Home > Baptisms
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God Offers Us a
Gift
Christians believe that Baptism is
something God offers us.
At our Baptism We are welcomed into membership of the Christian Church and affirmed as members of God's family.
Baptism
is a sacrament, which we define as an outward
and visible sign of something which is inward, spiritual and a gift of
pure grace, given because of God's love for us.
Baptism is a sign of God’s promise to give us new life
and is God’s seal on that promise.
Because Baptism is God’s action the ceremony can be
performed and the gift received at any age from birth onwards.
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How to Receive God’s
Gift
Like all gifts, Baptism must be received - with faith and
thanksgiving.
In the case of infants and very young children, their
parents and godparents make the response of faith on behalf of the child.
They promise to help the child, by teaching and
example, to grow into a loving relationship with God, and in due time make
their own personal statement of faith at Confirmation.
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The Baptism Ceremony
The Baptism Ceremony involves
Washing
with water, warmed and poured over the head. If desired,
immersion can be performed in the sea. This is best done at our Easter
beach service.
Signing on the forehead with the sign of the cross
Anointing with oil
Giving of a lighted
candle as a sign that the new child of God is to shine as a light in the world.
All are signs to us of what God is promising to do for this new child
of God.
Parents and Godparents, or sponsors, respond with commitments
of faith and make promises to teach and encourage this new child of God to growth
in faith.
Young brothers and sisters are given opportunity to be involved in the ceremony, perhaps by lighting candles for the child.
Because at our Baptism we are welcomed into God’s
family, Baptism therefore is a celebration for the whole church congregation,
who also undertake to help the new child of God grow in faith. After the
Baptism the new child of God is received by the congregation with wholehearted
applause.
For this reason we prefer that Baptisms are celebrated
as part of a normal Sunday service. At St John’s Sorrento the 8.30am service is
often too early for family coming from Melbourne, so on the third Sunday of the month we have a 10.30 am
service for Baptisms.
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To Discuss
Baptism
If you are considering Baptism for yourself or your
child, please contact the Baptism Secretary , Phone 5985 1399, for
more details and to make an appointment with one of our clergy to discuss all
that is involved in making this decision.
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Please complete the form below to submit an inquiry regarding Baptisms.
