Holy Trinity Redditch
St Leonard’s Beoley • St Stephen’s Redditch • St Philip’s Webheath • St Bartholomew’s Tardebigge
What is Baptism?
What does Baptism mean for you and your child?
The Baptism of Young Children
We're delighted you're thinking of baptism for your child. Your child is precious to you and precious to God. At baptism you promise to raise your child to know God loves them, and to help them to follow Jesus as a member of the Church.
But there’s a bit more to Baptism than that.
Baptism is one of the special ceremonies, or sacraments, that Jesus Christ gave to his followers as a sign of belonging to him (the other is Holy Communion). It’s a visible sign of God’s love for your child. Also, in the Bible, those who want to follow Jesus are instructed to repent and be baptised.
Baptism therefore is about thanking God for his gift of life, but also about marking the beginning of a journey of faith: making a new start with God and becoming a member of the local church and the worldwide Christian family.
What promises do we make?
Baptism involves parents and godparents making promises. You will be asked to declare publicly on behalf of your child that you believe in God and that you will bring your child up to follow Jesus. Our expectation is that you will take these promises seriously and seek ways of living this out. During the service parents and godparents will be asked:
Will you pray for your child or children,
draw them by your example into the community of faith
and walk with them in the way of Christ?
and
Will you care for them, and help them to take their place
within the life and worship of Christ's Church?
You are asked to say, “with the help of God I will”. How will you do this? Will it involve visiting church, coming to Messy Church or a Christian Toddler group?
Baptism is about being a follower of Jesus so the Priest says:
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
Parents & Godparents: I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
Parents & Godparents: I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
Parents & Godparents: I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
Parents & Godparents: I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
Parents & Godparents: I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
Parents & Godparents: I come to Christ.
Your choices
You can see that you are making promises. If you feel that you are unable to make these promises there is an alternative service called a service of Thanksgiving for the gift of a child. In this service we give thanks to God and the child is blessed however you do not make the same promises that are made in Baptism. Thanksgivings do not involve the symbolism of water, signing with the cross or the giving of a candle. If you choose to have a Thanksgiving, you can still have a Baptism service for your child at a later date.
Service of Thanksgiving
It may be that, having considered all the commitments and promises involved in baptism, you do not feel that this is the right way forward for you and your child. If so, you might like to consider having a Service of Thanksgiving instead. This is a service in church where we celebrate the life of your child, give thanks to God for them and ask for God’s blessing upon you all. It’s not the same as a baptism, but can be a suitable alternative if you do not feel able to commit to baptism for your child.
What next?
We hope that you received all the information you needed at Baptism
Preparation. Once you have attended this, you can contact the clergy to arrange a service. Please telephone or email the Vicar at the particular church where you would like to hold the service, using the contact information below. Please note that baptisms are held on the following days in the month:
St Leonard’s, Beoley 2nd and 4th Sundays at 3.00pm.
St Stephen’s, Redditch 1st and 3rd Sundays at 12.30pm.
St Philip’s, Webheath 12.30pm at a date agreed with the Vicar.
St Bartholomew’s, Tardebigge 12.30pm at a date agreed with the Vicar.