christenings
A child’s christening - or baptism (they’re the same thing) - is a wonderful occasion when we celebrate a new life, proclaim God’s love upon the child, and promise to help them in following the way of Christ.
Baptism is like the first step of a journey. It is something precious and mysterious, not only a time to give thanks for a new life, but also a time to recognise the uniqueness and potential of the child, a wonderful gift from God.
At Holy Trinity we find that those who get the most out of the experience of bringing a child for baptism are those who have thought it through most seriously. It involves some important decisions and statements which the parents and godparents have to make on behalf of the child. It is best for all concerned that these statements are not made lightly.
What you are doing is making vows (as people do when they get married). While some people can say these with confidence, others find it is something they can only say tentatively. Either is okay. What matters is that you know in your own heart that the promises reflect your intentions. If you have questions or find the wording rather strange, don’t worry, we can discuss this with you.
Some people need time to think through these promises, for others it raises issues which gets them thinking about their own faith and beliefs more seriously.
If you decide to have your child christened it will hopefully not end with the party after the service! During the service the parents and godparents promise to pray for the baptised children, as well as to “draw them by your example into the community of faith”. You will also be asked, “Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?”
Therefore, parents need to give some thought as to how to follow up the baptism of their child. We understand the difficulty of parents in bringing infants to a church service — especially if the morning is their time being most active! However, rest assured, we welcome lively children.
At Hepworth we are constantly seeking to improve the way in which we are able to cater for the needs of babies, children, Mums and Dads, both in our worship and with the facilities we offer. Also, remember the church is not just about Sunday morning. The church puts on different events throughout the year which aim to cater for all ages.
If you are thinking about having your child baptised the first thing you may need to do is simply attend a church service on a Sunday morning at 10.00am. At an early stage the Vicar will be keen to visit you to discuss the expectations surrounding baptism. It may be some time since you had contact with a local church. You may want to ask some questions about the Christian faith. We are here to help you make it a meaningful occasion.
We normally like to book a baptism two or three months in advance. We would hope to work together to choose the most suitable date. Once you have spoken with the Vicar we will need to discuss the arrangements for the service and take your details. If you have any questions, you only need to ask.
We hope that you have found this information helpful. If you are interested in booking a christening at Hepworth Church, then the vicar would love to hear from you. Contact the Reverend Keith Griffin at [email protected].
Baptism is like the first step of a journey. It is something precious and mysterious, not only a time to give thanks for a new life, but also a time to recognise the uniqueness and potential of the child, a wonderful gift from God.
At Holy Trinity we find that those who get the most out of the experience of bringing a child for baptism are those who have thought it through most seriously. It involves some important decisions and statements which the parents and godparents have to make on behalf of the child. It is best for all concerned that these statements are not made lightly.
What you are doing is making vows (as people do when they get married). While some people can say these with confidence, others find it is something they can only say tentatively. Either is okay. What matters is that you know in your own heart that the promises reflect your intentions. If you have questions or find the wording rather strange, don’t worry, we can discuss this with you.
Some people need time to think through these promises, for others it raises issues which gets them thinking about their own faith and beliefs more seriously.
If you decide to have your child christened it will hopefully not end with the party after the service! During the service the parents and godparents promise to pray for the baptised children, as well as to “draw them by your example into the community of faith”. You will also be asked, “Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?”
Therefore, parents need to give some thought as to how to follow up the baptism of their child. We understand the difficulty of parents in bringing infants to a church service — especially if the morning is their time being most active! However, rest assured, we welcome lively children.
At Hepworth we are constantly seeking to improve the way in which we are able to cater for the needs of babies, children, Mums and Dads, both in our worship and with the facilities we offer. Also, remember the church is not just about Sunday morning. The church puts on different events throughout the year which aim to cater for all ages.
If you are thinking about having your child baptised the first thing you may need to do is simply attend a church service on a Sunday morning at 10.00am. At an early stage the Vicar will be keen to visit you to discuss the expectations surrounding baptism. It may be some time since you had contact with a local church. You may want to ask some questions about the Christian faith. We are here to help you make it a meaningful occasion.
We normally like to book a baptism two or three months in advance. We would hope to work together to choose the most suitable date. Once you have spoken with the Vicar we will need to discuss the arrangements for the service and take your details. If you have any questions, you only need to ask.
We hope that you have found this information helpful. If you are interested in booking a christening at Hepworth Church, then the vicar would love to hear from you. Contact the Reverend Keith Griffin at [email protected].
Proudly powered by Weebly