Baptisms (sometimes called ‘Christenings’) and Thanksgivings are a chance to celebrate the joy of a new child and to commit them to God. For more information you can download our Thanksgiving and Baptism pack..

 

Everyone is different, and there are many situations where parents want to celebrate the beginning of their child’s life. You may want to give thanks for a safe delivery and for the precious early months. You may have had complications, or you may have adopted a child, in which case you may wish to recognize the point you have now reached. People come to parenthood with different backgrounds of faith, and the desire to hold a service for your child can come from Christian conviction, from a sense of wonder that is difficult to place, or simply from tradition. There are different services for these different circumstances, and we invite you to consider which
will be best for you.

 

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child can take the form of a public celebration during Sunday morning worship, or a private celebration of a birth or adoption at home with only close family present. Parents sometimes choose this form of service as a step on the way to baptism. Others feel that they are not ready for the vows that accompany baptism but simply want to thank God for their child. In these cases, the Service of Thanksgiving (a relatively new service in the Church of England) is an excellent option.

 

Baptism (sometimes called christening) is a service that welcomes both adults and children to be fully part of the Christian church. When the person being baptized is very young, parents and godparents make promises on their behalf, trusting that as the child grows they will choose to continue in the Christian tradition they have begun their lives in. The vows that parents and godparents make are whole-heartedly Christian. An order of service for baptism is included in this pack – you might like to look at the sections called ‘The Decision’ and the ‘Profession of Faith’ and see if you feel able to make these vows. If this strikes a chord with your faith, then the service of
baptism will suit your family.

 

There may be exceptional circumstances where other arrangements can be made. For instance where children are suffering serious illness or disability, baptism can take place at home. If your child is in hospital you can still make arrangements with St John’s although often parents contact the hospital chaplain.

Whatever your circumstances, it can be very fulfilling to mark the beginning of your child’s life with a special service. It is worth taking some time to think and pray this through. The vicar and other members of the church will be glad to help you with this. We hope that you will find a warm welcome at St John’s.