Infant baptism is the most common of the two. Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and United Reform Churches practise infant baptism, each performing a liturgical service. The ceremony takes place around the font. This is a large basin or structure that holds blessed water and it is usually placed either at the door or near the front of the church. Being near the door symbolises that through baptism the child enters the Christian family. If the font is at the front of the church, then simply it is so that the entire congregation can see and welcome the child into the church.
The priest or vicar, parents of the child and godparents witness the ceremony at the front. Godparents are chosen by the parents to help with the child’s upbringing. They support the parents and agree to share the duty of helping the child to sustain a Christian way of life. Both parents and godparents make promises to guide the baby and say the creed. The priest and sometimes parents and godparents then make the sign of the cross of the baby’s forehead as well. This is done to show that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will guide the child through their life and to show that Jesus died on the cross to save that child. The priest then sprinkles water three times over the baby’s head while saying, “(Name of child), I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Sometimes a shell is used to sprinkle the water to be a symbol of the disciples, as they were fisherman. In other churches, the baby is anointed with oil after they have been blessed, to show that they are dedicated to God.
After this has taken place, the parents are then given a lighted candle showing that Jesus the light of the world has entered their child. It may have been lit from the Paschal candle, which also is a sign of the resurrection of Christ and that the child shares Jesus’ risen life. If the congregation is present at the ceremony, the baby is then finally welcomed into the family of God by the words, “We welcome you.”
The Believers’ baptism is for older people who wish to show a greater commitment to God. It is a public act of witness and is the candidate’s own choice as to whether or not they should be baptized. The actual ceremony differs from church to church but each one has similar main features to the rest.
The minister starts the ceremony by talking about the meaning and significance of baptism and reminds the congregation of the commitment they made at their own baptism. The candidate can choose to wear white to symbolize forgiveness of sin and also fresh life with Jesus. There is usually more than one candidate being baptized in one ceremony but each one is individually baptized one after another. They may be asked to give a testimony to explain how they came to faith and why they chose to be baptized. They may also include a Bible passage that is significant to them.
When the candidate has finished their testimony, they and the minister enter the baptistery-a pool of water. The minister then says, “(Name of candidate), because you have repented of your sins and asked for baptism, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” At this point the candidate is gently lowered into the water for a brief moment until they are totally immersed and then brought back to the surface, to where a chosen sponsor will wait at the side of the baptistery to dry them. Some churches have two sets of steps, going in and out of the pool. This is to signify the candidate leaving their old and sinful life, their sins dying as they are being immersed and then finally rising to a new life with Jesus.
The minister starts the ceremony by talking about the meaning and significance of baptism and reminds the congregation of the commitment they made at their own baptism. The candidate can choose to wear white to symbolize forgiveness of sin and also fresh life with Jesus. There is usually more than one candidate being baptized in one ceremony but each one is individually baptized one after another. They may be asked to give a testimony to explain how they came to faith and why they chose to be baptized. They may also include a Bible passage that is significant to them.
Infant baptism is the most common of the two. Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and United Reform Churches practise infant baptism, each performing a liturgical service. The ceremony takes place around the font. This is a large basin or structure that holds blessed water and it is usually placed either at the door or near the front of the church. Being near the door symbolises that through baptism the child enters the Christian family. If the font is at the front of the church, then simply it is so that the entire congregation can see and welcome the child into the church.