Baptism
We rejoice with you that God has chosen to bless you with a new member of your family. Giving thanks to God for our children is a right and appropriate thing to do because God tells us in his word that children are a gift from him. The following information explains the two ways in which we can collectively give thanks to God for your child in our church.
A Thanksgiving
& Naming Service
What is it?
The Thanksgiving and Naming service is an opportunity for families to publicly give thanks to God for their child, to name them, and to ask for God’s protection and blessing over their lives.
What Happens?
During the service the family bring the child out to the front of the church. The child is named and the family and members of the church pray to God giving thanks to him for the child and asking for his protection and blessing. A small gift and commemorative certificate is given to the family.
Preparation Requirements
Parents are visited by the minister or a representative of St John’s to arrange the service and to give a brief explanation of what it means to be a Christian.
A Baptism Service
What is Baptism?
Baptism was introduced by Jesus as a practice for committed Christians. It is important to realise that to be a Christian doesn’t involve simply being a ‘good’ person. There are many ‘good’ people who are not Christians. Being a Christian involves total commitment to believing, behaving, and belonging.
Believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour of people in a general sense in addition to a deeper personal trust that he is your own Lord and Saviour.
Behaving in the way that pleases God. Being a Christian is not only about believing but recognising how our beliefs affect the way we live. The Bible says a lot about what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. A desire to live the kind of life that Jesus commands is one clear marks of a person who sincerely follows him.
Belonging to the family of God. Following Jesus is not something we do alone because everyone who puts their trust in Jesus joins God’s family as his dearly beloved children. Whilst God saves people individually in Jesus we do not remain alone but are brought into a large body of people — the church. Parents commit themselves to full participation in the church as part of the Baptism Service that they might be assisted by other Christians to raise their child to know, trust, and follow Jesus (Believing & Behaving). The child is then baptised on the understanding that he / she will be actively brought up within a Christian family and a local Christian church (Belonging).
What Baptism Is Not
Baptism itself does not make a child right with God. The Bible is clear that this privilege is for those who sincerely acknowledge their failure to treat God appropriately and desperately turn to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness. There is nothing magical or mysterious about baptism. Baptism should not be entered into lightly as it symbolises a person’s trust and dependence on Jesus which holds an eternal significance for their life.
What Is Baptism?
During the service the family and godparents bring the child out to the front of the church. They publicly declare their own Christian belief and their intention to actively raise their child to trust and follow Jesus. Water is sprinkled or poured on the child. We then pray for the child, parents, and godparents asking God to be at work in their lives and that he would help them to follow through on the commitments and promises they have made to him. A small gift and a certificate of baptism is given to the family.
Preparation Requirements
Parents are asked to undertake a series of six (6) sessions of a course called Christianity Explored which explains what it means to be a Christian and to commit to full participation in the life of their local Christian community (minimum attendance of six (6) weeks at Church Service on a Sunday). Once these requirements have been met and you feel that the Baptism Service represents your own convictions about Jesus, please get in touch with one of our ministers to confirm a date for your child’s baptism .
Frequently
Asked Questions
‘What if we’re not regular members of any church?’
If you aren’t already attending church regularly perhaps now is a good time to start. You may in fact be surprised and find it a useful and enjoyable experience. While it is true that going to church doesn’t make us a Christian those who truly trust in Jesus (believing) and seek to live his way (behaving) actually see the necessity of meeting regularly with other Christians to hear God’s Word, to pray, and to serve (belonging). Coming to church each week is something they both want and need to do.
However, we realise that some may wish to give thanks to God for their child with us even if they do not feel ready to make such a commitment. In this case we suggest you consider the Thanksgiving and Naming Service as the best option for you and your family. You will receive no less of a welcome from our church family and we’d look forward to sharing time with you.
‘What if my partner and I aren’t married?’
For the sake of providing a long term and stable environment for your child, it is important you are married before proceeding with baptism. The ministers at St John’s would be happy to discuss this issue with you further. Non-married couples are welcome to proceed with the Thanksgiving and Naming Service.
‘We want our child done in three weeks time please.’
The family will all be here! We are afraid that this is simply not possible. There is much to organise and our program is rather full. We need to plan ahead of time in order to avoid clashes with everything else that is going on in our church community. It is vital that you talk with the ministers before making any firm plans.
‘What if we live away from Tamworth?’
That is fine as far as the Thanksgiving Service is concerned, but if you want your child baptised you will need a reference from your local minister. References will need to bear witness to your membership of another local church in addition to a summary statement about your Christian convictions and practice.
‘My spouse really is not interested.’
As long as one of you is able to make the promises in the Baptism Service with honesty and integrity, then there should be no problems. Single parents are welcome to proceed with baptism as long as they are prepared to undergo the usual preparation requirements.
‘What about Godparents?’
Godparents are not needed for the Thanksgiving and Naming Service and are not compulsory when a child is baptised. However, with regard to baptism it is nearly always a good thing to have other friends or family charged with helping you oversee the Christian upbringing of your child. They with you share in the commitments undertaken and can be a great Christian encouragement to you and your child as the years pass. For this reason is important to choose your godparents carefully.
‘Can we have our child baptised outside normal church times?’
This simply is not possible. An important part of the Baptism Service concerns the regular members of the congregation welcoming and praying for your child. This of course means that baptism does not make much sense unless the local members of God’s family are present.
‘Is there a fee for the Thanksgiving or Baptism Service?’
St John’s does not charge a fee for either the Thanksgiving & Naming Service or the Baptism Service. Parents should not feel obligated in this respect.
The Next Step…
Having carefully considered the above information your next step will be to contact us and to arrange a meeting. Even better would be to come along to one our regular Church Services. We will then discuss what you would like to do and we will proceed from there. This will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Joshua Bovis — Vicar of St John’s Tamworth