Baptism
So you would like your child
Christened / Baptized?
Let's deal with first things first — what's
the difference between Christening and Baptism?
…Nothing
really.
They both mean essentially the same thing — the word Christening comes from being 'Christ-ed,' being made one of Christ's. Baptism, or being baptized, is a term that is used in the Bible, so the Church tends to use this rather than the other.
Now, down to the real issues — What
does being baptized (or christened) really
mean?
Well, in the service of Baptism, the person to
be baptized, usually a child but not necessarily
so, is given three gifts — three symbols — Oil, Water and Light.
First the child is prepared to become a member
of God's Church through the receiving of the sign
of Christ's Cross — it is traced
on his/her forehead using Oil specially blessed
by a Bishop. Oil is also used as a symbol of
preparation.
Secondly he/she is symbolically washed clean in the waters of baptism — and it was in the water of the river Jordan that John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ himself. During this action the person being baptized receives the gift of God's Holy Spirit and is made one with the Body of Christ — in this case the St Mary’s church family.
Finally, the baptized person receives a lighted candle to take home with them, symbolizing the taking out of the Light of Christ into the world.
This is only just the beginning as, in the case of a child, the Godparents (together with the parents) now take over the role of ensuring he/she receives a Christian upbringing. Eventually the baptized person will come to confirm the decision taken for them by their Godparents and receive the gift of Christ himself in the form of the Bread and Wine of the EuchariSt.
If you would like to take this further for your child, or for yourself, please contact the Parish Office for more details, you can do this by using the e-mail links below, or you can telephone the Parish Office at (856) 547-3240.
Click here to email us for more information about Infant and Adult Baptism. Make sure that you give full details of your name and address together with daytime and evening telephone numbers in your e-mail:
The church makes no charge for the service of Baptism.