Godparents' Sunday

The godchild/godparent relationship is really special and can still be celebrated and supported during this time. Whatever the pandemic situation is, there will still be things you can do. Find resources here to help.

WHAT IS GODPARENTS’ SUNDAY?

In the past few years, the Life Events team has encouraged churches to celebrate the part that Godparents play in family life and in spiritual journeys.  This year, it’s more important than ever to connect with families and help them celebrate the web of relationships that surround them. This might be in person with outdoor events, or through Zoom, or, at outdoor and indoor gatherings when allowed.  And for the first time, the Life Events team is partnering with Messy Church to extend the reach of Godparent Sunday even more widely.

 

HOW TO JOIN IN

Sunday July 11th is the national Godparents’ Sunday date for 2021, but you can set yours for whatever date fits in best with your church calendar, (joining in on the national date simply means your event will benefit from any national campaign publicity too).

July is national picnic month, so this year, the Life Events team is planning a food-and-fun-filled Godparent Sunday. Ideas and resources are given throughout these pages. Planning far ahead may still be difficult, but ideas given here will allow for the varying extent of social contact that may or may not be permitted by then. You can take these ideas and apply them in line with Government guidance, and your own risk assessment, when the time comes.

 

How will it be different?

  • This year there are free resources for downloading in addition to a few paid-for printed resources.
  • There will be a range of practical ideas and suggestions from which you can cherry-pick according to the situation.
  • Ideas and resources will not be given all at once but added over time, so please keep checking back here.
  • Prayers can be built into any service online or in person, so take a look at the ‘Just Pray’ ideas below and we’ll bring you more suggestions in the coming weeks.


Just Pray
Simply praying for the godchild/godparent relationship during one of your usual services is an easy way to get involved. Download prayers and other resources to help from this page.
Open Just Pray
Host a Godparent Sunday Service
The time may soon come when churches can host larger physical services than we have been offering over the last 18 months. Whatever the size of the gathering, these ideas and resources will help you plan something special and memorable.
Open Host a Godparent Sunday Service
Re-engaging with Families
Broadcast on Wednesday May 12th, Sandra Millar, Mary Hawes and Lucy Moore (Messy Church) look forward to a time when we can meet with families, share a picnic and start conversations about the amazing journey of faith.
Open Re-engaging with Families
The importance of Godparents
Godparents are really significant to families. Read more about why they’re so important and how churches can involve godparents along the baptism-planning journey. Plus, view tips on how to help them understand more about their role.
Open The importance of Godparents
Host a picnic event
Weather permitting, picnics are a wonderful way to bring people of all ages together. Sharing food along with light-touch ways to encourage prayer and reflection can strengthen bonds, not just between godparents and godchildren, but also between families and their local church.
Open Host a picnic event