The gift of a new child is always a very special and life changing event in a person or family's life. Whether they are child number 1 or child number 16 (gulp!) they are an amazing creation and have an amazing impact on our lives as parents (especially at 4 in the morning it seems!). 

At the birth of a child parents' often turn to the church to have their child baptised (often called 'christened') because they want to say "Thank you!" to God and receive God's blessing on their child and their family. That's superb and here at CCP we want to support you in that, and afterwards as you raise your child. 

There are two services we offer. The first is a service of Thanksgiving, and the other is a service of Baptism. What we do at Pennington Church is to provide both a service of Thanksgiving before a service of Baptism, but the service of Thanksgiving is designed to stand by itself and work for those who aren't ready for the deep commitment involved in Baptism.

If you have specific questions about Baptism, then you could either read on, or try the FAQs here.....

http://www.penningtonchurch.com/component/option,com_easyfaq/Itemid,76/ 

What Are you promising to do as a Parent or God Parent?

Baptism is not about makring the birth of a child. Many people believe that's what it is, but it isn't and never has been about that. Baptism is about someone, whether child or adult, becoming a member of the church. When you join anything, a church , rugby club or dance club, you make a commitment which involves time and energy. Joining any community means you have to accept their ways of doing things, their standards, rules, and expectations. Baptism is about a child's parents and godparents standing and making sincere promises to belong to and help the child belong to a local church and the wider church. These are the promises you are going to be making before God and before a few hundred people: