Parents and Godparents - aims and rules...
As a parent or godparent you should ask yourself:
Are you prepared to the best of your ability to give the child a Christian upbringing within the family of Christ’s Church?
The service explicitly asks you the following questions:
Parents and godparents, the Church receives these children with joy. Today we are trusting God for their growth in faith.
Will you pray for them, draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with them in the way of Christ?
With the help of God, we will.In baptism these children begin their journey in faith. You speak for them today.
Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
With the help of God, we will.
Church law suggests three godparents, two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex, but to have one godfather and one godmother is sufficient. Parents may be godparents to their own children, provided that the child has at least one other godparent. Church law requires that godparents should be baptised.
The usual time for baptism is 10.30am.
We
ask that parents attend church for a number of weeks before the baptism of
their child. We see baptism as a very important step on your child’s spiritual
journey. We want to be the kind of church that you and your child considers
your spiritual home. For that sense of ‘home’ to develop, it requires
commitment. (Habits of church attending take a while to become established.)
You may not find every service meets all your needs, but we hope that in every
service you take something away which strengthens you for the week. (We hope
that you will leave church thinking: “I’m glad I made the effort to come.”)
Special services take place each month which are particularly ‘user-friendly’
for people who don’t often come to church. We hope that you will look out for
those especially. Our welcome pack tells you more.
Thanksgiving for the Birth of a
Child
This is for people who want to thank God for the birth of their child, and ask
His blessing on the child. You may not feel that you can make certain promises
about bringing your child up within the life of the church. You may not believe
that it is right for you to have your child baptised. It is much better to
honestly consider this question than ‘just go with the tradition’) In this
service, the parents come to the front of the Church with the child, and there
are prayers asking God’s blessing upon your child, your family and your home.
There is a reading, and a present given to the child from us. It is a very
meaningful and beautiful service. If you would like to know more about it then
please speak to Jay Colwill.