Baptism of a Child
Thank
you for asking about a Baptism or “Christening” for your child. We
would love to help. This is a big step which needs careful thought.
What are you hoping for? A proper welcome into the world for your child?
If so, baptism is not your only option. The Church of England also offers a “service of thanksgiving for the gift of a child.” What are the options? For those who don’t come to church regularly, or who are unsure about some of the Bible’s teaching, a thanksgiving service is more suitable. Parents accept their child as a gift. Godparents (sponsors) promise to help and support. The vicar prays for God’s blessing for the child, presents a Bible and prays for the child to come to a faith of their own. Baptism is only for those who want Jesus to be the most important person in their lives and who want to come to church regularly. Some parents promise that on behalf of their child at baptism. Others prefer to wait until the child is old enough to make those promises, and might choose a thanksgiving in the meantime. In baptism, we use water as a picture of guilt being washed away by trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Baptism is a “sign”, just as a wedding ring is a sign of promises that have been made. The sign does not mean anything unless the promises are kept. Will I need baptism preparation? Parents take great care to check out a nursery or babysitter. It is even more important to check out what Christians believe before committing to raise your child to follow Jesus. At a baptism, parents are asked to say some traditional words that need explanation in advance. We would not ask you to make a statement that might not reflect your personal views. Parents who plan to take part in a baptism are asked to attend something like our Life Explored course. Who can be a godparent? There should normally be at least three godparents/sponsors and two should be the same sex as the child. If you opt for baptism rather than a thanksgiving, at least one godparent should be a baptised Christian who goes to church regularly. How can I book a date? Just come along any Sunday to get a feel for our church, to meet us and to fix up a date. Ask to speak to our vicar or another staff member. At 10.30am there are always plenty of preschool families. |
