Thank you for your interest in a service for your child. We want to welcome children at St Helen’s Parish Church. People have different reasons for wanting a service for their child, whether it is to celebrate the birth, to publicly give thanks to God, or introduce the child to the life and worship of the Christian church. There are two types of service and either might be appropriate. It all depends on what you want to express and to commit yourselves to.
Thanksgiving Service
This is a special service that gives you an opportunity to express thanks to God for the gift of your child, to ask for his blessing and to pray for his help as parents. You will be presented with a book of Bible stories and a certificate to mark the occasion. You can ask people to act as sponsors. This is a similar role to that of godparent.
Thanksgiving is different from a baptism in that no water is used, and the parents and godparents do not have to commit themselves explicitly to Jesus Christ and to participating in the life and worship of the church.
Thanksgiving can be a good option if you’re at all uncertain about making the baptism promises. It can always be followed by baptism at a later date when you have seen more of the church’s life and been able to give the baptism promises more thought.
Baptism Service
The baptism service is for those who want to make a more specific Christian commitment in the upbringing of their children. Parents and godparents make a public declaration of their Christian faith. They also promise, among other things, to help their child ‘to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s church’. In other words, parents promise to do all they can to involve their child within the life of the church. Baptism symbolises the new start that God gives to those who join the community of Christ’s followers, his church.
We would be delighted to talk to you to discuss the options available, at this special time for your family.
How can I find out more?
Contact the Church Office on 01744 22909 or info@sthelensparishchurch.org
