Baptisms
Thanksgiving Service
Children are a gift from God. Many parents want a way of expressing their thanks to him for this precious gift – while at the same time celebrating and rejoicing with family and friends.
The Church of England offers a special service for this, called ‘Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child’.
This service includes:
• thanking God for the child
• praying for God’s blessing for the child
• presenting the child with a Gospel or Bible
• praying for the parents, and their friends and family
• recognising other people who will be important in bringing up the child.
Thanksgiving services may take place either within a main morning service on a designated Sunday, or by arrangement at another time such as on a Sunday afternoon.
Baptism
For the children of committed Christians, there is also a service of baptism. This service includes:
• thanking God for the child;
• praying for the child and parents;
• the parents making a statement of their belief in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and their
acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord;
• the parents making promises to pray for their child, to instruct him (or her) in the Christian faith,
and to bring him up within the local church congregation;
• baptising the child with water, signifying the start of new life with Christ;
• welcoming the child into the family of the church.
Baptism takes place within a main morning service on a designated Sunday. Baptism services follow a preparation course with teaching on the Christian faith, for the parents and for any godparents who are able to attend, usually over two evenings.
If you wish to ask for a Thanksgiving Service or Baptism, please contact one of the clergy.
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