Infant baptism & Thanksgiving services at St Marks -
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 to raise their children to know and love God. We recognise that parents, and indeed every individual, are at different stages on what we might call a journey of faith. Some parents are committed and active followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and want nothing more than for their children to follow Christ as well. Still 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 him and allowing him to rule their lives. It's for this reason that we offer three different services, each reflecting where along this journey of faith parents find themselves. Each service has its own particular emphasis.
(1) 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 statments before God and the congregation about their own faith and promise to raise their child to know and love God. Because of the parents' own Christian commitment, this service includes the symbolic act of sprinkling 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 and 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 information on Christian 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 which do not make the same demands on parents.
(2) Thanksgiving and Dedication
The second service we offer is a Thanksgiving and Dedication. In this service the parents give thanks to God for their child, and make promises before Him to raise their child to know and follow Jesus Christ. In this service we pray pray for God's blessing on the parents as they seek to do this. No explicit statements about the faith of the parents is made, simply a declaration that they understand the significance of Christ's death on the cross.
(3) Thanksgiving
Finally, we also offer a Thanksgiving service. This service enables the parents and the congregation to thank God for the birth of a child and, through prayer, seek his blessing as the parents seek to raise their child in God's world.
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 and Thanksgiving and Dedication God-parents ought to be able to make the same statments and promises which the parents make.
When & where are Infant Baptism or Thanksgiving services held?
All three services take place during our regular Sunday church gathering at 10am at St Mark's Avalon. This means that the whole congregation can welcome the child and pray for him or her. However, if necessary, it may take place at other times. This should be discussed with the minister of the parish church where the parents live, or where they regularly attend church. It is most important that a firm link be formed with the church in which the child is likely to be brought up.
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?
We hold an Information Evening on the last Monday evening of each month. 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.
If, after the information evening, you decide you would like to have a service of Thanksgiving or infant Baptism, we would invite you to contact one of our ministers to discuss the way forward. Normally these services are conducted during our regular 10am church meeting on a Sunday at St Marks Avalon. You are, of course, welcome to invite family and friends.Normally we do not conduct these services for families who live outside our parish unless there are special circumstances.
For more information please contact our office administrator, Jo Leigh, on 9918 2829.