Baptisms
Baptism and Confirmation
Congratulations!
Becoming a parent is one of the most extraordinary and exciting things that can happen to us.
Many people want to mark it by saying ‘thank you’ in church, even if they don’t think of themselves as religious.
If you are thinking about a Christening (Baptism) for your child in one of the churches in the Solway Plain team, then please get in touch with us.
We can arrange an appropriate date and time for the service. One of the clergy will meet with you before the Baptism to talk about Godparents, the Service and about the importance and significance of Baptism.
Your own Baptism
It may be that you have not been baptised, and would like to consider it for yourself, please contact us and we can talk through the possibility with you.
Godparents
Choosing someone to be a Godparent is an important decision, one that should be taken carefully and prayerfully.
In the Baptism Service, parents and Godparents are aked if they are ready and willing to take on the responsibilities of spritual care for the child:
Faith is the gift of God to his people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling. People of God, will you welcome these children and uphold them in their new life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
Parents and godparents, the Church receives these children with joy. Today we are trusting God for their growth in faith. Will you pray for them, draw them by your example into the community of faith and walk with them in the way of Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism these children begin their journey in faith. You speak for them today. Will you care for them, and help them to take their place within the life and worship of Christ’s Church?
With the help of God, we will.
- As a parent or godparent you should ask yourself:
Are you prepared to the best of your ability to give the child a Christian upbringing within the family of the Church?
Will you help the child to be regular in public worship and prayer, not only by your teaching but also by your example and your prayers?
Will you encourage the child in due time to come to Confirmation and Communion?
- It is usual to have three godparents, two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex, but to have one godfather and one godmother is sufficient.
Parents may be godparents to their own children provided that the child has at least one other godparent.
Godparents must be baptised and confirmed, though the requirement of confirmation may be relaxed in certain cases.
Confirmation
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith into which you have been baptized and your intention to live a life of committed discipleship.
This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life of following Jesus.
Those who wish to be Confirmed will be asked to join a Confirmation Course to think about faith and what Christians believe; living the Christian life; and being a member of the Church.
We usually hold a Confirmation Service in one of the churches of the Team each year, details of when the service will take place and when the Confirmation preparation begins is notified through the churches and our monthly magazine.
In the Solway Plain Team we offer Confirmation preparation from the age of 11 upwards, there is no upper age limit.