorial Services

We are with you during times of grief and loss. Augustana’s pastoral team and staff are here to help you during funeral and memorial service planning. Contact the office to schedule a funeral and/or memorial service, either in the sanctuary or at a local funeral home. A member of the pastoral team will assist you in choosing Bible verses and hymns that will be meaningful and appropriate for your loved one’s service. We will also help you arrange a reception following the service.

Memorial Garden & Columbarium

In a beautifully landscaped setting, the Columbarium and Memorial Garden are places of peace and hope and a reminder that death is not the end for God’s people. The Columbarium is a brick and granite cabinet with sealed niches for securing the ashes of your loved ones. The granite front is engraved with names and dates. The location of your niche(s) is chosen at the time of purchase. Cremation is not included with the columbarium and must be arranged separately.

The Memorial Wall adjacent to the Columbarium is a granite wall engraved with the names of those we wish to memorialize, and whose remains are elsewhere.

Augustana members—along with spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, brothers, sisters, and all of their spouses or domestic partners—are eligible to be inurned or memorialized in the Augustana Memorial Garden. Contact Barb Rolfes in the church office for more information.