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BAPTISM SERVICE
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We have a beautiful medieval font, which sadly is not used because of the difficulties of draining the water away and balancing on a small ledge with a very slippery baby!
For more information on the font please see the history page.
Instead we have a lovely portable font, that we use for Baptisms. This is good because we use it at the front of the church so that the congregation are able to witness the whole service very well.
In the past people have often gone back to their church they were married in to have their baby Baptised, or christened. Although this is good it does not encourage parents to find their local church and begin to worship God there.
In the Baptism service parents and Godparents make some very special promises, especially about bringing the child up in the Christian faith.
Therefore to encourage them to keep these promises we decided that we will only Baptise children who either live in this parish of Darenth, or worship here on a regular basis. |
The Thanksgiving service and the Baptism service take place within the 10 a.m. Family or Holy Communion Service.
We, as a congregation will promise to support you in the Baptism service. Therefore we believe that this support should start in the main Sunday service itself.
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What do I mean by 'Regular attendance'?
If you live elsewhere, that is out of the parish of Darenth we ask you to attend our Family Service, held on the 2nd Sunday of each month, for three to four months.
We believe, that if you are enjoying worshipping God with us, it will be right to go ahead with the Baptism. We will ask the minister of the parish where you live to give their permission, and we will begin the process.
You will be given a form when you attend the church next and will return it in the normal way the next month.
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We ask you to come to two services to see which one will suit you and your family.
On the first service you can collect a Baptism application form and on the second service you bring the completed form back.
Jan will then contact you and arrange to come and visit you in your home to watch a DVD on Baptism, to discuss the service and vows and if you are happy to book the date of the Baptism or Thanksgiving Service with her.
Jan will always be available to help you think through which service is the most fitting for you and your family.
We pray that as you bring your child to God you will discover all the more his love for you.
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