YOUR
CHILD'S BAPTISM 
If you have recently had a new baby, then we rejoice with you in God's
gift of a child. These notes set out briefly how we understand and practice
Baptism in the parish of St. Nicholas or St. Peters, Hedinghams' and
this policy has been discussed and agreed by the Church's Parochial
Church Council. We see your child's welcome to the Christian community
in two stages.
Service of Thanksgiving
When the General Synod - the body that makes decisions on behalf of
the Church of England - introduced the 'Service of Thanksgiving for
the Birth of a Child' it said that it should be available both for 'Where
the child is subsequently baptized and also for where the child is not
to be baptized.'
We therefore encourage all parents to have this service first of all,
as it provides an opportunity publicly to thank God for the gift of
your child and for prayers to be made on his or her behalf. Unlike Baptism,
this service involves no promises being made by the parents nor requires
them to state publicly their own Christian profession. It is therefore
a service which is relevant for those who may not be ready for the commitments
required in the Baptism Service, as well as for those who can make them.
Service of Baptism
The correct name for what some people call 'Christening' is Baptism.
Baptism is concerned with both believing and belonging. It includes
promises about believing in Jesus, accepting Him as Saviour and Lord,
discovering Him as a friend and following Him as teacher and Lord. By
asking for Baptism you are indicating that you want your child to be
a member of the Christian family - the Church.
Just as there is no point in joining a sports club or a secular organisation
if you rarely or never take part in their activities, so too there is
no point in asking for membership of the Christian Church, if you have
no intention of belonging.
The Baptism Service says that before proceeding to Baptise a child
the minister needs to be assured that the parents are : -
(a) 'prepared to the best of their ability to give their child a Christian
upbringing within the family of Christ's Church.
(b) . . .to help their child to be regular in public worship and
in private prayer, not only by their teaching, but also by their example
and their prayer.
(c) . . .to encourage their child in due course to come to Confirmation
and communion'
In view of the fact that the Baptism Service expects parents themselves
to be regular in public worship, (and in the actual service parents
and godparents have to answer a question saying they will do this) we
therefore expect parents to establish real links with the Church, before
the Baptism takes place, if these have not existed before.
The period between the Service of Thanksgiving and the Baptism will
also give time for the parents to consider the promises involved in
Baptism and the commitment to Jesus Christ that the service expects.
Here are two extracts from the service itself which speak of this speak
of this commitment :-
1. The
Decision "Those who bring children to be baptised
affirm their allegiance to Christ and their rejection of all that is
evil. It is your duty to bring the child up to fight against evil and
to follow Christ. Therefore I ask . . . Do you turn to Christ ? Parents
& Sponsors: I turn to Christ Minister: Do you repent of your sins ?
Parents & Sponsors: I repent of my sins Minister: Do you renounce evil
? Parents & Sponsors: I renounce evil"
2. The
Baptism " You have brought this child to Baptism.
You stand in the presence of God and His Church. You must now make the
Christian profession in which he is to be baptized and in which you
will bring him up. Minister: Do you believe and trust in God the Father
who made the world ? Parents & Sponsors: I believe and trust in Him.
Minister: Do you believe and trust in His Son Jesus Christ who redeemed
mankind ? Parents & Sponsors: I believe and trust in Him. Minister:
Do you believe and trust in His Holy Spirit who gives life to the people
of God ? Parents & Sponsors: I believe and trust in Him"
These are very specific statements which require a personal commitment
to Christ.
Integrity demands that no parents or sponsors (i.e. Godparents) should
make for a child promises which are not already true in their own lives.
Following the Service of Thanksgiving and when real links have been
established with the local Church, further consideration will be given
to the matter of baptism through a Baptism Preparation Class or Classes
in your own home Times of Services.
Services of Thanksgiving and Baptism take place in the context of
public worship and normally at an Family Service.
WEDDINGS
Part of the preparation will involve carefully going through the service
with the Rector. The aim is not only to give you an idea of the practical
things you will be required to do in the ceremony itself, but also to
see what is involved in Christian marriage. At the heart of Christian
marriage is the belief that your love for one another is a gift from
God himself and in the service there is the declaration "Those whom
God has joined together, let no man divide".
It is essential that the step of Christian marriage should not be
lightly undertaken. In addition to meeting the Rector and going through
the service. A wedding lasts just a few hours but a marriage is for
life.
BANNS Please remember to make arrangements to have the banns called
in the parish Church of the non-Hedingham partner. Please also ensure
that you collect the certificate after the banns have been called in
the other parish and to let us have it BEFORE your wedding - we cannot
marry you without it! The current cost of calling of banns and the issuing
of a banns certificate is £23 but this goes up a little every year.
FEES
The fees for the Marriage Service are fixed annually by Parliament
by the Parochial Fees Order and they cover the cost of the Marriage
Service, the banns, use of the organ, use of the building, the Clerk
and the certificate of the marriage.
Parochal Fees from 1st January 2008
Marriages
Publication of banns .. £22.00
Certificate of banns, if required .. £12.00
Marriage Service .. £247.00
Marriage Certificate, at registration, if required .. £3.50
Baptisms
Certificate of baptism, if required .. £12.00
Funerals
Service .. £96.00
Burial in churchyard following on from service in church .. £184.00
Burial in churchyard on a seperate occasionor without service in church
.. £220.00
Burial certificate, if required .. £12.00
Addition costs (Local)
Organ .. £50.00
Heating .. £40.00
Bells.. £80.00
Choir.. £100
Note.. Local charges may vary from time to time depending on
circumstances
.
