Holy Baptism
Holy Baptism is full initiation into the Body of Christ. For Adults, baptism requires serious preparation and planning on the part of the individual, and usually includes joining the Catechumenate process. For young children, the responsibility lies, in particular, with the parents and Godparents.

Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. Saint John's welcomes all those who seek the sacrament of baptism. Naturally, if you are an active member of another Episcopal parish, or another denomination, then it would be appropriate and right that you seek baptism there. For children, the sacrament of Holy Baptism takes place during one of the regular Sunday morning services on specific dates in the church calendar. Please click here for the full list of available baptism dates in 2012.

Parents and Godparents of children to be baptized are invited to a special morning of preparation from 9:00-11:00 am on the Saturday prior to each Baptism Sunday. This is an important and essential session. During this time Kim McPherson, our Director of Religious Education, will share the meaning of Baptism and its context within the life of the Church. Kim will also provide information about the many exciting programs that Saint John's offers for children, the work of the nursery and how you can become part of the Cathedral community and live into the promises of your baby's baptism. The morning concludes with a careful look at the details of the baptism service that will take place the following day. We want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with all that will happen - what to say, and where to sit and stand - so that you can take part fully in the service and enjoy the occasion.

Contact our Clergy Administrator, Christine Goodfellow at Christine@sjcathedral.org or 303-831-7115, ext. 7721 to arrange to speak to one of our clergy about baptism and/or apply to reserve a baptism date in 2012. She will mail you a baptism application form, or you can click here for a copy, which you can then mail to the Cathedral. When we have received the completed form we will be in touch with you to confirm the date and time of the service that you have requested and to answer any questions that you may have.

Baptism Gifts
Looking for a unique gift item to give to a friend or family member? Blankets and other items with the Saint John's logo are now available here for ordering >


Weddings
In Holy Matrimony, a man and a woman enter into a life-long union of fidelity, respect and mutual support. In the celebration and blessing of a marriage, two people make their vows before God and the Church and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows. A marriage usually takes place at Saint John's when at least one of the persons to be married is a member of the parish or is an immediate family member of a parishioner. Additional guidelines also apply, some of which are mandated by canon law within the Episcopal Church.

Christian marriage is "a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God." As such, weddings provide a fresh opportunity to build or renew a relationship with the Church. At Saint John's, we welcome all who do not have a current church home to explore getting married here.

For more information about weddings at Saint John's, please read our Marriage Policy and Information booklet as well our the list of wedding fees and donations for the Cathedral and Saint Martin's Chapel. You can also click here for wedding fees applicable to services held at other venues, but officiated by a member of the Cathedral clergy.

Music at your Wedding
If you wish to have music at your wedding, you will need to meet with and use the services of the Cathedral's resident Director of Music. The Director will help you with your choice of music, which should be agreed upon two months before the wedding day. The choice of music should reflect the fact that the celebration and blessing of a marriage is a sacramental rite of the Church. Click here for a list of suggested hymns for weddings.

For more information or to discuss possible arrangements for your wedding after reading these documents, please contact our Clergy Administrator, Christine Goodfellow at Christine@sjcathedral.org or 303-831-7115, ext. 7721.


Funeral Planning
The Christian faith comforts us with the belief that not even death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. A burial from Saint John's does not require membership. Click here to read "Preparing for the End of Life - A Planning Aid." Upon the death of a loved one please be in touch with one of the Cathedral clergy as soon as possible. The clergy are here to provide pastoral support and guidance in scheduling and planning the service of Christian Burial. Please call 303-831-7115 to speak with a member of the clergy about the burial of a loved one or to plan for your own funeral. Outside of normal weekday office hours the phone system will direct you to a contact telephone number for the cathedral clergy. Click here for details of Funeral Fees and Contributions. Click here for a list of approved caterers who may be available to provide catering service for a reception following the service in Dagwell Hall.

Music for Funerals
As soon as the family, in consultation with clergy, have determined the date and time of the funeral liturgy, contact the Director of Music who will help to select appropriate music. If there is music that is associated with the deceased, please make a list and bring it to the meeting. These liturgies require music which is sacred in nature. Exceptions may be made, but must be done with the understanding that popular tunes are not used within the liturgy. Click here for a list of suggested hymns for Funerals.

All Souls' Walk
A place of rest for the remains of the faithful departed. All Souls' Walk lies on the east side of the Cathedral and is a pavement of unmarked granite stones, below which are small individual crypts into which cremated remains are placed. Bronze tablets border the Walk and are engraved with the names of each person interred. Space in the Walk is finite, and so crypts are usually made available specifically for members of the Saint John's Cathedral's community, and for priests from within the Diocese of Colorado. For those with no particular affiliation to the Cathedral, please note that within the metro Denver area there are other providers of burial space, in particular Fairmount Cemetery & Mortuary and Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery. Click here for more detailed information about All Souls' Walk, including how to purchase a crypt. Please contact Christine Goodfellow with any questions or for scheduling.