Thanksgiving
or Baptism?
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.
If you have questions about the Christian faith, you may find this link useful: Christianity.
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5)
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 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.
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.
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. Have a more detailed look at Confirmation on this page.
To find out more about having a Thanksgiving or Baptism Service, please contact the Parish Office on 01733 576541.
Confirmation
… 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.
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 www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/confirmation/frequently-asked-questions.aspx. 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.
Thinking of
Getting Married?
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.
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/
If you are interested in getting married in St John’s, Church Street, Werrington. 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.
Bereavement
and Loss
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.
Funeral services are conducted in St John’s and at the crematorium and these are arranged in consultation with the clergy and funeral directors. St John’s is a closed churchyard which means that burials no longer take place here, but we have a small memorial garden for the burial of ashes.
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.
Contact our Parish Office staff on 01733 576541.
Bereavement Listeners
In many cases, arranging a funeral keeps people so busy that they don’t feel their loss fully until afterwards. Grieving is natural and important, and it may take a long time. As part of our ministry to those who are coping with the death of a loved one, we have a group of people who are trained as Bereavement Listeners. These people are ordinary men and women who are prepared to visit you at home to support you following your loss by giving you the opportunity to talk to a compassionate and willing listener. Those whom we have conducted a funeral for receive a letter regarding this.
“Time to Remember, Time to Give Thanks“
We hold this annual service in St John’s (usually around the beginning of November) to remember those who have died and you may find it helpful to attend.
CRUSE – an agency you may find useful
Peterborough branch: 01733 348439
National helpline : 0844 4779400