WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR CHILD GROW AS A CHRISTIAN?

There are several ways in which you can help your child to grow in the Christian faith.  You could:

v      attend church regularly – a monthly family service at first

v      bring your child to the church events in the benefice specifically aimed at children

v      teach your child to pray by praying with them, perhaps at bedtime

v      teach your child the Bible stories, perhaps reading from a Children's Bible

v      teach your child the Christian messages of Christmas and Easter

v      show by your example what it means to put God first, and what to live in love and peace with everyone means

How soon can a Baptism take place?

All baptisms happen during the main act of worship on a Sunday morning.  Many of our churches have baptisms during their monthly family service, as this is very suitable for families and children. Private baptisms can only take place in exceptional pastoral circumstances. We ask all people enquiring about baptism to come along to a Sunday service at the church they hope the baptism will take place in and introduce yourselves to the minister. They will then make an appointment to visit you at home and talk further with you about baptism and give you a video to watch. A date for the baptism will then be set which will probably be two or three months later.  You will need to attend church several times during this period and join in a baptism preparation session were you will learn more about the commitment you will be making as parents to your child.

HELP!!

This may all seem very daunting particularly if you have not had much previous association with a church.  But help is at hand.  The ministers, are always pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to know more.  Furthermore, there are six churches in this group, all of whom will be delighted to welcome you to a service and show you the ropes.

You will find details of the services in the parish magazines "The Parish News” [Shrivenham area] and “Newsletter” [Ashbury area] there are also special services for children, and a children's club, which meets regularly.  You don't have to go to the church in your own village if the service does not suit you.  We are lucky to have the opportunity to worship at any of the six churches which has the sort of service we like at a time that suits us.

…. AND FINALLY….

If, having read this and spoken to one of the ministers that you cannot, with integrity, make the commitments required of you for a baptism service then the service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child may be more appropriate.   In this service we thank God for the child, and we ask for God's blessing on the child and on the family.  Supporting friends are encouraged to be a part of the service.  The Thanksgiving service is not a baptism service but it may be an appropriate first step towards Holy Baptism.  It gives the family an opportunity to gather together to celebrate, and give thanks to God for the birth of the child.  It acknowledges that most people want to recognise the miracle of new life by thanking God but that for some the baptism service is inappropriate.   The Thanksgiving service can be a private celebration in your own home, or a public celebration in church.