Baptisms at All Saints Woollahra
WELCOMING CHILDREN|HELPING PARENTS
1. Congratulations on your new baby and thank you for contacting us about a service at All Saints Woollahra. On Sundays we meet at 9am and the address is 85 Ocean St Woollahra. You are welcome!
2. We are very delighted to welcome children to our church and are in the process of re-building a Sunday School called “Small Saints”. There is also a good enclosed creche area at the back of the church where parents can sit with children and hear the service.
3. Many parents who want to thank God for a child or dedicate them in a public service will use the ‘Thanksgiving’ or ‘Dedication’ services. This does not require parents to profess the Christian faith or make promises that they feel uncomfortable about but acknowledges God’s goodness. We can gladly show you this option and arrange such an occasion.
4. A Baptism service however is for the children of parents who have a confident Christian faith. The Baptism service asks a series of doctrinal questions to do with following Jesus Christ and raising a child to do the same. Children can be baptised because when parents are committed to Christ, they can speak for the child who comes under their care.
5. Parents who come regularly to All Saints can easily talk with the ministers and arrange a Sunday which will fit with them and the church. Parents who don’t come regularly are asked to first join the “Christianity Explained” course which is a brief overview of the Christian faith. We normally hold these CE groups straight after church on Sundays. The office (93271468 on Thurs - Fri) can provide details.
6. The reason for the “Christianity Explained” course is (a) it helps you to privately grasp the truths of Christ before you publicly declare them and (b) it usually has a revolutionary effect on the people who attend who discover that the Christian faith is nothing like what they thought it was!
7. We are happy to call and meet you and think through a Thanksgiving or Dedication service with you or – if you are not yet a part of the All Saints Church – to help you understand the ‘good news’ of Christ through the introductory “Christianity Explained”. Please be assured that our aim is to help you to have a service for your child that is fitting and joyful.