This Sunday ****OT****
or
The Christening
Instructions on the Ceremony
Address to the Congregation
Today we come to rejoice in Gods gift of new life, the wonder of creation manifested in birth, and the gracious promises we are given regarding our children.
The Presentation of the Child
From the Scriptures we learn that children are God's possession and that we are charged with the responsibility of caring for them and bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord. Jesus himself put children in a place of singular importance, calling us not only to receive them in his name but also to learn from them.
"Let the children come to me, do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And he took them in his arms and blessed them
Addressing the parents the Minister shall say
Graystone and Rocks, in bringing your child to God's house today, you are acknowledging that he is numbered among those whom Jesus called "the little ones who believe in me". You are also consecrating yourselves to God, promising to do everything you can to encourage your child to become a true disciple of the Christ.
Wiil you, by God's help, provide a Christian home for this child and bring him up in the worship and teaching of the Church the he may come to know Christ as his Saviour and follow him as Lord, if so, answer we will.
We will
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Thanks for the history. |
