Thanksgiving and Baptism
If you have a new baby in your household, many congratulations! Whether it’s your first or your third, this will be a very busy, exciting and tiring time for you! However, it is also a time when many parents want to give thanks to God for the arrival of their child, marking that occasion in a special way with family and friends. We offer a Service of Baptism for the arrival of a new child, (or alternatively a Service of Thanksgiving with the opportunity for subsequent Baptism at a later date).
Parents wishing for their child(ren) to be baptised will be expected to attend a Baptism preparation evening at which the significance and meaning of baptism will be explained. It also gives the chance to meet other parents.
In the first instance to arrange things, discuss any questions or hear about the support that St Margaret’s can provide, please contact the Church Office.
Baptism of Older Children and Confirmation
It is not uncommon for older children (not previously baptised and usually under 5 years of age) to be baptised at the same time as their new baby brother or sister. Indeed, none of the children have to be babies as it might be, for instance, that a family wishes to express their new found faith in this traditional act of Christian witness to family, friends and community. Baptism is an interim stage – awaiting the age where a young man or woman is ready to confirm that public affirmation of faith in Jesus Christ for themselves. Consequently, older children (who have not already been baptised) will often wait until they are ready to make their own declaration of faith in a combined Baptism and Confirmation Service. More information about Confirmation can be obtained via the Church Office.
Adult Baptism and New Life
The birth of a new life is one of the most joyous occasions imaginable. Jesus taught that this joyous new birth can happen twice in our lives – once at our natural birth and once as a spiritual rebirth. If anything, this second birth is even more exciting than the first and, of course, a time of great celebration for the church family. An adult, who has not been baptised as a child, will often want to mark their new birth by an act of adult baptism, possibly at a Baptism and Confirmation Service or even by being baptised by total immersion! Please contact the Church Office or one of the clergy for more details.
If, on reading this, you would like to know more about what Jesus had to say concerning spiritual rebirth, then please contact one of the clergy at St Margaret’s, or why not consider the Alpha course?