Learning Objective You should learn: ● about the content of a baptism and dedication service ● why Christian churches have these two different services ● to evaluate the different services, explaining their preference RITES OF PASSAGE - Baptism

Key words ● A person preparing to be received into the Church is called a Catechumen. ● A person who has just become a Christian is called a Neophyte. ● Some early baptismal fonts were in the shape of a Cross. ● The time when new members are received into the Church is RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). ● Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are all sacraments of Initiation. ● In the second anointing, the baby being baptised is anointed with Chrism. ● The words of Baptism are from the end of the gospel of Matthew.

Why do Christians baptise? Baptism is the religious rite which welcomes someone, as a member, into the Christian Church. It is the sign that someone belongs to Christ and that is why baptism is sometimes known as christening. It can take place as a baby or as an adult. When a baby or child is baptised, the parents and godparents make the promises on behalf of the baby and the child is included as a member of the church family. Adults can be baptised if they were not baptised as a child. It is a way for them to express their faith in Christ.

The important part of a baptism is the use of water in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (The word baptism means to dunk or immerse in water.) The water is poured into a font (from fountain). The font is a bowl which can be made of metal, stone, glass, etc. and can be as simple or elaborate as desired. At St. James's the font is a large, beautifully carved octagonal (eight-sided) stone situated in the Baptistery. When a baptism takes place during the Parish Communion or when a lot of people attend the ceremony, a smaller font is used at the front of the church.

● Baptism in water is an outward symbol of something happening on the inside. It is the sign that someone has repented of (turned away from) their bad ways and has accepted that they can only do this with the help of God and His Holy Spirit. When a baby is baptised the minister pours water on his or her head and draws a cross in special oil on the baby's forehead, as a sign of the child's new life with Christ. A candle is lit during the service, and the light from the candle shows that baptism is a symbol of a person moving from darkness into light.

● During the baptism of babies and toddlers, certain promises and declarations of faith are made by the parents and godparents on behalf of the child. ● Godparents play an important role. They should pray regularly for the child, set a good example, take a keen interest in him/her and generally be regarded as a friend. ● It is customary that there are at least three godparents, of whom at least two shall be of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex. Godparents must themselves be baptised.