Welcome to the information page about Baptism in the Glen Group.
Baptism: What is it all about?
Baptism or Christening?
“Baptism” is the term used in the Bible and it refers to Christian initiation and is one of the sacraments of the church. “Christening” focuses on the naming part of the service. For many, the terms have become interchangeable. In the Glen Group we tend to use the term Baptism.
New Life
In Baptism we remember with thanks all that God has done for us. He made and makes the world and although we spoil that world, and our relationships with one another and with him, God never gives up on us. God loves us so much that he came to us in Jesus. Baptism is not just about celebrating the life of a child, but the even greater celebration of new life in Jesus. It marks a new beginning, not only for those to be Baptised, but also for their families. When babies and young children are baptised, parents promise to encourage, to explain, and to give an example of faith in Jesus at home and at church.
A New Beginning
Baptism is a witness and celebration of new life in Jesus. It is life that never ends, even at death; life shared with all who have been baptised; life in all its fullness, lived day by day with Jesus.
Your Child’s
Baptism
We are delighted that you are considering Baptism for your child. We welcome parents who bring their child or children to St Mary’s Pinchbeck, St Bartholomew’s West Pinchbeck, or St Lawrence’s Surfleet, for the sacrament of Baptism. Unless you regularly worship in one of the churches of the Glen Group, you would normally need to be resident within the Pinchbeck, West Pinchbeck or Surfleet area in order to be Baptised in one of our churches.
Adult
Baptism
If you were not Baptised as an infant, and would like to consider making this commitment now, it is not too late! Please contact the Vicar or one of our Lay Readers who will be happy to discuss it with you.
When?
Baptisms can be arranged for a Saturday or Sunday. It is important to set a date well in advance (preferably contact the Vicar about two months in advance of the date you have in mind). If you want a Sunday baptism, usually Baptisms will only be celebrated on the second or third Sunday of the month due to there being a greater number of services on the 1st and 4th Sundays.
The preparation:
· In the first instance, telephone the Vicar, The Rev’d Murray Harvey, at the Vicarage on 01775 725 698 and negotiate a date and time for the service. The Vicar will then send you a letter confirming the arrangements.
· Once a date and time have been agreed, one of our Baptism Visitors will contact you. They will visit you in your home to talk about Baptism and to watch a video with you about baptism. The visitor will also bring an application form that you need to complete as well as a helpful book entitled New Beginning that explains the baptism service and contains other important information such as requirements of God Parents, etc. This visit is an important requirement in terms of the lead up to the Baptism of your child.
·
Closer to the date of the service, it
will be necessary to meet the Vicar in church. This will enable us to go through
the Baptism service together and for you to ask any questions. The meeting will
only take about 30 minutes.
In Church:
Children and their families are precious to us and we hope that you and your family feel comfortable in our churches. There is a carpeted children’s play area in each of our churches suitable for parents with young children of all ages to use during the service.
Getting
to know us…
Many parents feel they enjoy the Baptism service more if they get to know the church before the “big day”. We hope that you feel welcome to attend our Sunday services at any time, and in fact it is helpful if you can attend at least once on a regular Sunday before the day of the baptism. Please see Service Times page. If your child is being baptised at a separate service (i.e., not at the main Sunday Service) you are expected to attend the main Sunday service at least once before the day of the Baptism.
Fees?
Finally, people often ask about fees. There is no fee for a Baptism service in the Church of England. However, we encourage you to make an offering in thanksgiving for Baptism. This can be done by placing your gift in an envelope marked Baptism Offering and placing it in the offering bowl at the time of the service.
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