St Andrews BUCA Baptism Register information sheet 2017-8

The Uniting Church believes Baptism is a sacrament, which means a work of God by grace through the common elements such as water and bread and wine or grape juice. It does not depend on the person, or the minister, or the water itself.  It is a gift of grace by God, to forgive, reconcile and bring us into right relationship with God,  deliver us from the power of evil and death, make us citizens of the Kingdom of God,  make us members of the Body of Christ, and to bring us eternal life and spiritual renewal and empowerment now through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The baptisms that we offer have world-wide acceptance by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and many Orthodox churches. Details can be provided.  When a child is baptised, then we hope that  they will continue to worship regularly with us, and learn about the faith,  practices and traditions of the Christian church as understood by the Uniting Church.  Then in due course, when they become adults, they will confirm (or reaffirm) the promises made at their baptism for themselves at the service we call “Confirmation”.  Then they are a Confirmed member of the Uniting Church in Australia, and are eligible (with appropriate training)  for all roles and positions in the life of the church.

 St Andrew’s Berwick UCA offers  baptism, whether you are an adult or a child, by pouring water over the forehead and head, or by full immersion, for example, in the sea. Baptism by pouring is normally done in the midst of the congregation on a Sunday morning, as the congregation makes promises to help the baptised person with their faith development and expression.  Exceptions are sometimes made for hospitalised people, or people in unusual circumstances.  Baptisms in the sea are held by arrangement, on a Sunday after the services at church, and church members are invited to attend and celebrate with a picnic afterwards.

Normally,  a single adult or a couple or a family will join in with our Sunday services at 9 am or 10.30 am, and/ or join our activities for a while to get to know us. You might join an Alpha discussion group. You might like to come to our Messy Church services which will be starting at the end of term 4,  2018.

Then if you wish to be baptised, or have your child baptised, then please speak to the minister, email the church, or fill in your details on a yellow Welcome card and hand it in with the offering bag or bowl for the Minister, the Family and Children’s Worker  or an Elder to call you.

For a child- Usually  we have two meetings together first, if the child has at least one Christian parent, and possibly some god parents, where we go through the meaning of Baptism, and what that would mean for you as a family.  The second meeting is when we go through the practical details  and  the paperwork. Then the Baptism is arranged to take place,  with the approval of Church Council,  and the family will join our church, and the baptism will be done.

We realize that some parents are not ready for the promises of Baptism and membership of our church, but would like to have a simple time of prayer and thanks to God for the safe birth of their beloved child. So  we can offer a Dedication service for the child instead. Again this is done at the church during a Sunday service.

If you are an adult and are interested in Baptism, then we invite you to speak with the Minister. Your preparation for Baptism will be tailored to suit your background knowledge and experiences. Often we encourage people to join an Alpha group, which we usually run once a week for 12 weeks  early in the new year. This gives adults the opportunity to explore and deepen their faith, and their personal experience of God. Sometimes we can have a series of discussions , bible study,  and relevant reading.

Then afterwards, when we meet for the baptism meetings, we ask you to read and agree with the Basis of Union and  other UCA policies, and if you wish to proceed, with the approval of Church Council, you will be baptised by pouring during a Sunday service or by immersion at a location by arrangement. If someone has a disability or other special needs,  then they can be seated in a chair for the baptism at the church, and be baptised by pouring water  backwards  (like having your hair washed  in a hair salon.)

So, if you are considering St Andrew’s Berwick Uniting Church for Baptism for yourself or your child, do come to talk with us about it.  Our Baptism request registration form is online and can be filled in, and returned to us.  We’d love to meet you!  Blessings on you!