Thanksgiving for a Child, Baptism and Confirmation

Children are always welcome in our churches and we are delighted when families ask us to celebrate their children’s births. The church offers a thanksgiving service and baptism. In baptism, parents thank God for his gift of life, make a decision to start the child on the journey of faith and ask the Church’s support. This is sometimes known as christening. In the baptism service the parents and godparents declare their faith in Jesus and that they will bring up the child to know Christ.

Adult baptisms take place when someone has come to faith and would like to publicly declare it and be welcomed into the church. In this service we celebrate the new spiritual life that we receive when we invite God to come into our lives. This service is similar to the baptism of a child with the adult being sponsored and supported by a member of the church.

A confirmation service is for those who wish to publicly restate the promises that were made at baptism. They declare their desire to receive the Holy Spirit and this power is confirmed through the prayers of the Bishop and the Church. Confirmation marks a significant point in the Christian journey by publicly committing to follow Jesus as a disciple and seek maturity in the Christian faith.

Marriage

A wedding is always a wonderful occasion. It is a day of joy, commitment, good wishes and happiness. God’s intention for marriage is that it should be a relationship that provides love and support through good times and bad. We are delighted to support couples who wish to make this commitment before God and members of the clergy will help you prepare for the big day and your married lives together.

Funerals and bereavement

A funeral marks the close of a human life on earth. Every life is precious to God and he understands our grief. A funeral service allows family and friends to express their sense of loss, to give thanks for the life of the person they have known and to commend them into God’s keeping. Please contact the church for support through bereavement and to make arrangements for the funeral service. A funeral is not the end of the support we will offer.

If you would like to discuss any of these important life events, please email us at the Benefice office.