Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …
Congratulations!
The birth of a baby is the happiest of events in any family. The Baptism (or Christening) is a happy event too, shared by all of us in the wider family of the Church.
At Canongate Kirk, baptisms take place during the 10.30am Sunday service. After some words of introduction, the parents are asked to stand and acknowledge “the duty of those who present their children for baptism to confess the faith wherein they are to be baptised and to promise to bring them up in that faith and in the way of Christ and his Church”.
This is done by saying “I do” to these three questions:
· Do you present your child for baptism, desiring that s/he may be grafted into Christ as a member of his body and family, the Church?
· Do you believe in God, – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and do you confess Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord?
· Do you promise, depending on the grace of God, to teach your child the truths and duties of the Christian faith; and by prayer and example to bring him/her up in the life and worship of the Church?
Any godparents then stand alongside the parents and answer “I do” to the following question:
· Acknowledging your responsibility as a godparent, do you promise to love, pray for, help and encourage (this child)?
The whole congregation is then invited to stand and, after a short prayer by the font, the Minister will take the baby into his arms. After the baptism, the blessing is sung by the congregation and the baby returned to his/her mother. Everybody sits and a further prayer is offered for the baby and the family.
Our Harry Younger Hall is available to hire for a modest fee for receptions after the service.
If you would like to discuss baptism with us, get in touch with:
The Reverend Neil Gardner
The Manse of Canongate,
Edinburgh
EH8 8BR
We will also need you to send us a Baptism Information form which you can download here.
Tel: (0131) 556 3515; Mobile 07753 801755 e-mail: [email protected]
