A dozen ways to help baptism families feel welcome in church
How to have a positive impact on the faith journeys of all those who come to a baptism service
EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME TO all who visit our churches, whether regularly or just passing through, is important for the mission of whole Church.
In this thought piece, the Revd Canon Sandra Millar explains in detail why welcoming everyone we meet through Life Events is such an important part of our mission and ministry.
To put the learning into practice, try as many of these suggestions as is practical in your context:
- On the door: Put Christening balloons outside and/or a banner saying, ‘Welcome to the family of —‘
- Welcomers: Identify some friendly faces from the congregation to be there, to offer practical help and a warm welcome.
- The order of service: Use the child’s photo and name and then encourage the guests to take them home as a keepsake.
- Registers: Get the registers out and ask the parents, godparents or child to sign. Encourage families to look back at their own history as appropriate.
- Names: Use the child’s name as much as possible. Find out what it means, why the parents chose it, any story or significance.
- The symbols: Use the symbols to support the words, by getting everyone wet with the water, reminding people that oil is used at a royal coronation, physically turning when the words ‘I turn to Christ’ are said. These things make it all more memorable.
- Involvement: Involve as many family and friends in the service as you can – readings, poems, prayers, holding the candle, holding the towels etc.
- Godparents: Value the godparents, get them up to the front, make a fuss of them. Make badges/stickers to identify who they are.
- Gifts: Give a gift e.g. a Bible, sign it and a card “with love from your church family” and get the regular congregation to sign the card. Or give a ‘jar of prayers’: get each person to write a short prayer for the child on a paper heart, and collect them all in a jar, put the lid on and present it to keep.
- Give permission: Encourage them to be happy, find out their story and be part of it – you are now in their lives (and their photos) forever.
- Collection: Offer to give 50% of any collection to their designated charity
- Celebrate: Text/email in advance to ask if you can share a picture of the service on your church social media channels, and/or post it on the church website.
