A service of Infant Baptism
Infant Baptism and Thanksgiving services enable parents, along with our church community, to express their thanks to God for the birth of children, and to make promises about raising their children in God’s world. We recognise that parents, and indeed every individual, are at different stages on what we might call a ‘spectrum of faith’. Some parents, for instance, are committed and active followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and want nothing more than for their children to follow him as well. Others have a sense of God's goodness and presence in the world but have not yet come to a point of putting their trust in Christ and allowing him to rule their lives. It's for this reason that we offer three different services, each reflecting where along this spectrum of faith parents find themselves. Each service has its own particular emphasis.
Infant baptism
Ordinarily, parents who seek infant baptism for their child are committed followers of Jesus Christ and active members of one of our congregations. As with the Thanksgiving services, parents give thanks to God for their child. However, one distinctive of the Infant Baptism service is that parents make statements before God and the congregation about their own faith, and promise to raise their child to know and love Christ. Because of the parents’ own Christian commitment this service includes the symbolic act of ‘splashing’ the child's head with water, symbolising spiritual new birth (Jn 3:5-8), cleansing from sin (Acts 2:38-39), union with Christ (Rom 6:3-5), and beginning a life of active discipleship (Mat 28:19).
As we demonstrate the truth of Christian faith in this way the parents, along with the whole church congregation, also pray that the child will continue on to a mature and personal trust in God's promise of salvation when he or she is able. Infant baptism looks forward to that time when the child takes upon themselves the promises made on their behalf by their parents and godparents. For more deatiled information on Infant baptism click here.
The Infant Baptism service requires parents to make big statements and big promises which ought not to be done lightly or for the wrong reasons. Recognising that not every parent can make these statements and promises in good conscience, we offer two other services. For more information on these click here.
God-parents
Godparents may be either the parents themselves, or others close to the family who are interested in the child's spiritual nurture. In the case of Infant Baptism, God-parents ought to be able to make the same statments and promises which the parents make.
When & where are Infant Baptism services held?
All three services take place during our regular Sunday church gathering at 10am at St Mark's Avalon. This enables the whole congregation to welcome your child and pray for him or her.
Is there a fee for these services?
No. Parents should feel no obligation in this respect. If they wish to make a thank offering, either through the normal offertory or in some other way, they may do so.
Where to from here?
As a first step we would like to invite you to church one Sunday morning. That way we’ll be able to meet, and you’ll be able to experience the style of our church meetings as well as get a feel for our church community. We meet each Sunday at 10am at St Mark’s Avalon.
If, after visiting us, you think St Mark’s is the right kind of church for your child’s service, you would then need to attend a formal Information Evening which we hold on the fourth Monday of each month. Both you and your spouse would need to attend that evening together. The purpose of this evening is to outline the format of the Thanksgiving and Infant Baptism services, and to explain their significance. Furthermore, so that you can decide which is the most appropriate service for your child, we will be encouraging you to think carefully about your own beliefs and convictions regarding the Christian faith. There will also be ample opportunity for you to ask questions. The evening will run for approximately 1 hour.
Normally we do not conduct these services for families who live outside our parish unless there are special circumstances.