We are persuaded that infant baptism is both a Biblical sacrament and a sign of the kingdom. However, we understand that not all members of the congregation share our view.
Some of our parents have elected to have their children dedicated in a service of Thanksgiving rather than have them baptised or “christened” as babies. There is one thing we all agree on. When those children have entered into their own faith and wish to express an allegiance to Christ for themselves, that child should be baptised.
We could do that by sprinkling with water. We have had adults kneeling beside the font in the past. However, we prefer the symbol of full immersion baptism. In our view, both infant baptism and full immersion were part of the church’s sacramental life from the very beginning. So there is nothing new here.
Today, Isaac has reached an age where he understands the faith of Christ and wishes to be baptised into it. The promises he makes will be the same as those made last week when Tim and Carly Mortimer’s daughter was baptised.
This too is a family event and Isaac’s grandfather, who is also ordained will be helping Raymond with the baptism. There will be cakes after the service to celebrate!
Tell me more about the baptistery
We have this baptistery “on approval”, so we may hire it or keep it.
If we decide to keep it where can we possibly store it?
There is no room in the church.
Here is the clever part. This same baptistery will reappear next week in an entirely new guise. It will become a communion table. We feel it fits in well with the rest of the church furnishings but you can decide for yourself whether you think that is true. Our expectation is that it will give us more space to move around on the dias. Our aim is to hold two communion services next Sunday in order to allow both our congregations to experience it in use.
Our apologies to the 9am congregation this morning for the disruption to your normal service of communion. We will make next month’s Morning Prayer service a service of Holy Communion to restore the balance.