Baptism
Information
Who
does it involve?
Questions
and Answers
What
will happen in the service?
When
did Christian Baptism start?
Important
Symbols
Making
Decisions
Godparents
Q&A
A
prayer for parents
Prayers
in thanksgiving for a new-born child
What
happens next?
Who
does it involve? you
and the godparents:
- thanking
God for his gift of life
- deciding
to start your child on the journey of faith and asking
for the Church's support
- joining
the Church in expressing your belief in God and praying
for your child
your
child:
- beginning
a journey of faith
- becoming
a member of the local and worldwide Christian family
- sharing
in the death and resurrection of Jesus in a symbolic way
the
Church:
- promising
to welcome, support and pray for you and your child
- being
reminded of the importance of this baptism for every Christian
- providing
a worshipping community where everyone can grow in faith
Christians
describe baptism as a sacrament - a visible sign of God's
love. We believe that God loves people of every race, creed
or colour. At baptism we are thanking God for the gift of
life and acknowledging his love. We are turning away from
evil, sin and darkness and turning towards Christ.
[Top]
Questions
and Answers
Q. What's
the difference between a baptism and a christening?
A. None. They are different names for the same thing.
Q. What
if a teenager or adult wants to be baptized?
A. This is perfectly normal practice. Talk to your
minister about baptism combined with confirmation. It's
never too late.
Q. I'd
like to be baptized again because I don't remember anything
about my baptism as a baby.
A. You can only be baptized once – but there
are other ways, including special services, of renewing
your commitment to Christ publicly. Ask your minister about
these.
Q. How
much does it cost?
A. Baptism is free, although there may be a small
charge for a baptism certificate. Some parents like to
make a donation to the Church and there may be a small
administration
fee.
[Top]
What
will happen in the service?
Your
baby's baptism will normally take place during the main Sunday
service. It is a public celebration with the Church and not
just a private ceremony. The minister may ask you to come
to church with other baptism families for a rehearsal. Some
churches will also hold a series of classes or meetings for
parents and godparents to explain the meaning of baptism.
During the service the minister will show you what to do
and explain when to stand up or sit down. When it is time
for the baptism itself, the parents and godparents will be
asked to stand to make the following six declarations:
Do
you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.
Do
you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.
Do
you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.
Do
you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.
Do
you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.
Do
you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.
[Top]
When
did Christian Baptism start?
When
Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan 2000 years ago, he
became aware of God as his Father and felt the special presence
and power of the Holy Spirit. This was a turning point in
his life. You can find the story at the beginning of Mark's
Gospel in the New Testament. Later, after his death and resurrection,
Jesus told his followers to make new disciples and baptize
them, too. This has been done ever since in Christian churches
throughout the world.
Important
Symbols
The
sign of the cross: The minister will make the sign
of the cross on your child's forehead. This is like an
invisible badge to show that Christians are united with
Christ and must not be ashamed to stand up for their faith
in him. You may also be invited to make the sign of the
cross on your child.
Water: The
minister blesses the water which will be used to baptize
your baby. Water is an important sign of life. In the same
way that our bodies need water to drink, our spiritual lives
need the cleansing and refreshing love of God. This is symbolized
in the water of baptism poured on your child's head in the
name of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism means
accepting Jesus who died and rose again for us, and making
this a pattern for our life. It's a vivid way of saying that
we are accepting his help to live a generous life and not
a self-interested one.
The
Welcome: The congregation will say some formal words
of welcome to acknowledge that your child has joined the
church and to show how pleased they are to have you among
them.
Candles:
Light is an important symbol. Jesus is called the light of
the world because he represents all that is good. A large
candle may be lit in church during the service and you may
be given a smaller lighted candle to keep as a reminder of
the light that has come into your child's life. It's up
to you to help your child reject the world of darkness and
follow a way of life that reflects goodness and light.
[Top]
Making
Decisions
A
baptism is a very important occasion involving serious decisions.
You have to say that you will help your child 'walk in the
way of Christ' and 'take their place within the life and
worship of Christ's church'. You will have to answer questions
on your child's behalf, stating that you have decided to
turn away from everything which is evil or sinful and turn
instead towards Christ. The minister will explain the words
of the declarations in greater detail beforehand.
How
do we know we have enough Faith?
You
do not have to be a perfect Christian to want to follow Christ
and it would be surprising if you never had any doubts or
questions in your mind. The declarations show that you intend
to do your best. You and your godparents must make the declarations
yourselves, although the whole Church will support you with
these.
Shouldn't
our children make their own decisions?
Some
people worry that they are imposing views on their children
but from the moment they are born, you make choices on their
behalf. You don't wait until they are old enough to ask for
milk before you feed them and in the same way it is right
to give them spiritual nourishment and teach them about the
love of God from an early age. When they are old enough they
may choose to be confirmed and make an adult affirmation
of faith.
[Top]
Godparents
Q&A
Q. Can
anybody be a godparent?
A. Yes - so long as they have been baptized and
confirmed and are mature enough to act as a godparent.
Q. How
many can I have?
A. There should be three or more godparents, (of
whom two should be the same sex as the child).
Q. Does
being a godparent involve being a legal guardian as well?
A. No, the roles are quite separate (although some
godparents might be asked to fulfil both roles).
Godparents
are people chosen by you, the parents, to pray for your child
and set them a good example of Christian living. They can
be relatives or friends, but they must be willing to make
the declarations set out in the service. They may be given
a special card by the church to put on a noticeboard or other
prominent place to remind them of their promises.
[Top]
A
prayer for parents
O
God, you have given us a share
in the creation of new life.
When things go well, may we be thankful;
when we are in despair, comfort us;
when we have lost hope, renew our strength;
when we are at peace, cherish us.
And at all times, 0 God,
fill our hearts with love for our children,
each other and for you.
Amen.
Christopher Herbert
[Top]
Prayers
in thanksgiving for a new-born child
GOD
OUR CREATOR, we thank you for the wonder of new life,
and for the mystery of human love.
We thank you for all whose support and skill
surround and sustain the beginning of life.
We thank you that we are known to you by name
and loved from all eternity.
We thank you for Jesus Christ, who has opened to us the way of love.
We praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God forever. Amen.
AS
JESUS took children in his arm and blessed them,
so we ask God's blessing on [Name of the child]:
Heavenly Father, we praise you for his/her birth;
surround him/her with your blessing that he/she may know your love,
be protected from evil, and know your goodness all his/her days.
May he/she learn to love all that is true,
grow in wisdom and strength
and, in due time, come through faith and baptism
to the fullness of your grace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers
taken from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church
of England, © The Archbishops' Council of the Church
of England, 2000.
[Top]
What
happens next?
Baptism
is a significant time for the whole family - it marks the
start of an adventure which will continue for the rest of your
child's life. Parents may find that their own interest in
God is reawakened at this time and your minister will be
happy to talk to you about this. In any event, your child
needs to worship regularly with the church family in order
to develop a sense of belonging and most churches have a
variety of events and activities for all ages.
Why not ask about:
We
hope your baby's baptism will be a wonderful and memorable
occasion and that it will mark the beginning of a long and
happy association with this church.
[Top] |
