Baptisms (christenings) at St Lawrence's

This web-page is designed to try to help answer some of the bigger questions surrounding a Baptism
(sometimes called a christening) at St Lawrence's.
But the most important thing we can encourage you to do is to contact us at the earliest opportunity.

What is a Baptism?

Amongst other things, Baptism (sometimes called a christening, because that's when a person gets their Christian name) is a service of joining into the life of Jesus Christ and his family, and we count it one of the great joys of life to be able to offer such a service.
Select here for more of the background.

Who can be Baptised at St Lawrence's?

If you live within St Lawrence's parish boundaries, or worship here - no problem! But if that isn't the case, but you (or your family) still have strong links with St Lawrence's, then please let's discuss. (The usual practice is that a person is baptised in the parish in which they live - this is for the ongoing involvement which a baptism implies; but sometimes there are other issues. If the baptism isn't at your own church, then we do need to obtain the permission of that church's priest or minister.)

When do Baptisms/Christenings take place?

Nearly always at one of our main services - that's usually at 9:45 am on Sunday, but see our services plan. The reason for this is that part of Baptism involves being welcomed into the wider church family. But if there are special reasons why a Baptism needs to take place at another time, do let's discuss.

What about preparation?

It is important that those being baptised (or for a child, their parents) understand what something of what Baptism is - did you know, for example, that part of baptism is to "die" to some things so that the person can live more fully? Therefore we expect at least one session together to talk through some of these issues - but also to discuss some of the practical things which will happen on the day. You might, for example, want to suggest one or more of the hymns to be sung at the service.

If you or your family are not already church-goers, we strongly request that you join us for worship on two or three Sundays beforehand so you get a sense of what worship at St Lawrence's is like. Most people who do this end up staying with us - it seems something "clicks" either in worship of in friendship, or both! Which is how it should be.

Child or Adult?

Either or both can be baptised. Jesus welcomed children - indeed he said that unless one receives the kingdom of heaven like a little child, one will not enter it (Mark 10:14-15 ). You might want to explore with us what that might mean. One thing we firmly believe: we ought to, and certainly wholeheartedly do, welcome children at all services. (Toys and books and space are available for those who get a little more restless.)

Godparents (sometimes called Sponsors)

The traditional pattern has been to have three Godparents - but that number probably dates from when mortality was higher. The minimum is one Godparent, and each Godparent must be baptised and should also have made their own profession of faith (sometimes called Confirmation.) The Godparents don't all have to be present on the day - we can discuss what should be done if a Godparent is unavoidably absent.

Lone parents and unmarried couples

Baptism expresses God's love for a person and his unconditional welcome for him or her. We welcome you in the same spirit – whatever form your family takes. If you are separated from your child’s other parent, however, you should think about discussing the baptism with him or her to make sure he or she is happy for it to take place.

Cost

Baptism is about a gift from God - so (unlike a wedding or a funeral) there is of course no monetary charge! There is usually, however, the "normal" collection during the service, if you and your guests would like to contribute to the running costs of the church, but there is no obligation to contribute.

A little more about what Baptism is

What follows can only cover some of the good news - but we hope it helps whet the appetite to know more!

Baptism is a very ancient service, and it is one of the things that Jesus explicitly told his disciples to do (Matthew 28:19). It is a God-given means by which he affects a person. We do something ("baptise" is an old word which means "wash" - which is why we always use water either to sprinkle, or to pour on someone. In some churches, not ours, the person being baptised is immersed in water!) And we believe that that through this symbolic action God effects infinitely more!

Baptism is also the way in which people join God's family, the church; and it means making promises, setting priorities, and being prepared to start a new journey with God. At its heart, we might say that Baptism involves three things - Being, Belonging and Believing.

(1) Being

There is a passage in the Bible in which God speaks to his people, who are going through difficult times. "Do not be afraid. I have called you by name. You are mine." (Isaiah 43: 1) Although the words are 2,500 years old, Christians believe that they still have something to say to us. They tell us that every person is unique and special, known and loved by God. Think about yourself or your child.

* What do you already know about yourself or him/her?
* What kind of person are you? What kind of person is he/she?
* What are your hopes and fears for yourself, or for him/her?

(2) Belonging to God and his Church

Being a Christian means belonging to God, in a relationship with him. Isn't that the most wonderful thing that could happen to anyone - your child or yourself included!

Baptism also means belonging to God's family, the church. Think about the groups you belong to - your family, your workplace, and your community.

* Do you like to be in the middle of all that is happening, or do you tend to hover at the edge?
* How do you feel about being part of the church? How will you help your child feel that he/she belongs to the Christian family?

(3) Believing

During the service, you will be making promises both for yourself and for your child. How much do you know about the beliefs that are important for Christians? (This isn't a test - just some questions to help you know what you think and feel about Christian faith.)

Christians don't just believe some facts about God. They do that, but they also believe in - put their trust in - God and (perhaps with more difficulty!) his church, what at its best is his "body" here on earth. What do you think and feel about...?

God the Father
Christians believe that God made the whole cosmos, and us in it - yes, he works through and in nature and in ways that physics, chemistry, biology and all the other sciences increasingly clearly tell us. (Your priest is a scientist - don't let anyone tell you that science is opposed to God!) But in addition, and perhaps most importantly he loves us, and cares about us just as a loving parent would.
* How do you feel about your children? That's how God feels about you.

God the Son
Christians believe that Jesus is God, revealing himself in flesh and blood, like us, so that we can know and experience how much God loves us. If you want to know more about Jesus' life, try reading the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Bible. It's not very long, and it gives a vivid picture of Jesus.

God the Holy Spirit
Christians believe that God is with us here and now, involved in our lives every day. And we believe that it's God as Holy Spirit who makes Jesus known to us; it's the Holy Spirit who gives us special skills and ways of coping with life in the way God wants us to live. Have you ever felt that God was especially close to you? Where and how did this happen? What effect did it have on you?

The Church
What do you think of the church - are there issues you have with the church? If so, let's discuss!

We will talk more about Christian belief when we meet before the Baptism, but please feel free to email or phone us at any time with any questions you may have. As we say, it's part of what we are here for.

St Lawrence Church, Seal Chart Church Road, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0LN, UK (Select here for a map) Our facilities include a loop system , a disabled toilet and large-print service orders