Baptism Ceremonies

A short service

Welcome, Greeting and Opening Words

SERVICE OF BAPTISM FOR ______

When a baby is born it is the symbol of all birth and life, and therefore all people must rejoice and smile and all people must lose their hearts to a child. [Kenneth Patton]

This is a service which recognises the continual renewal of life through the waters of baptism. It is an occasion for naming a child, seeking a/God's blessing on his/her life, and welcoming him/her to life's larger community. It is also a service of thanksgiving for the gift of a son/daughter to [Mom] and [Dad]; an opportunity for them to dedicate themselves to the nurture of their child; and for us as family, friends and church to pledge our support to them as a family.

Readings

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward not tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and bends you with might that the arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as the Archer loves the arrow that flies, so the Archer also loves the bow that is stable.
[Kahlil Gibran]

Significance of water

Water is a symbol of life for all life is dependent upon water.

( Please pick one)

[Child] you are baptised with water as a symbol of the common life which is in you and in the world about you. We welcome you to the community of life on earth and dedicate you to everything which is beautiful and truthful and good.
[Child] you are baptised in the name of God and in the spirit of Jesus. We welcome you as a member of Christ's church and of the community of life on earth. May all be well with you in your journey through life.

Prayer

For the gift of a child, [Child] whose innocence and laughter keep the world young, we rejoice and give thanks. May this new life, which we have accepted into our community of ideals and friendship, receive abundantly the blessings of health, love, knowledge, and wisdom, and in her/his turn give back richly to the common heritage that endures from generation to generation. And for the gift of parenthood made to [Mom] and [Dad] we also give our thanks. may they and all parents everywhere give their children security and freedom and love, and may they be blessed with much joy, much laughter and much patience in the divine task of nurture. Amen

[The presentation of the certificate.]

You may choose from one of the ceremonies listed here, or you may craft your own ceremony. We offer the following completed ceremonies:

All of our ceremonies may be modified to your requirements. We also provide a collection of Religious Readings or Non-Religious Readings which may be incorporated into any of our ceremonies.

Baptism Ceremonies Explained

A Baptism Ceremony is not just for babies; children of any age can have a Ceremony. One of our experienced Ceremony Celebrants, (Lay Officiant, Minister or Chaplain), will be pleased to perform your Baptism Ceremony for your son or daughter. All of our Celebrants are highly trained and qualified; they all share the goal of providing you with a memorable ceremony and special day. They do not represent any religion, we conduct the ceremony you want, your way.

It is IMPORTANT to note that in these nondenominational Baptism ceremonies, your child is not Baptized into any particular Church, but the parents do receive a beautiful Baptism certificate. The nice thing about this Baptism ceremony is that later in life should your child make a personal decision to unite with a faith community of the child's own choice, your child will be able to present themselves as a fully Baptized person.

[Photo - We can condust the Ceremony at the location of your choosing] Most Baptisms are held in homes or other suitable venue like a hotel, reception facility, etc. Some families even hold the ceremony in a park or other natural setting. The ceremony can be held at a location and time convenient to all concerned. We usually ask the Celebrant closest to you to conduct the ceremony.

You may wish to include your older children in the Baptism or Naming Ceremony as well as your new baby. The Ceremony is the perfect opportunity to declare your promises to your child before family and friends. It's also the perfect opportunity to involve relatives, such as grandparents, and maybe other adult friends. It is nice to have supporting adults or God parents, allowing them to confirm their special relationship with your child and share their promises at the ceremony in front of you and the guests.

A family has several options:

They can choose a Baptism Ceremony or a Naming ceremony from above and simply use the ceremony as is.
They can choose a ceremony and then personalize the ceremony to make it uniquely theirs. We have a number of Religious or Secular (Non-Religious) Readings that you may choose from, or provide one of your own.
Some families even write their own Baptism or Naming Ceremony; the choice is yours.

No matter which option you choose, we will help you find the right ceremony to create the perfect celebration your family and friends will cherish and remember always.

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More information about our Baptism Ceremonies.

Can the ceremony be bilingual?: Yes in some communities. Ask the office for information.
Is a meeting or rehearsal necessary?: Not normally. However you may consult with your celebrant by phone and email if you have questions for clarification.
How long is the ceremony?: The length of ceremonies varies. Budget anywhere from 15 minutes to a half an hour depending on the number of options and changes you make to the ceremony.
What does the Celebrant need from you on the day of the celebration?: If you make changes to a ceremony they will need the final draft of the ceremony 14 days prior. Then just a few words with you before to the ceremony to go over last minute details and a small bowl of water for the ceremony.
Can I decorate my home?: Yes. Most people have candles, flowers, and a small container of water. Some place memorial pictures or special pictures of baby. Have a camera handy!
Is there a Souvenir Record of the event?: Yes, a beautiful souvenir Certificate is presented at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Do these Ceremonies have legal status?: Unlike birth registration, where you receive a copy of the birth certificate which is a compulsory legal requirement, these ceremonies are simply a celebration that you as parents choose to do as a public gesture of love and commitment to your child. The certificate you receive may in some cases help your child enroll in certain schools later in life.
I have two children, do I pay an additional fee?: There is an additional administration fee of $20.00 for each additional child. Each receives a ceremony certificate.
Can we organize a Ceremony on short notice?: Usually the answer to this is yes, but is dependent on the availability of the Celebrant and venue you have selected.
Can we hold a Ceremony at the same time as we get married?: Yes. A Naming or Baptism Ceremony can be held at the same time.

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