Life Events

Welcome !

We are delighted that you are exploring this page. We can offer Thanksgiving for the gift of a child or Baptism in our Sunday morning services at St John’s Church in the village and at Emmanuel Church in William Law School.

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving service is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of a child with family and friends. During the Thanksgiving service parents and families give thanks for the birth or adoption of a child and everyone prays for family life. A Thanksgiving Service is not a Baptism. There are no promises to make about the Christian faith. The child will be blessed and prayed for, and supporting friends will promise to support the parents in bringing up their child.

Baptism of Babies & Children

Baptism is a significant step on the Christian journey of faith and we ask all parents, with our support, to explore whether they feel ready to make the promises and commitments to God for their child. During Baptism children and their parents are welcomed into the church family, so, as we learn about Jesus together we discover how He wants us to live our lives and we grow in our relationship with God, who loves us.

There is no difference between a Christening service and a Baptism service. Some churches will use the word ‘baptism’ and some the word ‘christening’. Babies are baptized during a christening service just as couples are ‘married’ during a ‘wedding’ service. Please visit the Church of England’s Christenings website for more information and practical advice.

Exploring Thanksgiving & Baptism

We invite families to explore Thanksgiving and Baptism with us and ask them to join us at our Sunday Choice service on third Sundays in Emmanuel Church, Twelvetree Avenue. This is a relaxed and informal service that lasts about an hour and your family & godparents are welcome to join you.

Baptism for Adults

We support adults on their journey of faith. This may include attending our Alpha course and exploring their faith with others. We offer adult baptism with the opportunity for full immersion in our baptistery or sprinkling at the font. Usually adults seeking baptism are encouraged to explore a combined baptism and confirmation. (See Confirmation tab above)

To find out more about having a Thanksgiving or Baptism Service, please contact the Parish Office on 01733 576541.

Welcome!

Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. We want to help and support you, whatever stage you’re at with your planning. Today more than a quarter of all marriages in England take place before God in the traditional setting of a Church of England church. You’re welcome to marry in church whatever your beliefs, whether or not you are baptised and whether or not you go to church.

If you are interested in getting married in St John’s, Church Street. Please contact the Parish Office who will arrange for you to meet with the Vicar. The Office can also help with information on fees, banns and marriage preparation.

We encourage you to see the Church of England’s special website to check the legal aspects of getting married in church, and find out all about planning your ceremony, at www.yourchurchwedding.org/

 

We would like to offer our condolences to you following your recent bereavement. A funeral is used to mark the end of a person’s life here on earth. Family and friends come together to express grief, give thanks for the life lived and commend the person into God’s keeping; the Christian hope is in the promise of eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This can be a small, quiet ceremony or a large occasion in a packed church. Our clergy are available to assist and support you during this time, be it answering questions, providing a listening ear or helping to plan the funeral service. Our clergy will arrange to visit you at home and talk through the service with you, offering any advice as required. Please visit the Church of England’s Funerals website for more information and practical advice. At this time of sorrow the Lord is in our midst and consoles us.

A Prayer

Lord, be with us as we open the door. Come in with us, go out with us. Do not sleep when we sleep, but watch over us, protect us and keep us safe, our only helper and maker. Amen As a church, we pray for those who are recently bereaved. John 11 : 25 – 26 For further information, please contact our Parish Office staff on 01733 576541. Information for After the Service

Congratulations on wanting to explore confirmation. It is important to see confirmation as a part of your journey in faith in Christ and not in isolation.

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith into which you have been baptized and your intention to live a life of committed discipleship. This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by the Bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to enable you to live your life, in the way and character of Jesus. For further information, visit Confirmations – FAQs

This is a good way to explore your faith with others who are thinking about confirmation and is a safe place to ask any questions you have about God, Jesus and the journey of faith.

If you have any questions or would like to express an interest in doing confirmation training, please call the Parish Office on 01733 576541 and they will be only too happy to help.