Baptism
The Bible tell us that Jesus himself was baptised, by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and that Jesus commanded his disciples to go out into the world and “baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 25:16-20).
Baptism is a sacrament (which means a holy and sacred act) for all those who wish to publicly declare themselves as Jesus' disciples. The Church welcomes to baptism all who wish to make a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, and make a commitment to God and his Church.
At baptism you will make promises to God and his Church, including:
- promising to turn away from the darkness of sin towards Jesus Christ, in whom we find light and forgiveness
- be anointed with Holy Oil to show that you have been called by God to be Jesus' disciple
- be washed in the waters of baptism as an outward sign of our being made new, born again by water and the Spirit
- take your place around the family table of the Church and receive the bread and wine at communion, which is to us, the body and blood of
Christ.
We delight in being able to prepare the candidate and their family (if the baptism candidate is an infant) to receive this precious gift form God; and as a baptism is an occasion of great joy, the ceremony will always take place in the context of Sunday worship.
Baptism is a sacrament (which means a holy and sacred act) for all those who wish to publicly declare themselves as Jesus' disciples. The Church welcomes to baptism all who wish to make a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, and make a commitment to God and his Church.
At baptism you will make promises to God and his Church, including:
- promising to turn away from the darkness of sin towards Jesus Christ, in whom we find light and forgiveness
- be anointed with Holy Oil to show that you have been called by God to be Jesus' disciple
- be washed in the waters of baptism as an outward sign of our being made new, born again by water and the Spirit
- take your place around the family table of the Church and receive the bread and wine at communion, which is to us, the body and blood of
Christ.
We delight in being able to prepare the candidate and their family (if the baptism candidate is an infant) to receive this precious gift form God; and as a baptism is an occasion of great joy, the ceremony will always take place in the context of Sunday worship.
Is it only adults that can be baptised?
Absolutely not!
We believe that God's Holy Spirit is working in the lives of all people,
and often, he leads parents to commit to raising their child as a Christian. Parents make these sacred promises to God at baptism on their child's behalf. As the child grows and is ready to take responsibility for the promises made on their behalf, they do so by being Confirmed by the Bishop.
As your child's baptism is part of their lifelong relationship with Jesus, we encourage you to ask trusted friends become godparents to your child, to help you raise them in the faith, to pray for your child regularly, and encourage them to attend church.
Absolutely not!
We believe that God's Holy Spirit is working in the lives of all people,
and often, he leads parents to commit to raising their child as a Christian. Parents make these sacred promises to God at baptism on their child's behalf. As the child grows and is ready to take responsibility for the promises made on their behalf, they do so by being Confirmed by the Bishop.
As your child's baptism is part of their lifelong relationship with Jesus, we encourage you to ask trusted friends become godparents to your child, to help you raise them in the faith, to pray for your child regularly, and encourage them to attend church.
What Baptism is not!
When a person gets baptised, regardless of their age, there are a number of assumptions we can make about what is going on. These assumptions are normally based on local traditions or things we have heard from others. Amongst other things, Baptism is not:
When a person gets baptised, regardless of their age, there are a number of assumptions we can make about what is going on. These assumptions are normally based on local traditions or things we have heard from others. Amongst other things, Baptism is not:
- Just an excuse for a party! Though a party will usually follow, the promises made at a Baptism are to be taken seriously.
- A naming ceremony! It is a significant step in a lifelong Christian journey and entry into the universal Church of God.
- A passport to heaven! It is not true that only the Baptised go to heaven. We can’t fool God - He knows exactly what is going on in
- A rite of passage! Though Baptism is open to everyone, it should not be viewed simply as a rite of passage, or 'something nice for my Nan'. Baptism is a covenantal relationship with God and should be taken seriously. If you are unsure whether this is the right option for you and your family at this time, consider a Service of Thanksgiving instead - Baptism will still be an option to you at a later date.
When new children join the family, be it through birth or adoption, it is always reason to celebrate!
Many wish to mark this occasion by giving thanks to God for the life of their child, and to seek God's blessing upon their lives.
We recognise that not everyone is ready to make solemn vows to God at baptism, but would still like to include God and the Church in their life. On these occasions, a Service of Thanksgiving ay be a better choice. It is a service where we thank God for the life of your child and ask for His blessing upon their life.
At this service, we pray for the child, anoint them with Holy Oil and gift the child with their own copy of the Bible. We ask that the family chose people who will be like godparents to your child, who will make promises to your child and to you, that they will be a positive presence in your child's life and will encourage the whole family on their Christian journey.
This Service of Thanksgiving will take place in Church, and will usually be performed outside of regular Sunday Worship. A Sunday afternoon is a popular choice with many families.
Many wish to mark this occasion by giving thanks to God for the life of their child, and to seek God's blessing upon their lives.
We recognise that not everyone is ready to make solemn vows to God at baptism, but would still like to include God and the Church in their life. On these occasions, a Service of Thanksgiving ay be a better choice. It is a service where we thank God for the life of your child and ask for His blessing upon their life.
At this service, we pray for the child, anoint them with Holy Oil and gift the child with their own copy of the Bible. We ask that the family chose people who will be like godparents to your child, who will make promises to your child and to you, that they will be a positive presence in your child's life and will encourage the whole family on their Christian journey.
This Service of Thanksgiving will take place in Church, and will usually be performed outside of regular Sunday Worship. A Sunday afternoon is a popular choice with many families.
If you would like to have God's blessing upon your child's life, or to explore baptism, then Get in touch!
We cant wait to hear from you!
We cant wait to hear from you!
