BAPTISMS
It is a great joy to celebrate Baptism with those who, through the Holy Spirit, respond to the life and love of God in Jesus Christ. Baptism is the sacrament of Christian initiation. In our tradition infants, children and adults may be baptised. From the Church’s earliest centuries, those wishing to be baptised and their sponsors have been required to undertake a process of preparation (catechumenate).
Baptism is a wonderful opportunity for the community Singleton to welcome new members of God’s family.
They can also be part of the regular worship service.
Other times may be negotiated with the clergy.
If you would like to have your child baptised at our beautiful church, or you would like to be baptised yourself, please make an appointment or contact us via the Contact Us page. Our clergy will guide you in exploring the meaning of Baptism and the commitment which it involves. If you then wish to proceed with Baptism, a date will be decided upon and preparations made.
Baptism is about belonging, and growing in the community of faith.
Important Symbols
A number of symbols will be used during the service itself:
The Sign of the Cross
The priest will make the sign of the cross on your child’s forehead. This is like an invisible badge to show that Christians are united with Christ and must not be ashamed to stand up for their faith in him.
The priests says: ‘Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of the cross. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.’
Water
The priest will pour water on your child’s head. Water is a sign of washing and cleansing. In baptism it is a sign of being washed free from sin and beginning a new life with God.
Water is a sign of life, but also a symbol of death. When we are baptised our old life is buried in the waters (like drowning) and we are raised to new life with Christ.
Oil
After Baptism, holy oil is placed on the forehead. This is a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and becoming part of the royal family of God, as this is the same oil used to crown Kings and Queens.The priest says: ‘May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of his grace, that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory’
A Shell
The priest uses a shell to pour the water on the child’s head. This is an old symbol of a special journey called a pilgrimage. People who went on these journeys were called pilgrims. They wore shells to show that they were pilgrims.
The child being baptised is on a sort of journey through their lives. They are pilgrims too.
Candles
Jesus is called the light of the world. A large candle will be lit In the church and you will be given a lighted candle at the end of the service as a reminder of the light which has come into your child’s life. It is up to you, the child’s godparents and the church community to help your child reject the world of darkness and follow a way of life that reflects goodness and light, and shares this light with others.
Who can be Baptised?
Baptism is open to anyone who seeks to belong to the Anglican Church of Australia.
Historically baptism has taken place when children are very young and not able to answer for themselves. When this happens, parents and Godparents or sponsors make promises on the child’s behalf. Up until the last few decades, this would have been the norm.
There are now many people who have not been baptised as a child. We now see many more people asking for baptism as adults.
You are very welcome to be Baptised as an adult in the Anglican Parish of Singleton, we also encourage adults to be confirmed (Confirmation) if you wish.
Baptism is a wonderful opportunity for the community Singleton to welcome new members of God’s family.
They can also be part of the regular worship service.
Other times may be negotiated with the clergy.
If you would like to have your child baptised at our beautiful church, or you would like to be baptised yourself, please make an appointment or contact us via the Contact Us page. Our clergy will guide you in exploring the meaning of Baptism and the commitment which it involves. If you then wish to proceed with Baptism, a date will be decided upon and preparations made.
Baptism is about belonging, and growing in the community of faith.
Important Symbols
A number of symbols will be used during the service itself:
The Sign of the Cross
The priest will make the sign of the cross on your child’s forehead. This is like an invisible badge to show that Christians are united with Christ and must not be ashamed to stand up for their faith in him.
The priests says: ‘Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of the cross. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.’
Water
The priest will pour water on your child’s head. Water is a sign of washing and cleansing. In baptism it is a sign of being washed free from sin and beginning a new life with God.
Water is a sign of life, but also a symbol of death. When we are baptised our old life is buried in the waters (like drowning) and we are raised to new life with Christ.
Oil
After Baptism, holy oil is placed on the forehead. This is a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and becoming part of the royal family of God, as this is the same oil used to crown Kings and Queens.The priest says: ‘May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of his grace, that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory’
A Shell
The priest uses a shell to pour the water on the child’s head. This is an old symbol of a special journey called a pilgrimage. People who went on these journeys were called pilgrims. They wore shells to show that they were pilgrims.
The child being baptised is on a sort of journey through their lives. They are pilgrims too.
Candles
Jesus is called the light of the world. A large candle will be lit In the church and you will be given a lighted candle at the end of the service as a reminder of the light which has come into your child’s life. It is up to you, the child’s godparents and the church community to help your child reject the world of darkness and follow a way of life that reflects goodness and light, and shares this light with others.
Who can be Baptised?
Baptism is open to anyone who seeks to belong to the Anglican Church of Australia.
Historically baptism has taken place when children are very young and not able to answer for themselves. When this happens, parents and Godparents or sponsors make promises on the child’s behalf. Up until the last few decades, this would have been the norm.
There are now many people who have not been baptised as a child. We now see many more people asking for baptism as adults.
You are very welcome to be Baptised as an adult in the Anglican Parish of Singleton, we also encourage adults to be confirmed (Confirmation) if you wish.