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baptism ("Christening") at Littlemore

According to the law and common practice in England everybody has the right to be baptised in their Parish Church. If you live in the parish of Littlemore or if you regularly worship at this Church, you are welcome to be baptised in this Church. Children and babies are generally baptised on the first Sunday in every month either at the main Parish Mass at 10am or at a special baptism service at 12.30pm. Adults wishing to be baptised will usually be baptised and confirmed at Easter time following a period of preparation during the forty days before Easter. Baptism is a most precious and holy Sacrament of the Church.

In baptism we are born again into a new and close relationship with God through participating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a gift from God to his people. At the baptism service we are also anointed and blessed. If you are considering bringing your child for baptism, you may want to consider just having your child blessed and anointed so that when he or she grows up they can make up their own mind about baptism. In baptism we begin our lives as Christians in the Church; it is the responsibility of parents and godparents to give children who have been baptised as babies the opportunity to learn more about their faith, to learn to go to church and present themselves for confirmation. Confirmation is the completion of baptism; the Bishop comes and lays his hands on our heads, and admits us to the sacrament of the Holy Communion. Godparents should therefore be chosen with some care. Think about whether you have someone amongst your relatives, friends or acquaintances whom you trust, and who has a live link with a church. It does not necessarily have to be an Anglican church; it might be any Christian church.

If you are planning to have your child baptised at the 12.30pm service, it is expected that you will be present at the main Service (10am Sundays) on at least one other Sunday sometime before the event. You can book your child's baptism by calling at the Vicarage or by ringing 01865 748003.

There is no set fee for baptisms in the Church of England. Parish churches, nevertheless, have no income other than that which its members contribute. It is expensive to keep a church building standing and at the same time keep the mission of the Church alive. There is a collection at baptism services and families of baptism candidates may want to consider what it is worth to them to have a church living and praying in the middle of their community.

The papers you will receive will include a baptism application form and a list of Bible passages. During the week before the baptism, one of the priests will come and visit you to explain the service and the meaning of baptism, please have your form filled in and chose a Bible passage in time for this visit. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore.

Please read through these verses from the Bible and chose one of them for your baptism -

  • Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Genesis 28,15)
  • I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you (Jeremiah 31,3)
  • Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14,6)
  • Again Jesus spoke to them saying: "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8,12)
  • Jesus said, " In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" (John 16,33)
  • The risen Christ said to his disciples: "Remember I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28,20)
  • God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them (1 John 4,16) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5,8)
  • Do not be afraid for I am with you (Isaiah 43,5)
  • Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine (Isaiah 43,1)
  • I trust in you O Lord, You are my God, my times are in Your hand (Psalm 31,14)
  • For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light (Ps 36,9)
  • The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom then shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27,1)
  • The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me, your steadfast love; O Lord endures for ever (Psalm 138,8)
  • You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living (Psalm 142,6)
  • It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name O most high (Psalm 92,2)
  • Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me (Psalm 71,3)
  • Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts (Psalm 139,23)
  • Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgements are like the great deep (Psalm36, 6)
  • The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and he saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34,18)
  • Make me to know your ways O Lord, teach me your paths (Ps 24,4)
  • The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23,1)
  • For in you my soul takes refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge (Psalm 57,1)
  • Into your hand O Lord I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me O Lord, faithful God (Psalm 31,5)
  • I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation (Psalm 13,5)
  • You show me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16,11)
  • By my God I can leap over walls (Psalm 18,29)
  • I fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they give me courage (Psalm 23,4)
  • Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord (Psalm 27,14)
  • Faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13,13)
  • Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8,39)
  • Jesus said "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives (John 14,27)

At St Mary & St Nicholas we have a Sunday School, which runs concurrently with our main service on Sundays (10am). If you are interested in placing your child there, please come and talk to the Vicar or join us for one of our regular services and have look at what 'being part of the church' means. We also have a Children's Service every last Sunday of the month at 4pm; at this we listen to s story, sing songs, do activities and have drinks and cake!