It has become a tradition – there is that word again – we invite the families of those children for whom it has been our privilege to baptise. Reaching the over one-thousand and seventy who have been baptised since Agnew Road opened for worship is not possible. However, we rejoice that there continues with Wendy Slattery a link with the second child to be baptised here, Peter Sovereign Johnstone. Peter is Wendy’s cousin! Though we may be disappointed that more did not accept the invitation to share in the service it was good that there were members of the families from the last six years who were able to be with us.
There are several reasons why we introduced this tradition. First, to reinforce the promises the families made on behalf of their children and the promises we as a church made, too. Second, it is hoped that the taster of our wonderful Sunday school may entice the children to become part of that brilliant part of our church family. Third, the level of child deaths and abuse in this so called civilized country of ours is unacceptable. We should embrace the children who come to us for baptism and include them, and all children, in our prayers. (There are names below and there are names in our monthly prayer calendar you can name in daily prayers. Please remember them.)
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE
PREPARE FOR WORSHIP
Lord,
life can be hard.
Sometimes it gets too much.
It can feel as though you are not there,
that you have left us alone.
But you are with us.
Lord,
life can be hard.
We want to hide ourselves away,
from family and friends,
even from you.
As if we could.
But you are with us.
Lord,
life can be hard.
We want to shout and scream,
to let everyone know how unfair it all is.
But you are with us.
AMEN
The hymns this morning include those popularly chosen by the families who bring their children for baptism.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
NOTICES FOR THE COMING WEEK
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come and worship as God’s new and holy people,
recreated by his word of love.
Sing to the Lord a new song
and offer him your wonder and praise.
HYMN 45: Morning has broken like the first morning (Tune: Bunessan. Music: Gaelic melody harmonized by Martin Shaw. Words: Eleanor Farjeon.)
PRAYERS OF ADORATION and CONFESSION
- A TALK ABOUT FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH FAMILY
HYMN 367: I want to walk with Jesus Christ (Tune: Helvetia. Music: Swiss folk-tune arranged by Phil Burt. Words: C Simmonds.)
THE WORD OF GOD
SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE AND COMMENTARY AROUND THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Christian Baptism is always administered with water in the Name of the Trinity. From earliest days the Church believed that this sacrament was commanded by Christ as the divinely appointed means of initiation into the Christian community. Baptism shows the love of God for all people. Baptism marks a new relationship with the Church of Christ. It is a rite of initiation, the ritual beginning of a journey of faith.
HYMN 572: Colours of Day dawn into the mind (Tune: Light up the fire. Music: Sue McLellan, John Pac & Keith Rycroft. Words: Sue McLellan, John Pac & Keith Rycroft.)
A WORD IN SEASON
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
HYMN: Jesus bids us shine (Tune: No name. Music: EO Excell. Words: Susan Warner.)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
NOW WE GIVE THANKS FOR GOD’S GOODNESS SHOWN TO US AS THE ELDERS WAIT ON US FOR OUR GIFTS FOR GOD’S WORK AND WITNESS IN AND THROUGH THIS PLACE
Before the singing of our next song our youngsters are brought back into church and we shall light a candle for those who have been baptized and are part of our rich church family.
W |
e rejoice that since 1938 over one-thousand and seventy children, along with some young people and adults, have been baptized here at Agnew Road. The first names to added to the cradle roll in 1938 were No 1: Leonie Denise CHARLISH, the daughter of the Revd Reginald & Mrs Vera Charlish – Mr Charlish was the minister at the time; and, No 2: Peter Sovereign JOHNSTONE, the son of Mr Charles & Mrs Laura Blanche Johnstone. Leonie and Peter were baptized by the Revd AJ GRIEVE [1]. Today has been set aside to remember those 1070 plus who followed Leonie and Peter and whose names are recorded on our cradle rolls and in the birthday book. The rolls and book are in our young people’s corner. Because it would have been near impossible to reach the families of all 1070 plus, invitations to join us on this special day were issued to families who brought their children for baptism in more recent years.
ADDITIONS TO OUR CRADLE ROLL IN THE LAST SIX YEARS
2005:
Adam BERRY; Jack Cameron IVISON;
2006:
Jacob Evan KENNEDY; Daisy May WHELAN;
Charlie James BALLAM; Kyle DONALDSON;
Baden Grant GILCHRIST; Elizabeth Grace YOUNG;
2007:
Charlie Jack CARR; Hollie BENTLEY;
Anthony Fergusson PRICE; Emma Jayne PRICE;
Kaycee Elizabeth WILSON;
Toby George WILKINSON;
2008:
Rhys Daryl HELSBY; Ella May SHERIDEN;
Daisy May FERN; Jayden Paul MYERSCOUGH;
Liam George COSSEY;
Emily Evelyn BEAVERS-BRUNTELL;
Paige Summer BEAVERS-BRUNTELL;
2009:
Frankie Lesley Leigh O’NEILL;
Conor James CASHMORE;
Robert George CASHMORE;
Thomas Edward Wynne ROBERTS;
Alfie Kian McLARDIE; RyleyJoseph MULLEY;
Isabel Alice LAIRD; Matilda Grace LAIRD;
George David HOLT; Alex Gail STRACHAN;
Jamie Lee BRUNEEL-CLARKSON; Alfie Lee HESLOP; Jessica Taylor Susan ARTHURS;
2010:
Ruby Ann FOWLER; Lucas Andrew Stewart WILSON; Korey LONG-FONT; Paige Louise SHERIDEN;
Jessica BENTLEY; Chloe Jessica WHELAN
SONG: Hear the pennies dropping (Tune: No name. Music: Wm J Kirkpatrick. Words: Mrs FH de Witt.)
HYMN 549: One more step along the world I go (Tune: Southcote. Music: Sydney Carter. Words: Sydney Carter.)
THE BLESSING
May God go with you and guide you;
may you find his presence always with you;
may your lives be filled with his grace and peace,
through Jesus our Lord.
AMEN
[1] It is thought the Revd AJ Grieve is the Revd Alexander James Grieve who was the Principal of the Northern Independent College at the time.