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Thank you ...
For making an enquiry about a service for your child in
Woughton Parish. These services are normally
available for families who live within
our Parish or who worship at one
of our churches.
This page will tell you
...
The choice
of services that we have on offer, to suit your family
About the procedure to book a service and who
to contact
Some other things you may be interested in
Baptism and other options
...
It may be that you are enquiring about a particular type of service
for your child. We have two main services that celebrate the start
of life, and there are some quite important differences in each
- both for you and for those you choose to stand alongside you on
the day as godparents or sponsors. We want to support you in the
right decision for your family.
Our most widely known service, called
Baptism or Christening, presupposes
that parents and godparents are committed Christians, as they make
specific promises for your child.
The other service we offer, Thanksgiving
Naming and Blessing, is especially for those who, for one
reason or another, find it harder in conscience to make promises
as a Christian.
The next two columns show the differences
between the services in a bit more detail:
| Baptism
or Christening: |
|
Thanksgiving Naming
& Blessing: |
| The Godparents
you choose must
be baptised and over 16 years old.
|
Godparents do
not have to be baptised, and can be any age. |
You
promise to bring your child up as a Christian, going to church
regularly, and to play a full part in the church when they
are older.
|
There is no
expectation for you to bring your child to church afterwards.
Although you would, of course, be welcome at our services
and Sunday School, the Thanksgiving service is a one-off,
with no further obligation. |
| You
will stand with your godparents and say these words:
‘I turn to Christ’,
‘I repent of my sins’,
‘I renounce evil.’
You will declare your faith
in ‘God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit’, and
promise to pass this faith on to your child. |
You do not
have to make specific promises as a Christian; it is rather
an opportunity to celebrate the life of your child, and to
ask God’s blessing on him/her, and on you as a family.
|
Water,
a candle and the sign of the cross are used in the service. |
There is no
water or candle used, but a children's Bible is presented
to you, as you begin to learn together with your child. |
A Baptism service
is held in the main Sunday morning service, usually on a particular
Sunday of every month, so that your child can be welcomed
as a member of the Church family. |
A Thanksgiving service can
be booked at any time, on any day to suit you and your family,
and will be personal to you. Afternoons are usually best.
|
This service lasts about an
hour, and there may be a waiting list for Baptisms. |
The service takes about 20 minutes,
and there is not usually a waiting list. |
| Have a look at the
Baptsim Service
sheet |
Have a look at the Thanksgiving, Naming
& Blessing service sheet |
Godparents and Sponsors
Traditionally in either a Baptism or a Thanksgiving Service there
are three supporting friends - two the same sex as the child. However,
please do invite anything between 2-5 people. Suitable presents
from them for the occasion could include a book of prayers, a Bible-video,
or a silver cross.
Cost
Both of the services we offer for children are free. However, heating
and lighting the churches costs about £20 for a service and
so collections will be made to cover this.
If an organist is requested, a fee of £20 will be required.
Children in Church
Our churches have much to offer families:
Baptism and you
It may be that thinking about your child’s service has raised
questions that we can talk about when we meet (for example, if you
have never been baptised and would like to know more about Believer’s
Baptism).
Please do reflect on what would be best for your
child, and we at Woughton will help to make the service a memorable
occasion.
For further
information
(tel: 01908-670332) who will be able
to tell you what the next step is.
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