Baptisms

Baptism3

Baptisms are normally associated with babies and small children but, as an adult starting to explore the Christian faith, you may realise you were not baptised as a child and are keen to do so to affirm your faith in God and intention to follow the way of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. What is described on this page is more relevant to the baptism of babies and children but please contact us whatever your age.

A Baptism or Christening is a joyful day to say thank you to God for your child as they are welcomed into the family of the church and begin an amazing journey of faith walking with Jesus. Over the years to come, it’s a journey you’ll share by:

Being there for your child to talk to about the bigger questions of life
Praying for your child through the ups and downs of their journey.
Showing them how to make good choices in life.
Helping them to learn more about their Christian faith

If I don't come to church can I still have my child baptised?

Yes. The Church believes that God’s love is available to all. You might prefer to have a 'service of thanksgiving' first and then consider baptism once you have had time to understand it more fully. Your priest can help you decide.

How do I choose godparents?

The usual number is three and they should be people who:

Will be there for your child to talk about the big questions in life.
Help them to develop their spiritual lives and come to know God.
Encourage them to belong to their local church.

When do baptism services take place?

Either on a Sunday during the main service when the wider church community are present to welcome the child into the church family; or at another time when family and friends form the congregation.

Contact

If you would like to discuss having a baptism or service of thanksgiving, please contact Revd Canon Anna Eltringham on 01883 712674 or email contact@stgeorgescrowhurstsurrey.org.uk

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details below) for our Sunday Service starting at 10am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 10am, before the service begins. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Plan your journey:

Open Google Maps

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our band. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

images: Services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Creche (0 months to 3 years). Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/grown-up at all times.
Livewires (3-7 years)
Encounter (7-11 years)
Katalyst (11-15 years)
Young people (15+ years) Stay in service.

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the notices someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy. Whilst you are dropping your kids off at their groups, we pause to take time to chat to someone sitting near or next to us, giving folk a chance to come back before the sermon begins.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

Men's Ministries
Women's Ministries
Night Shelter
Foodbank

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Leader 1		Leader 2
Leader Intro		Leader Intro

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

(Handwritten Signature)