Congratulations if you have had a recent addition to your family—and don’t worry if your child is older! We hope that you and your family will find a warm welcome at our churches.
Baptism
In the service, which some people call ‘christening’ and others ‘baptism’, parents and godparents make important promises before God. These include a commitment to regular church-going as an example to your child, and a declaration that you are a committed follower of Jesus Christ yourself. For this reason, having a baptism service may, in all good conscience, not be available to you straight away.
If however, you want to explore the possibility of baptism for your child, we will gladly help you to do this – please have a word with one of the ministers after one of our Sunday services. This first contact is an expectation since the promises made at baptism commit you to come to church regularly—and you need to check we’re a church you’d be happy to join!
We will then arrange to discuss with you in more detail what baptism means and offer to come and talk to parents at greater length at your convenience.
Give thanks
When we are given a gift, it is right to say ‘thank you.’ The Bible says, ‘children are a gift from the Lord’ and so we should thank him for them. Traditionally, parents brought their children to church to give God thanks in a special service. In recent years, many parents have assumed that a “Christening” is the only way that their child can be welcomed into the church. However, at our churches, we encourage parents to consider the option of a “thanksgiving service” if they have not been or are not intending to start being in regular attendance at one of our services.
Thanksgiving
We are always happy to welcome families who wish to have a Thanksgiving service, even if you haven’t, so far, been a regular attender at our churches — when you come, both you and your children will be made very welcome. We have facilities for children of all ages and we are very used to having children in our services.
A thanksgiving always takes place in our main morning service and follows the pattern outlined below. It looks, in many ways, very similar to an infant Baptism service; the baby is brought to the front of church, family and friends gather around, and the child’s name is included in the blessing. However, there is no water and parents are not asked to make promises that many would find difficult or even impossible to keep.
- The minister says:
Let us thank God that in his goodness he has given you this son/daughter. God our Father, maker of all that is living, we praise you for the wonder and joy of creation. We thank you from our hearts for the life of this child, for a safe delivery, and for the privilege of parenthood.
Accept our thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - The parents may say together:
Lord God, in giving us this child you have shown us your love.
Help us to be trustworthy parents.
Make us patient and understanding, that our child may always be sure of our love and grow up to be happy and responsible; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - The congregation may say a psalm.
- Mark 10.13-16 may be read:
“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” - The minister gives the parents a copy of one of the gospels, and a children’s bible saying:
This book contains the Good News of God’s love. Read it, for it tells you how you and your family can share in eternal life, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. - The minister says this prayer:
Almighty God, you give us all we need for life and godliness. Look with favour on this child; grant that, being nourished with all your goodness, he may grow in grace and Christian commitment until he comes to know you for himself through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - The congregation say this prayer together:
Father in heaven, bless these parents, that they may cherish their child; make them wise and understanding, to help him as he grows, and surround this family with the light of your truth and the warmth of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the service, which some people call christening and others baptism, parents and godparents make important promises before God. These include a commitment to regular church-going as an example to your child, and a declaration that
We are always happy to welcome families who wish to have a Thanksgiving service, even if you haven’t, so far, been a regular attender at our churches — when you come, both you and your children will be made very welcome. We have facilities for children of all ages and we are very used to having children in our services.
Thanksgiving and Baptism are always part of our main morning services and follow a set pattern outlined by the Church of England—you can see an example of the Thanksgiving service on the back of this brochure. This service looks, in many ways, very similar to an infant Baptism service; the baby is brought to the front of church, family and friends gather around, and the child’s name is included in the blessing. However, there is no water and parents are not asked to make promises that many would find difficult or even impossible to keep.