Infant baptisms and dedications

Freedom of choice

In the society that we live in today, more and more people are demanding their rights and freedom of choice, and rightly so. With that in mind, we feel that a baby has rights too, although such an infant can’t speak for itself. To protect that child’s rights, we offer infant dedication which leaves the door open for when that child becomes of age to make up his/her own mind as to whether he or she would like to be baptised. As the church believes in only baptism, an infant baptism therefore means that when that child grows up to be able to make up their own mind, that freedom of choice regarding baptism has been taken away from them in the sacrament of infant baptism, unlike dedication which leaves the way open. It’s a question of allowing their children to maintain their own integrity but at the end of the day the choice belongs to the parents or guardians of the child.

How do you go about getting your baby baptised or dedicated?

The point of call is to contact the minister to make an appointment for him to meet up with you and to discuss what the ceremony is all about and what is required on your part. As parents/guardians you are expected to make promises in the presence of God and the minister will explain all this to you when you meet up. You may well want to have Godparents which is fine but not essential. We usually try to limit this to three Godparents only. A date is worked out to fit in with your plans as near as possible, which is usually on a Sunday at the morning service. The service starts at 10.45 a.m. and so we ask to arrive for about 10.30 .a.m. so that we can settle you in before the service starts.

What format does the sevice take and what happens?

The first part of the service starts with the welcome and a time of praise and worship followed by prayers and the Lord’s prayer. This is followed by a hymn which is relevant to the baptism/dedication of your child, a celebration of new life. It is time for your saying thank you to God for the blessing of your child, for making promises and bringing the child into the Grace of God. You are then invited up to the front of the church with your baby and the Godparents and then the minister leads you through the baptismal service.

The baptismal/dedication service

A bible reading: Jesus said: Full authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore to all nations and make them my disciples; baptise them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. I will be with you always, to the end of time. Matthew 28:18-20. Introduction: Christ is present with us in the sacrament; it is himself who baptises/dedicates us and by the Holy Spirit of Pentecost he brings us into his church. Baptism is the sign of dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. By water and the Holy Spirit God claims us as His own, washes us from sin and sets us free from the power of death. Here we know that we are made one with Christ crucified and risen, members of his body called to share his ministry in the world. In this sacrament, the love of God is offered to each one of us. Though we cannot understand or explain it, we are called to accept that love with the openness and trust of a child. In baptism (child’s name) is assured of the love that God in Christ has for her/him, and the sign and seal of the Holy Spirit is placed upon her/him. Thanksgiving and Promise: To the parents: (Names) you have brought your child (name) for baptism in the desire the he/she may be grateful into the love of Christ Jesus; do you acknowledge your responsibilities as parents to love and care for (name)and do you promise by example to teach (name) the truths and duties of the Christian faith; and by prayer and example to bring him/her (name) up in the life and worship of the church? We do. To the Godparents: Do you promise to support in love (name of parents and child) and to support them as you are able in the name of Jesus? We do. LET US PRAY: Dear Lord heavenly Father we thank you for the gift of water and the Holy Spirit. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and (parent’s name), (Godparent’s name) and upon this water so that (name of child) being born anew of water and of your Spirit; may remain forever in your wonderful Grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen. BLESSING: The minister takes the child, and anoints him/her, and says: (name) the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift his countenance upon you, and give you give. Declaration: The minister says; For you (name of child) Jesus Christ came into the world: for you He lived and showed God’s love; for you he suffered the darkness of Calvary and cried the last, ’It is accomplished’; for you he triumphed over deathand rose in newness of life; for you he ascended to reign at God’s right hand. All this he did for you, (name of child). To the parents: The minister says; Your child belongs to God in Christ. From this day he/she will be at home in the Christian community, and there will always be a place for her/him in this church. Tell her/him of her/his baptism/dedication and unfold her/him the treasure the he/she has been given today, so that he/she may know that they have been baptised/dedicated, and as he/she grows may make their own response in faith and in love. Final prayers are said at this point when all those have been baptised or dedicated over the last twelve months will be prayed for as well. Baptismal secretary will now offer you a certificate of your child’s baptism/dedication, a lighted candle to represent a new life in Christ, and a bible, and each Godparent will be offered a card of thanks given for promises made. The rest of the service continues as normal.