You have asked to discuss a baptism service for your child.  This pack of information will give you the opportunity to find out a little more before you receive a visit from a member of the church.  Included with this booklet, which gives you more information about Holy Baptism and the service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child.

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Baptism is the first step along the road to becoming a Christian.   We are delighted that you have decided to bring your child to take that first important step. 

WHAT DO CHRISTIANS BELIEVE?

God and Creation

Christians believe in one God who brought the whole universe into existence and who is very much a part of all that goes on around us.  This creator God is known as God the Father.

Mankind

Christians believe that God gave human beings a special place in creation.   We know that wrongdoing is an unavoidable part of being human, and whilst some people show more good than others, none of us is perfect.  Our wrongdoing is what spoils what was meant to be a close relationship with God by coming between him and us.  It prevents us from being drawn into God's presence in this life, and in the life that Christians believe comes after death. 

Jesus

Christians believe that God took the astonishing step of coming to live among us to teach us how to treat one another, to identify with the whole human experience, and to show that there was life after death by rising to life having been put to death on the cross. Jesus is known as God the Son.

The Holy Spirit

Christians believe that God speaks to them through the Holy Spirit who comes to individuals and groups of people as an inspiring inner fire, as a source of comfort and reassurance, and as a means of refreshment and renewal.  God the Holy Spirit can be that small voice inside you that guides you when you ask God for help. 

As part of the baptism service you will be required to publicly declare that you believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and to admit to your part in the wrongdoing which separates us from God.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN?

Christianity is a world faith, and a significant proportion of the world's population is Christian. In fact more people in the world regularly go to church than watch football on TV.   There are many different traditions within Christianity:  Protestants, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox to name just three such traditions, but they all have the same basic beliefs and are known as Trinitarian.  The Church of England (sometimes called the Anglican Church), into which your baby will be baptised, is a part of the Protestant tradition.

Central to Christian life is regular gathering together to praise God, to thank him for everything that we have and in doing so to draw closer to him.  In this benefice there is a variety of worship styles which we hope will enable everyone to find something to their taste.  Within worship and beyond, Christians try to find out more about God, about the truths of the Christian faith and about what those truths mean in practice.  Central to this is the study of the Bible and prayer.  Christians may learn on their own, in small groups, through discussions, through books, through worship …. God has numerous ways of teaching us.  Private prayer is very important as well as prayer in small groups and in the main worship service.  As part of the baptism service you will promise to encourage your child to take part in public Christian worship and to pray privately every day. We would suggest at first a commitment of attending a monthly family service held in several of the churches in the benefice. Then when the child is older coming along to Sunday School or one of the Children’s clubs that are held regularly in some of the churches.

The Bible encourages Christians to put their faith into action.  This means loving, caring, fighting for justice, working for peace and telling people about the life, death and rising again of Jesus.  This doesn't just mean through church activities, but through our social, work and family worlds strengthened and encouraged by the church fellowship.