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Park
Avenue Methodist Church, Park Avenue North, Northampton, NN3 2HT
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01604 720624
Administrator - Alan Brett ::
Senior Stewards - Denise Turner, Liz Hale
office@parkavenue.org.uk | webmaster@parkavenue.org.uk |
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Summer Weddings & Baptisms
02 Jul 2010 by Rev Glayne Worgan
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 Summer is here again – at last! As well as strawberries and suntans to enjoy, it is the season for weddings. We Methodists do not have as many as some of my Anglican friends, but this year I have a delightful ‘glut’ of infant baptisms. Babies, toddlers, all ages, shapes and sizes.
Weddings and Infant Baptisms pose some dilemmas for the ministers. It’s never a problem if the family is fully integrated into the active, worshipping life of the church. But what should we say when asked by people who are not regular church-goers, to marry them or baptise their kids in church?
Some denominations are very straightforward and strict about this. Only church members are allowed to have such services, and always in the context of the whole church family being there to support them. Or they will only marry couples if they attend the church for an agreed time before the wedding. We Methodists have a more open response, of welcome and further conversation. Within our team here at Northampton we have different approaches, but we have discussed some of the issues together. My personal approach is to usually say ‘yes’ to such requests.
What do you think? Do you ever ask if such an approach is right or wrong? Do we show a desire to attract new people into the church by allowing weddings and baptisms? At least they are in church, if only for that service, to hear the gospel – who knows what may come of it. I know a woman who is now a Methodist minister who first became a Christian following her child’s baptism. Shouldn’t the church be showing a warm welcome to families especially if they want to come to church for their wedding or baptism?
Others may argue that such promises can only be said if the people involved are fully believing and practicing Christians, demonstrated by their previous membership and attendance at church.
My answer to that is that faith is a journey, and in these days, where the couple has such a wide choice of venue possible for a wedding, for them to choose the church shows some understanding of the relevance of God in their lives, and by agreeing to do the wedding I am giving them an opportunity to discuss what God means to them. And when a family brings their child to church for a baptism, it is because at some level, they value the ritual of baptism. When I suggest the thanksgiving service instead of baptism, very often, they will be insistent that they want their child baptised. Somehow they know it is different.
I do these services in hope. Hope that they will hear and experience something of God’s love during the service. Hope that they will see something in the church community that they want to connect with. Hope that in the middle of this important day for them, they will remember that God had a part. Hope that the promises that they make will stay with them.
All of this is my part to play in the wedding or baptism. What part does the local church have? In baptism services we remember our baptisms, and also promise as a church to be there to support the family. Do we ensure that we always show our very friendliest side to our guests? Do we try to see church through their eyes, to help them feel at ease before, during and after the service?
In September many of our churches will be taking part in Back to Church Sunday – a day when we make an effort to personally invite friends and family back to church for a ‘enquirer-friendly’ service. I see these baptisms and weddings as similar chances to make church accessible for those who might not otherwise be there.
I hope you all have a good summer, and enjoy your holidays. And if there is a baptism at your church, see what an opportunity it can be for spreading God’s message.
Love from Glayne.  |
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