Category Archives: Baptism

Baptism

Kazem’s baptism and confirmation

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On Easter Saturday evening (April 16) Kazem Khodamoradi, a member of the St Mark’s congregation, was formally welcomed into the church when he was baptised and confirmed at a beautiful and uplifting service at Guildford Cathedral.

Kazem was baptised by Bishop Andrew, Bishop of Guildford, and confirmed by Bishop Jo, Bishop of Dorking.

Kazem comes from Iran but was no longer safe in his homeland when he converted to Christianity so he fled and made his way to Britain. He currently lives in Hale and started attending St Mark’s towards the end of last year.

Welcome Kazem!

Pictured after the service are: Lesley Shatwell, Kazem Khodamoradi, Bob Shatwell, Alan Crawley, Jacquie Munroe, Jenny Bull, Stella Wiseman, Lesley Crawley and Bishop Jo.

Baptism, Children and Youth, News Releases, St John's Church

Baptisms are back!

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Families are returning to church for baptisms in the parish after months of delay thanks to Covid-19. The first baptism in the parish took place on Sunday, August 23, when little Archie Higginson (pictured with his parents above) was baptized at St John’s, and this is being followed this month by the baptism of two sisters, one of whom was born in lockdown, and a further one booked for October.

The baptisms all take place in the main Sunday services and there are strict rules on hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks but this didn’t detract from one-year-old Archie’s baptism. “It all went well,” said Archie’s mother Nola. “It was a bit strange wearing face masks but it felt like a proper baptism and we felt welcomed into the church.” She also sought to allay other families’ fears about not being able to invite family and friends to the service. “We were able to invite everyone we wanted to and Archie enjoyed it too. I thought he’d wriggle more as he doesn’t like being still but he was fine.”

On September 27 we will welcome little Isabella and Eden Argenti. Two-year-old Isabella was to have been baptized in May but now her baby sister Eden, who was born in June, will be baptized at the same time. Isabella and Eden’s mother Rose, who is one of the regular readers in our online all-age service, said: “We were so happy to hear when the churches were able to reopen, and after welcoming our second daughter during lockdown, we are very much looking forward to having both our girls now baptized together at St John’s this month and welcoming them into the church.”

Lesley Crawley baptized Archie and will baptize the sisters. She said: “We are so pleased to be able to hold baptisms in the services again. Obviously, there are differences because of Covid restrictions but these don’t detract from what is a very special and joyous occasion of welcoming someone into the church and beginning their new life as part of the Christian community.”

Adults as well as children can be baptized and baptisms take place in the main service as baptism symbolises the entry of a person into the life and family of the church. The services all have anti-Covid measures put in place.

To enquire about baptisms, please contact Stella Wiseman on 07842761919.

Pictured top are Nola and Matthew Higginson with Archie.

Baptism, Coronavirus

What is Happening?

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During these extraordinary times practices of the church which have happened for 2000 years have been suspended.  These notes are to try to summarise the current situation.  This is a risky business, as so much is changing so quickly – consequently whilst I will summarise the situation as at 31/3/2020 I will also include links to Church of England, or Diocesan pages where the latest information may be found.

Communion

People from different households may not gather for any services.  Therefore only those households which include a priest can have a communion service.  The regulations requiring a second person to be present have been suspended at present.  Others watching the service remotely may receive Spiritual Communion.

CofE Guidance: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/20028

Guildford Diocesan  Guidance: https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/docs/default-source/coronavirus/priestly-practice-in-a-pandemic.pdf?sfvrsn=bb330032_0

Baptisms

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches#na

Emergency baptisms can take place in a hospital or at home, though subject to strict hygiene precautions and physical distancing as far as this is possible.  Other Baptisms may not take place.

Funerals

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches#na

Sadly, funerals may now only happen at the Crematorium or at the graveside.

Memorial Services can be held once the current crisis is resolved.

Weddings

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches#na

Sadly, there can be no weddings in church buildings until further notice.

Clergy are not permitted to solemnise weddings at other locations.

 

 

Picure by Richard Croft.
Baptism

A baptismal welcome

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We love a baptism and we’ve celebrated quite a number recently, welcoming children and their families into the church. Baptisms take place at all three churches – St George’s, St John’s and St Mark’s – and always in the main service as baptism means becoming part of the whole church and the congregation is an important part of that.

Recently we also had a special celebration of thanksgiving for the baptism of little Lewis who was baptized in Romania but whose family wanted a service here in Farnham too. Baptism families are given a candle to mark the occasion and Lewis’s Romanian one was pretty impressive. Lesley Crawley even prayed in Romanian.

On Sunday Maximus was baptized and, at five years old, was able to declare fervently that he wanted to be baptized and later lead the congregation out of the church, holding his candle before him.

Welcome all.

Pictured top: Families and godparents with Lesley after the thanksgiving for Lewis (far left) and baptism of Lillie-Rose (centre).
Below: Maximus is baptized.
Lewis’s Romanian baptismal candle.

Baptism, Services, St Mark's Church

A welcome for Ava and the new font

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There was a sense of celebration in the air at St Mark’s Church, Hale, last Sunday. Not only was baby Ava being baptized, she was the first baby to be baptized in the new handcrafted font at the church.

Surrounded by family and friends, and with help from Ava’s big sister, six-year-old Mollie, Ava was welcomed into the family of God. Rev’d Hannah Moore reminded everyone that “Christ loves [Ava] and welcomes her into his Church” and baptized her in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, pouring water over her head. Ava barely stirred.

Mollie and the other children in the congregation had helped Hannah bless the water and were also delighted by the two small ducks – one marked ‘Ava’ the other ‘Mollie’ – which floated in the font.

Ava's Baptism 7

It was a joyful occasion and a fitting first use of the new, portable font.

The font is made of a beautiful, multicoloured glass bowl resting on a grey wrought iron stand similar to the iron work on the altar rails at the church.

The bowl was made by the Adam Aaronson glass studio and the stand by Cliff Madgwick of Hampshire Metalcraft and the work was commissioned and organised by Pat Manton from St Mark’s, a fine craftswoman herself.