Christenings A Baptism, or Christening, is the unique moment where a human being becomes part of the Christian faith. Baptism is the central act of a Christening service, and anyone can get baptized, at any time of their life. In Baptism, we have water poured over us as we are washed clean of the things we all (sadly) do in life which go against God’s loving desires for the world, and are ‘born again’ by God’s Holy Spirit. Where do people get baptized? People tend to get baptized in the church where they regularly worship, or in the church of the parish in which they live (a parish is a geographical area around a church). If you’re not sure which parish you live in, you can find out at https://www.achurchnearyou.com/ . How do I arrange a Baptism? If you are interested in being baptised or having your child baptised, then the best way to start is by coming along to a Parish Eucharist at either church on a Sunday. This will give you a chance to experience our worship, and to meet the people who form our community of faith. After the service you can speak to the priest or church warden, who will be able to take you through some preliminary details. How do we prepare for a Baptism? Baptism is a wonderful moment in someone’s life, as it is the moment when someone is officially welcomed into the Christian faith. This is also a very important step, both for the person getting baptised, and their family. To help prepare for this, we encourage you to come to the weekly Parish Eucharist. In the lead-up up to the Baptism, you will meet with the vicar to do some particular preparation for the service, where you can also ask any questions you might have and explore more about what Baptism will mean for you or your child. How do I choose godparents? Godparents make promises on behalf of themselves and their godchild, to pray for them and encourage them to flourish in the Christian faith. Because of these promises and responsibilities, a godparent should be a practising Christian and must have been Baptized. Children usually have three godparents (sometimes four); two of the same sex as the child and at least one of the opposite. How can I find out more? The Church of England’s website https://churchofenglandchristenings.org is dedicated to all things baptism-related, which should include plenty of information that you may find useful. If you are interested in knowing more, contact our vicar email mthr.mitzi@clayhillparish.org.uk.